Investigator’s Notebook Rigor Mortis   What you did: Established yourself as lead investigator Set a perimeter Called the Medical Examiner to the scene Sent officers to the local parks to question “random citizens” Took pictures of victim to bring on canvass Checked other dumpsters in the area for weapons Photographed all evidence collected Made a personnel log Checked local hospitals for people recently injured in a struggle Evidence put into separate paper bogs and marked – location at crime scene Hands of victim bagged in paper bags Used clean gloves for each stage of collection Canvassed the neighborhood Body was sent to the morgue Checked to see if any similar murders have occurred in the area Began an Investigator’s notebook Weather, time and date were recorded Set up a road-block inquiry Interview of prostitutes in the area Conferred with other investigators Orally recorded the collection of evidence and the appearance of the crime scene Documentation of the chain of evidence   What you ASSUMED (This includes what you should assume and erroneous assumptions):   Everything mentioned in the scenario is relevant to the crime This is, at minimum, a second crime scene That this was a sexual assault The murder was not random The crime was for revenge This is a homicide Jewelry could be missing, which indicates a possible robbery/homicide. Possible rape The type of head injury could indicate a weapon was used That the body was dumped This was a hate crime That the perpetrator intended to put the body in the dumpster but lacked the strength That the boxers were taken off of the victim at some point – and then discarded The blood on the victims’ hands seem to indicate two possibilities: the victim instinctively covered a wound when hit with the weapon in question or there was a struggle and the assailant also was injured and the blood was transferred to the victim’s hands. The transfer of blood on the boxers was due to the rolling over of the body The victim was a prostitute This victim was a homosexual The victim was assaulted in his home The sounds on the victims’ arm were defense wounds The attacker was left-handed The victim fell on his knees causing the abrasions The first weapon used was a weapon like a pipe The attacker wore rings The scene was staged The victim was first put into the trunk of the perpetrator’s car. The victim was strangled with the pantyhose The victim struggled – put up a fight The body was dumped in a hurry The perpetrator wanted the body to be found The ligature marks indicate the cause of death   What evidence you collected The dumpster The clothing in the dumpster The paper bag Tire tracks Vehicle fluids Any paint chips Documents found in dumpster Items that appear “recently” dumped in dumpster Cigarettes Documentation of scene and wounds A crime scene sketch Noted the absence of jewelry Documentation of all lesion, abrasions, gashes, prints, splatter patterns, and blood samples all collected. Footprints Boxers and T-shirt from victim after autopsy Mouth swab Contents of dumpster – cataloged Tissue samples from dumpster Photographed (digital and 35mm) – the body, the scene, underneath the body, blood spatter patterns, eyes, knees, wounds, tan markings, blood spatter, each piece of clothing   WHAT TESTS YOU REQUESTED   An autopsy! Medical analysis to find cause of death as well as possible anal/oral sodomy Fingerprints from the lid of the dumpster Fingerprints on paper bag Blood spatter analysis Tool/weapon marking analysis Psychological profile Fingerprint analysis – from the lid of the dumpster DNA analysis for blood and possibly semen Fiber analysis from the body and clothing DNA analysis on all the blood on the victim – is it all his Grass stain analysis Semen Fibers on the clothing Saliva Fingerprint the victim Test for sexual assault Fingernail scraping – DNA More extensive photos of the body – neck area Request cause and mechanism of death Bodily fluids Fingerprints on the body Grocery markings on the bag Blood toxicology Mouth swab DNA testing on the Scarf and the panty hose Analysis of head injuries. Determination if lethal & what type if any weapon. Analysis of ligature wounds for fiber, size of cord, etc. Was this mechanism of death? Could shoelaces have made wounds? Test for bodily fluids & sexual penetration. Evidence of force if sexual test positive. Others DNA? Check tache noire, livor mortis, rigor motis, stomach contents, decomposition, etc, to determine time of death. Do full toxicology test for drugs, poison, etc. Analysis of boxers for blood, semen, DNA, etc. Analysis of t-shirt & blood spatter. Check victims hands & forearms. Was broken arm & other contusions evidence of torture or lengthy attack? Analysis of pantyhose for blood & other fluids. Analysis of green shirt for evidence of struggle & fluids. Check shoes for evidence. Analysis of scarf & holes therein. Dirt from wounds on knees Test tissue samples   Questions you asked of possible witnesses while canvassing:   Had officers check ask neighbors when last garbage pick up was Do you remember hearing or seeing anyone or anything in the alley within the last couple of days? When was the last time you looked out the window that overlooks the alley? What did they hear/see? Do you know the victim? What do they know about their neighborhood and neighbors Their schedules How long they lived in the neighborhood Is there a park nearby? Is there a college nearby? Has anyone called in a missing person or reported an abduction? Do you know how long the body was there? Did you see someone dump the body? Do you know how it might have gotten there? Names and addresses What was the schedule of garbage pick up? When was the last time you took your trash out? Have you ever seen this person around here before? How long have you lived in this building? Do many homeless people sleep in the alley? Do you work? At what time of day do you work? Are you home during the night? When did you notice the body? Did you hear anything unusual last night? The night before? Have you seen any unfamiliar faces around the building lately? Can you think of anything out of the ordinary that would help in this case? Did you observe body in alley & what time? Also ask if in alley & didn't see body what time-to aid in establishing time of death. Did you see anyone or any vehicles in alley? What time? Show picture of victim. Ask if they know him or if he lives in area. Ask if they do know victim when was last time they saw him. Has there been any suspicious activity in alley recently? When did you take your garbage out last? Anyone in the alley recently? Is the dumpster normally locked? Are there any rules for tenants about keeping the lid closed? Do you notice people in the alley often or is it usually deserted? Recently have you heard any strange noises coming from the alley? Have there been any recent robberies in the area? Did this man live in the building?   For future investigation Who is the victim? Where is he from? What does he do for a living? Notification of next of kin Return to the scene for the next 48 hours to re-search the area Interview the garbage man Interview the homeless population