Crime Scene Scenario Analysis

Throughout this course, we have explored topics in forensic science with special emphasis on approaching, securing, and managing a crime scene; documenting, collecting, and processing evidence; maintaining chain of custody; and presenting evidence at trial. We have also looked at collection and analysis of fingerprints, ballistics evidence, blood, trace evidence, tool marks, and impressions of tires and footprints. This process is critical to locating, securing, and analyzing physical evidence that will help solve crimes and to the admission of that evidence in court in order to secure a conviction.
The final assignment for this course is an analysis of the Crime Scene Scenario from Week One. You will analyze the crime scene and provide a detailed, step-by-step examination from initial discovery through admission of evidence at trial. Do this by including the following:

· Approach to the crime scene

· Documentation of evidence

· Collection of evidence

· Processing of evidence

· Maintenance of chain of custody

· Presentation at trial

The following elements must be addressed in your Crime Scene Scenario Analysis. Your analysis must address these elements for each potential piece of physical evidence you locate at the crime scene:

· Determine how the initial responders should approach the crime scene.

· Analyze how initial documentation of evidence should be carried out. This includes documenting both the overall crime scene and the location of various pieces of evidence within the scene. Issues of photographing, sketching, and video documentation of evidence should be addressed.

· Analyze how evidence should be collected, including specific methods for

o Potentially hazardous evidence.

o Impression evidence.

o Easily contaminated or compromised evidence.

· Explain how the evidence should be processed, including the basic scientific analysis to be performed on each piece of evidence and the laboratory equipment that will be utilized.

· Analyze each type of evidence found in the scenario in terms of its historical use in criminal cases.

· Assess how the chain of custody will be maintained.

· Evaluate how evidence will be presented at trial, including discussion of foundation and introduction of new tests and technology, if applicable.

Please re-read the information in this Crime Scene Scenario prior to launching the interactive multimedia below. Note: Upon completion of the crime scene fly-through, this multimedia provides additional controls to allow you to revisit and zoom-in on specific pieces of evidence. 

https://ashford.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/CRJ622%20Crime%20Scene%20Fly-through/0_b1c5h45v

The Crime Scene Scenario Analysis

· Must be 12 to 13 pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style.

· Must include a separate title page with the following:

· Must use at least eight credible sources in addition to the course text.

· Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style

· Must document all sources in APA style

The Scenario

The Beach City, California 911 dispatcher received a call at 7:15 A.M. on Monday morning. The call was from a Mr. Frank Flora. Mr. Flora was a gardener who had entered the grounds at 1234 Beach Front Road. Upon proceeding to the back of the home, Mr. Flora found a body on the patio. After checking for a pulse, and finding none, Mr. Flora called 911.

Officers Allen Able and Brenda Bates of the Beach City Police Department (BCPD) answered the call from the 911 dispatcher. Upon arrival they found Mr. Flora standing on Beach Front Road outside the security gate to the property. Mr. Flora, who had been given the security code to the gate by the property owner so that he could access the property to do the gardening, punched in the security code to let the officers in. Upon speaking to Mr. Flora, the officers ascertained that the property owner was a Mr. Mike Megabucks, a wealthy businessman and his wife Miranda. Mr. Flora stated that Mr. and Mrs. Megabucks did not appear to be at home. Mr. Flora further stated that this was not unusual as they traveled a great deal. The other resident of the home was Mr. Megabucks, stepson, Tom Threadbare, a less than successful artist. Mr. Threadbare also did not appear to be home.

The following is a representation of the layout the officers found:

The officers confirmed the victim was dead (there was an apparent gunshot wound in the victim’s chest) and searched the house and found no one else home. They then called for a supervisor. It was now 7:45 A.M. It had rained overnight between 3:15 A.M. and 5:15 A. M. The ground was damp. More rain was predicted for mid-morning.

The following items were noted in the home and on the grounds. They have been placed into a rough order of viewing:

1) scratches on the lock of the security gate 2) a tire tread mark in a used oil slick in the driveway 3) scratches on the door from the garage to the kitchen 4) a fingerprint in what appears to be green paint on the patio doorknob (on the interior knob) 5) a handgun at the bottom of the pool 6) a handgun in a bush on the grounds between the patio and the ocean 7) a blood y footprint, on the patio, leading away from the body toward the ocean 8) a muddy footprint, on the patio, leading toward the body from the ocean 9) a bloody butcher knife in the victim’s hand

Now, view the accompanying video: Fly-through of Crime Scene