Scene Investigation Research Articles

2D Crime Scene Investigation Simulator for the Criminology Schools of Negros Occidental

Criminal investigation is a fundamental subject of Criminal Justice education, where students develop analytical and critical thinking skills by performing crime scene investigations. However, the demand for enhanced training is also rising due to the rising population of criminology colleges. This training is vital as this is where the student’s skills and knowledge are applied and improved. This study aimed to develop a reliable, easy-to-use 2D crime scene investigation simulator to address this issue. The study utilized descriptive analytical tools for monitoring and assessing students’ performance and progress in crime scene investigation. The study also used the Agile method to ensure the development team can complete the project on time. After utilizing the Crime Scene Simulator, the Clustering Algorithm was applied to analyze the student’s performance. Only the crime scene investigation process was included in the study, excluding other methods, such as forensics, identifying crimes, or arresting perpetrators. The findings of the system testing show that the system is reliable and easy to use for tracking the progress and performance of the students. The College of Criminal Justice education of STI West Negros University was considered the pilot criminology school of this study. The project was developed during the School Year 2022-2023.

A clandestine affair – A case report

According to the witnesses, crime scene and inquest report, deceased is a 30 years old female, found dead lying on floor, in her apartment house along with a male, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the same room. The deceased body was brought to Mortuary, Osmania General Hospital at 04:00 PM on 28/01/2023 by the Investigation Officer and requested for postmortem examination under section 174 Criminal Procedure Code. The postmortem findings were an antemortem horizontally placed ligature mark at the level of thyroid cartilage in the front of neck, internally there was an inward fracture of tip of greater horn of hyoid bone on the right side with surrounding tissue contusion. There were some small crescent shaped abrasions noted on both sides of front of neck which were suggestive of nail marks. There was a contusion over the inner surface of the scalp. With meticulous crime scene investigation and post mortem examination and interpretation of the findings cause of death was given as “Ligature Strangulation”

Advances in Technologies in Crime Scene Investigation.

Crime scene investigation (CSI) is the complex act of reconstructing the dynamics that led to a crime and the circumstances of its perpetration. Crystallizing the CSI is a difficult task for the forensic pathologist; however, it is often requested by the public prosecutor and many judicial cases remain unsolved precisely for this reason. Recent years have seen an improvement in the ability of 3D scanning technology to obtain dense surface scans of large-scale spaces, for surveying, engineering, archaeology, and medical purposes such as forensics. The applications of this new technology are growing every day: forensic measurement of wounds in clinical reports, for example, reconstruction of traffic accidents, bullet trajectory studies in gunshot wounds, and 3D bloodstain pattern analysis. A retrospective analysis was conducted across all crime scene investigations performed by the forensic staff of the Department of Forensic Pathology of the University of Catania from January 2019 to June 2022. Inclusion criteria were the use of a laser scanner (LS), the use of a camera, a full investigative scene, and collection of circumstantial data thanks to the help of the judicial police. Cases in which the LS was not used were excluded. Out of 200 CSIs, 5 were included in the present study. In case number 1, the use of the LS made it possible to create a complete scale plan of the crime scene in a few hours, allowing a ship to be quickly returned to the judicial police officer. In case 2 (fall from a height), the LS clarified the suicidal intent of the deceased. In case number 3 it was possible to reconstruct a crime scene after many years. In case 4, the LS provided a great contribution in making a differential diagnosis between suicide and homicide. In case 5, the LS was fundamental for the COVID team in planning the study of COVID-19 pathways and areas within a hospital with the aim of reduction of nosocomial transmission. In conclusion, the use of the LS allowed the forensic staff to crystallize the investigative scene, making it a useful tool.

Medico-legal scene investigation in the case of burned bodies - a systematic review.

A judicial on-site examination is essential for the correct analysis of a forensic case, particularly when there has been a fatal fire, as heat-related changes to bodies make identification by the forensic pathologist and other specialists difficult along with estimating the post-mortem interval and determining the precise cause and manner of death. We systematically reviewed all relevant articles dating from 2003 to 2022 in the PubMed database with a view to updating recommendations on how best to proceed. Our recommendations highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach involving various forensic specialists.

Ethnoracial Disparities in Rates of Non-Natural Causes of Death After the 2020 COVID-19 Outbreak in New York State

COVID-19 was associated with increases in non-natural cause mortality in the U.S., including deaths due to drug overdose, homicide, and motor vehicle crashes. Initial reports indicated higher rates of non-natural mortality among ethnoracial minority groups. This report aims to clarify these disparities by documenting trends in non-natural mortality across ethnoracial groups during the 2020 COVID-19 surge in New York State. We report monthly trends in non-natural cause mortality (overall and stratified by ethnoracial status) in New York State from January 2019 through December 2020, which included the COVID-19 onset in March 2020. Total mean monthly unintentional overdose rates per 100,000 increased from 17.45 (before surge: January 2019-February 2020) to 23.19 (after surge: March 2020-December 2020) (mean difference=5.73, 95% CI=3.82, 7.65; p<0.001).Mean monthly homicide death rates increased from 2.34 before surge to 3.55 after surge (mean difference=1.20, 95% CI=0.60, 1.81; p<0.001), with the increase seen primarily in the non-Latinx Black population. Although increasing unintentional overdose death rates before surge equally affected non-Latinx White, Latinx, and non-Latinx Black persons, they remained high for non-Latinx Black persons but dropped for the other 2 groups after the pandemic onset. None of the ethnoracial subgroups showed significant increases in suicide or motor vehicle crash death rates. Non-Latinx Black persons showed disproportionately high and sustained increased rates of unintentional overdose and homicide death rates after the 2020 COVID-19 surge in New York State. Fatality review and death scene investigation research is needed to better understand these disparities.

Phenotype predictions of two-person mixture using single cell analysis

Over a decade after the publication of the first forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) studies, DNA-based appearance predictions are now becoming a reality in routine crime scene investigations. The significant number of publications dedicated to the subject of FDP clearly demonstrates a sustained interest and a strong need for further method development. However, the implementation of FDP in routine work still encounters obstacles, and one of these challenges is making phenotype predictions from DNA mixtures. In this study, we examined single-cell sequencing as a potential tool to enable reliable phenotyping of contributors within mixtures. Two mock mixtures, each containing two contributors with similar and different physical appearances, were analyzed using two different workflows. In the first workflow, the mixtures were sequenced using the Ion AmpliSeq™ PhenoTrivium Panel, which includes 41 HIrisPlex-S (HPS) markers. Subsequently, the genotypes were analyzed using the HPS Deconvolution Tool to predict the phenotypes of both contributors. The second workflow involved the introduction of single-cell separation and collection using the DEPArray™ PLUS System. Two different PhenoTrivium amplification protocols were tested, and the phenotype predictions from single cells were compared with the results obtained using the HPS Tool. Our results suggest that the approach presented here allows for the obtainment of nearly complete HIrisPlex-S profiles with accurate genotypes and reliable phenotype predictions from single cells. This method proves successful in deconvoluting mixtures submitted to forensic DNA phenotyping.

The long journey of resistance toward acceptance: Understanding digital forensic accreditation in England and Wales from a social science perspective

AbstractDrawing on topical academic and practitioner accounts, our contribution examines the challenges of accreditation in digital forensics (DF), specifically, the adoption of ISO/IEC 17025 standard for forensic science support providers in England and Wales. We built on the debate generated by the Forensic Science Regulator's introduction of this standard in DF to reflect on the position and status of DF community of practice. We argue that a social science approach can help illuminate the organizational and professional tensions generated by this development and to understand better the implications for the role of DF specialists and their position in the wider forensic science community.This article is categorized under: Digital and Multimedia Science &gt; Cybercrime Investigation Crime Scene Investigation &gt; Education and Formation

Evolution of Diagnostic and Forensic Microbiology in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.

Diagnostic microbiology plays a vital role in managing infectious diseases, combating antimicrobial resistance, and containment of outbreaks. During the fourth industrial revolution, when artificial intelligence (AI) became an essential part of our day-to-day lives, its integration into healthcare would further revolutionize our knowledge and potential. Although in the budding stage, AI with machine learning is being increasingly utilized in various aspects of diagnostic microbiology. It can handle large datasets that are difficult to analyze manually. Researchers have developed and demonstrated several machine-learning algorithms for interpreting bacterial cultures, conducting image analysis for microbial detection, and predicting antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Thus, AI may most likely be the ultimate solution to the ever-increasing demand for improved results with shorter turnaround times. AI can also assist forensic microbiologists in crime scene investigations, as it can guide individual identification, cause and time since death, and manner of death. This review summarizes the application of AI in diagnostic microbiology for performing diverse sets of microbial investigations and is an essential aid in forensic microbiology.

Survey of U.S. Residents and Their Usage of Electronic Cigarettes with Drugs Other Than Nicotine

ABSTRACT Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), originally intended to be used as cigarette substitutes, have evolved into discreet devices for consuming drugs other than nicotine (DOTNs). Presented are the results of an exploratory survey in which information regarding demographics, e-cig device type, DOTN use, frequency and context of use was collected. The average reported age of respondents was 27.4 years of age (SD = 12.0), and respondents predominantly identified as male (73%). Vape pens (disposable or refillable) were the most reported device across all DOTN classes. Cannabinoids were the most reported class of DOTN used, for both lifetime and past 30-day use. Other DOTNs reported included herbal supplements, amphetamines, caffeine, kratom, vitamins, opiates, DMT, fentanyl, and ketamine. Combinations of DOTNs used in e-cigs and trends in poly-substance use were reported. The most commonly reported context was vaping alone, followed by with friends, at home, and at social events; less commonly reported contexts included when driving, at work, and at school. Results from this study are useful for developing future national surveys to consider a comprehensive substance use-focused strategy that includes vaping, building awareness of DOTN e-cig use, and highlighting public safety issues in driving impairment, crime scene investigations, and death investigations.

Performance of Different Cotton and Nylon Swabs on DNA Recovery and Storage

Touch DNA samples are routine yet challenging pieces of evidence that provide investigators with information that helps them solve crimes. However, this type of evidence can be easily lost if the correct collection method is not used. This problem could be overcome with an optimal method of collection that increases the amount of touch DNA collected from different types of surfaces. Better-quality touch DNA can increase the chances of getting a full genetic profile. This study was divided into two parts which aimed to assess whether the type of swab used on different surfaces will significantly increase DNA recovery, concentrations, and the DNA preservation during three different timeframes (24h, 1 month and 3 months). Two different cotton swabs and Nylon swabs were used to lift touch DNA on three different surfaces (glass, plastic and wood) to identify the most suitable method of collection across all three surfaces. A total of 72 samples were lifted (3 replicates from each swab on 3 different surfaces) from two different participants (Male and Female) which were left to dry for 14 days in room temperature prior to DNA extraction. DNA preservation of the swabs was observed while using three dilutions of blood sample which was prepared from one of the volunteers (1:1 – 1:10 – 1:20) where 10 uL of each dilution was pipetted onto the four types of swabs in three replicates (n=36) to observe the preservation over three different timeframes 24h storage, 1 Month and 3 Months with a total of 108 samples. The COPAN CLASSIQSwabsTM Dry swab showed an overall average result during the storage periods of 24h with (1:1) dilution by (2.694ng/μL), (1:10) dilution with (0.548ng/μL) and (1:20) dilution with (0.143ng/μL). Results for the period of 1 Month also showed an average of (1:1) dilution with (2.825ng/μL), (1:10) dilution with (0.361ng/μL) and (1:20) dilution with (0.156ng/μL). These findings can be helpful for laboratories and crime scene investigators to optimize DNA sample collection and preservation based on their workflow.

A death due to faulty airbag system-case report.

Injuries due to automobile safety devices have been reported and we report a rare fatality due to a defective airbag system. A compact hybrid car driven by a 37-year-old male at moderate speed had crashed through an unprotected manhole. The car had moved around 200m before it came to a halt. The passers-by had noticed that the driver was unconscious, partly leaning forward with an inflated airbag. He was pronounced dead on admission. The car had sustained minor indentation on front bumper. Autopsy revealed a circular perforated laceration on the neck associated with completely transected right carotid artery and partially transected jugular vein. There was a 2 × 2-cm cylindrical metal object lodged at C4-C5 vertebrae level, and the remaining part of this was retrieved during scene investigation and identified as a part of a metal canister in the inflator component of the airbag system. There was a perforation in the airbag which was similar in size to the retrieved foreign body. The cause of death was ascertained as hemorrhagic shock due to bleeding from ruptured neck vessels caused by primary shrapnel projected from the faulty airbag system. Following the incident, the manufacturers replaced faulty airbag systems in similar models. If abnormally fatal injuries are observed, a scene visit along with automotive expert opinion would provide valuable insight into the incident. Such information would alert the general public on regular screening of safety measures and prompt manufacturers to recall faulty products.

The role of forensic science in the generation of intelligence to address environmental water contamination problems

AbstractWater contamination is a growing concern in society. New environmental laws are being enacted to define intolerable human activities, and their enforcement is increasingly supported by forensic science. However, water contamination is a broader security issue that is not only caused by illegal human behavior. Risk‐based approaches are needed to prevent (re)occurrence of incidents and minimize their negative consequences. This can be achieved through the formalization of a monitoring process producing intelligence (i.e., actionable knowledge), crucial to detect recurring incidents, and guiding decision‐makers in their choice of preventive and responsive actions. In this perspective, forensic science has a key role to play in integrating vestiges from water‐contaminating activities (i.e., traces) in such a problem‐solving process. Information conveyed by traces allows detecting similarities among contamination events (i.e., patterns), inferring common causes, and better understanding of mechanisms and consequences of water contamination. The different stages of the process will be described and illustrated through a real case example. Current barriers to the implementation of such a process are then discussed, showing how systemic issues and complexity may prevent the establishment of links across contamination events, thus negatively impacting the generation of intelligence. To overcome these obstacles, we underline the importance to initiate local and size‐limited approaches by implementing relatively simple and flexible systems. New knowledge can be used to improve local situations and help stakeholders to understand the benefits of such a process; then, by a bottom‐up iterative learning process, the approach can be given a greater ambition at a larger scale.This article is categorized under: Forensic Science in Action/Crime Scene Investigation &gt; Special Situations and Investigations Crime Scene Investigation &gt; From Traces to Intelligence and Evidence Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence &gt; Forensic Food and Environment Analysis

Differentiation of Body Fluid Stains Using a Portable, Low-Cost Ion Mobility Spectrometry Device-A Pilot Study.

The identification and recovery of suspected human biofluid evidence can present a bottleneck in the crime scene investigation workflow. Crime Scene Investigators typically deploy one of a number of presumptive enhancement reagents, depending on what they perceive an analyte to be; the selection of this reagent is largely based on the context of suspected evidence and their professional experience. Positively identified samples are then recovered to a forensic laboratory where confirmatory testing is carried out by large lab-based instruments, such as through mass-spectrometry-based techniques. This work proposes a proof-of-concept study into the use of a small, robust and portable ion mobility spectrometry device that can analyse samples in situ, detecting, identifying and discriminating commonly encountered body fluids from interferences. This analysis exploits the detection and identification of characteristic volatile organic compounds generated by gentle heating, at ambient temperature and pressure, and categorises samples using machine learning, providing investigators with instant identification. The device is shown to be capable of producing characteristic mobility spectra using a dual micro disc pump configuration which separates blood and urine from three visually similar interferences using an unsupervised PCA model with no misclassified samples. The device has the potential to reduce the need for potentially contaminating and destructive presumptive tests, and address the bottleneck created by the time-consuming and laborious detection, recovery and analysis workflow currently employed.

Retrospective Analysis of Death Cases of Oral Diphenidol Hydrochloride Poisoning.

To explore the characteristics of postmortem examination, chemical examination and scene investigation of deaths caused by oral diphenidol hydrochloride poisoning, and so as to provide a reference for proper settlement and prevention of such deaths. The data of 22 deaths caused by oral diphenidol hydrochloride poisoning in a city from January 2018 to August 2020 were collected, including case details, scene investigations, autopsies, chemical examinations and digital evidence. Thirty-one cases of deaths caused by oral diphenidol hydrochloride poisoning reported in previous literature were also collected. In the 53 oral diphenidol hydrochloride poisoning death cases, 50 cases were suicide, 2 cases were accidental, while 1 case was undetermined. Fifty-two cases were found in the medical records or crime scene investigation reports with doses ranging from 775 mg to 12 500 mg, and 23 deceased were detected with postmortem blood concentrations ranging from 2.71 mg/L to 83.1 mg/L. Clinical symptoms were recorded in 6 patients, including conscious disturbance and convulsion. Among the 45 cases which were performed with external examination, 23 cases autopsied. Most of the deceased of oral diphenidol hydrochloride poisoning were suicide. No significant correlation was found between dose and blood concentration through the retrospective analysis of cases.

A Virtual, 3D Multimodal Approach to Victim and Crime Scene Reconstruction.

In the last two decades, forensic pathology and crime scene investigations have seen a rapid increase in examination tools due to the implementation of several imaging techniques, e.g., CT and MR scanning, surface scanning and photogrammetry. These tools encompass relatively simple visualization tools to powerful instruments for performing virtual 3D crime scene reconstructions. A multi-modality and multiscale approach to a crime scene, where 3D models of victims and the crime scene are combined, offers several advantages. A permanent documentation of all evidence in a single 3D environment can be used during the investigation phases (e.g., for testing hypotheses) or during the court procedures (e.g., to visualize the scene and the victim in a more intuitive manner). Advanced computational approaches to understand what might have happened during a crime can also be applied by, e.g., performing a virtual animation of the victim in the actual context, which can provide important information about possible dynamics during the event. Here, we present an overview of the different techniques and modalities used in forensic pathology in conjunction with crime scene investigations. Based on our experiences, the advantages and challenges of an image-based multi-modality approach will be discussed, including how their use may introduce new visualization modalities in court, e.g., virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. Finally, considerations about future directions in research will be mentioned.

Assessment of Fungal Succession in Decomposing Swine Carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) Using DNA Metabarcoding.

The decomposition of animal bodies is a process defined by specific stages, described by the state of the body and participation of certain guilds of invertebrates and microorganisms. While the participation of invertebrates in decomposing is well-studied and actively used in crime scene investigations, information on bacteria and fungi from the scene is rarely collected or used in the identification of important factors such as estimated time of death. Modern molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding allow the identification and quantification of the composition of microbial communities. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to monitor fungal succession during the decomposition of juvenile pigs in grasslands of New Jersey, USA. Our findings show that decomposition stages differ in a diversity of fungal communities. In particular, we noted increased fungal species richness in the more advanced stages of decomposition (e.g., bloat and decay stages), with unique fungal taxa becoming active with the progression of decay. Overall, our findings improve knowledge of how fungi contribute to forensically relevant decomposition and could help with the assessment of crime scenes.

Medicolegal Death Investigation of Railroad-Related Fatalities.

Railroad-related fatalities in the United States are increasing. A paucity of literature exists regarding the medicolegal death investigation of railroad-related deaths. We report on a subset of deaths in western Michigan, propose protocols for investigating train-related deaths, and propose a stepwise approach for the medicolegal investigation of railroad-related fatalities. Fourteen railroad-related fatalities from 2015 to 2019 were reviewed. Each case was analyzed for demographics, investigative components, train variables, and death certification. The average age was 32 years. Nine decedents involved pedestrians versus trains, and 5 involved motor vehicles versus trains. Male victims were more common, and 50% of the cases were associated with mental illness or recent stressors. Accident was the most common manner of death. With the exception of basic weather conditions, the remaining investigative variables were rarely reported. Image and audio recordings were taken in 3 cases, but railroad companies refused to allow the recordings to be viewed by the medical examiner. We conclude that in addition to a thorough medicolegal death scene investigation and postmortem examination, audio/video recordings are crucial components of death certification in railroad-related fatalities and advocate that medical examiners/coroners be given the legal right to view and retain them.

Sex Differentiation from Fingerprint Ridge Density

Background: Determination of sex is an important parameter other than age, race and stature during forensic identification and crime scene investigation. Females tend to have finer and denser ridges on their fingertips than males. Present study aims at differentiating gender from fingerprint ridge density. Material and Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted from March 2022 to March 2023 in Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Nepal. Seven hundred fingerprints samples (350 males and 350 females), from 70 Nepalese medical students were collected and analyzed for gender differences. Comparative analysis was done using Student’s t-test (p&lt;0.05). Likelihood ratio and posterior probability using Baye’s theorem were calculated to interpret the possibility of gender differentiation from various fingerprint ridge densities. Results: Students t-test revealed significant difference (p &lt; 0.001) between the fingerprint ridge density of male and female (t= -16.733). The results showed ridge density &lt;14/25mm2and &gt;15/25mm2 are “more likely than not” from males and females respectively. Posterior probability using Baye’s theorem further revealed ridge density &lt;13/25mm2 (C/C1=5.75,P=0.86) and &gt;16/25mm2 (C1/C=4.29, P1=0.84) have higher probability of originating from males and females respectively. No any male and female had ridge density &gt;16/25mm2 and &lt;13/25mm2 respectively. Conclusion: The study revealsstatistically significantlygreater fingerprint ridge densities in female than in male Nepalese medical students.

ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF FORENSIC TOOLS IN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION IN NIGERIA; A CASE STUDY OF BENIN METROPOLIS.

Abstract Crime scene investigation is a significant and vital stage in criminal investigation. The process is a very long and tedious exercise that involves meticulous documentation of the crime scene leading to collection and recovery of evidence in order to deduce the events of a crime. Doing this, requires the application of some scientific or forensic tools which enables the prosecution to produce credible evidence with which to get justice for the victim. Objectives; This study was therefore conducted to investigate the application of forensic tools in crime scene investigation in Nigerian using Benin City as a case study. Method; In the study, investigators of the various investigative units in Edo State Criminal Investigations Department in Benin City within the three local government areas that make up Benin metropolis was the study population. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and key informant interview from senior serving and retired police officers. 110 respondents were initially drawn as the sample for the study, however, only 98 results were received and were used for the final sample. Using an interview schedule and statistical analysis technique, the data were critically analyzed. Results; Results from the study showed non usage of any form of forensic evidence in the various investigations carried out by the Police. Challenges, such as poor training, inadequate funding and interference from diverse quarters contribute to limit the effective use of forensic investigation in the conduct of criminal investigations. Conclusion; The Police being the chief execution arm of government and by implication other law enforcement agencies, the legal community and the Nigerian public are yet to fully grasp the nucleus or important roles of forensics science in crime investigation. On this premise, it was recommended that specialized forensic units be established for criminal investigations which should be adequately funded.

Pericia legal y forense en el laboratorio veterinario: Revisión

Veterinary laboratories have technologies necessary for the processing of analyses, examinations and techniques in the scientific investigation of legal and forensic expertise. This paper aims to survey and critically evaluate areas of knowledge that can be used in forensic science in the veterinary laboratory. In veterinary forensic medicine, the issues of liability for negligence, incompetence, malpractice or imprudence, both in the administrative and in the civil or criminal spheres, increase every day. The assistance provided by forensic veterinary medicine is not limited to the knowledge in legal and forensic expertise applied to living or dead animals - it also extends to the field of laboratory analysis. The investigation of a crime scene is the meeting point between science and the law, and veterinary laboratories are fundamental to meet much of the analyses, examinations, and techniques. Among the main fields of laboratory activities are serodiagnostics, toxicology serodiagnosis, toxicology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, necropsy and others that have fundamental importance in the elaboration of expert evidence. In these laboratories, professionals can perform analyses that contribute to the study, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems, environmental health and zoonoses applied to forensic practice. The quality assurance of the products and services of these laboratories, combined with quality management, minimizes errors, ensures credibility, biosecurity and reliability of results. The Veterinarian is designated as the Technical Manager (TM) to assume responsibility as manager of all activities inherent to the laboratories. In this context, the veterinary laboratories deserve singular attention in the field of the analyses, exams and techniques necessary for legal and forensic investigations, and elaboration of technical reports that assist justice.