The fiber evidence was the major evidence that linked the findings to Mr. Wayne Williams. However, some testimony was involved but not disclosed. The fiber was sent out for thorough testing by the investigators to ensure the results were accurate and from an Independent source to rule out tampering or coercion. There were multiple law enforcement agencies working together on this case. It was the local police department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Investigation. The team was patient and not trying to just solve the case quickly for the press. They ensured multiple tests were conducted for the carpet in the home, the hair from the family pet, Wayne’s hair and the carpet from multiple vehicles at the Williams
The protocol and conceptual overview of these procedures can be found under the header, “Properties of Skeletal Muscle” in NPB 101L Physiology Lab Manual Second Edition (Bautista & Korber, 2009, 9-17). The test subject for this lab was the Northern Leopard frog whose spinal cord and brain were severed. In order to carry out the experiments, the materials needed were one medium length surgical scissor, two hemostats and glass dissecting probes, a nine and four inch string, a cup of Ringers saline solution with an eyedropper, and a hook electrode. The software used to analyze and record the data was the BIOPAC system.
One of the first pieces of forensic evidence in the trial was the smell of decomposition in Casey’s car. A hair that was found in the trunk also resembled Caylee’s according to an FBI trace analyst. The car was also tested and showed gases present that could only come from a decomposing body. Arpad Vass, a researcher on decomposition testified that the chemical tests he conducted in the car showed that the smell was definitely from a decomposing body. Vass also claimed that in his testing he found evidence of chloroform in the vehicle. They suspected that chloroform was used on Caylee when she was killed. On December 11, 2008 Caylee’s body was found in a field. Investigators believe the body could have been decomposing in the field for six months. A piece of duct tape was found over Caylee’s jawbone, and investigators believe that the chloroform was used, then the duct tape was placed over her mouth and nose to suffocate her (Casey Anthony Trial,
However, police should have acknowledged that individuals can make mistakenly identify the wrong person, especially an individual who had just tragically witnessed his wife’s death, and that the positive identification can not be the only evidence used to confirm the identity of a suspect. In addition, a search was never conducted on Butler’s home to see if any evidence was there. Unless my memory fails me, police officers also did not perform a gun residue test on Butler to see if he had recently fired a gun. Regardless, police did not find any physical evidence, such as blood, on Butler’s clothes or body. In fact, there was no forensic investigation of evidence conducted at all. Mary Ann Stephen’s purse was later discovered in a trash can, but it wasn’t until after the acquittal of Brenton Butler that a fingerprint belonging to the real killer was found on her purse. Overall, the ethical issues involved in the Brenton Butler case are astounding. The best solution to resolve those issues is to thoroughly perform job duties with integrity. Investigators had to know that more evidence than just a positive identification made by one, rightly upset individual was not substantial enough to confirm the identity of the
Even though the prosecution presented evidence to the court, the only clear-cut hard fact the prosecution had against Anthony was that she failed to file a report for her missing daughter Caylee and that when she finally did a month after her daughter had gone missing, she proceeded to lie profusely to the authorities on the events that took place. The prosecution focused highly on the forensic evidence of decay located in the trunk of Casey Anthony’s car. The use of a cadaver dog to search the vehicle led investigators to be able to determine that a decomposing body had been stored in the trunk of the car. The forensics department used an air sampling procedure on the trunk of Casey Anthony’s car, also indicating that human decomposition and traces of chloroform were in-fact present. Multiple witnesses described what they considered to be an overwhelming odor that came from inside the trunk as it where the prosecution believes Caylee’s decomposing body was stowed. Several items of evidence were ruled out to be the source of the odor, as experts were able to rule out the garbage bag and two chlorine containers located in the trunk as the source. The prosecution alleged that Casey Anthony used chloroform to subdue her daughter and then used duct-tape to seal the nose and mouth of Caylee shut, inevitably causing her to suffocate. Based off the
The prosecution's physical evidence includes a bloody glove, bloody socks, hair, and fibres and a trail of blood drops connecting the crime scene and O.J.'s estate. Defence lawyers say this physical evidence means nothing because it was either purposely tainted or contaminated. Kenneth Berris testified that two laundry bags are still missing from Simpson's Chicago hotel room. The bloody clothes and murder weapon have never been found.
As you can see there is no perfect crime. The littlest piece of hair or paint or anything left behind can be found. Suspects often miss these tiny peieces of evidence and while they looked over it, it is still lurking at the crim scene. It is guarenteed that a Crime Scene Investigator will find this evidence no matter how small and use it to find, prosecute, and convict a criminal.
Thought this documentary, there was nothing against Brenton that could prove he had anything to do with the horrible crime. The number reason that Brenton Butler seems innocent not because there was no solid evidence that he was actually near the Ramada Inn in Jacksonville, Florida in between the time of 7 and 9 am. Every piece of evidence the had, which was very minimal, to prove Brenton was actually involved in the crime didn’t add up. The second reason that Brenton Butler was found not guilty is due to how the officers violated many of the states laws and policies while holding Brenton in custody. Brenton was hit once in the face and twice in the stomach by Detective Michael Glover and also his written statement that was supervised by Dwayne Darnell does not match the exact words that Brenton said which against the law. Also when each detective took the stand they seemed nervous or uneasy when being on the stand is an everyday thing they do. The last reason that Brenton Butler seems to be found not guilty is due to the fact that his parents and lawyers had absolute faith that he was innocent. Unlike Steve Harmon, both parents were alongside him the whole case and made sure that Brenton knew that they knew without a doubt he was innocent. Sometimes, a parent knows their child the best and can truly know if their kids are telling truth or
The officers tampered with evidence and made a false discovery that he was the person and that is how he was convicted (Innocent Project N.D.). Many forensic methods have been implemented in research when looking for evidence, but the methods that are not scientific and have little or nothing to do with science. The result of false evidence by other means leads to false testimony by a forensic analyst. Another issue with forensic errors is that it is a challenge to find a defense expert (Giannelli, 2011).
This arises several questions. First where was the bloody rag found? Second, did the police have probable cause that Meyers was under suspicion of murder? Or was it simply a case of reasonable suspicion? In my opinion the results of the tests performed on the bloody rag found in Meyers case should not be admissible since Myers was not under suspicion of murder, and the bloody rag was not included in the lawful search warrant.
According to the Innocence Project (2006), “On September 17, 2001, Chad wrote the Innocence Project in New York, which, in 2003, enlisted pro bono counsel from Holland & Knight to file a motion for DNA testing on Tina’s fingernail scrapings.” The state had tested the DNA that was under Tina’s nail from the first case but at that time it was inadequate and could not be tested. It was not until now that we have the technology capable enough to test it. In June 2004, the test came back negative to matching both Jeremey and Chain Heins but did come from an unknown male. The state argued that it was not enough to overturn the conviction so Chad’s attorney asked the state to do some further testing and to compare the DNA from under the fingernails to the hairs that was found on Tina’s body. It was in 2005 that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that there was a match between the DNA under Tina’s nail and the pubic hair. According to LaForgia (2006), “this particular type of DNA, the report stated, was found in only about 8 percent of Caucasian American men.” During this process there was a new piece of evidence that Chad’s attorney had learned about during the appeals process, a fingerprint. There were some accusations that the prosecutors never disclosed this information about this third fingerprint and if they did it was too late. The jurors did not even know about this fingerprint and if they did this could have changed the whole case. This fingerprint was found on several objects that included the smoke detector, a piece of glass, and the bathroom sink. It was soon discovered that this fingerprint matched with the DNA found on the bedsheets that Tina was on. This was finally enough evidence to help Chad Heins become exonerated in
When the first responder got to the scene he adimatately meet the 911 caller, who lead him to a car in an apartment parking lot. The car doors were closed and all of the windows were fogged. The police officer used his flashlight to see inside of the car before opening the door. He found a young African American woman who had been shot several times. The officers quickly called for backup, investigators and medical personnel. While awaiting for their arrival he secured the crime scene with caution tape, creating an initial perimeter setup as discussed in lecture two. Once everyone arrived he left it to them to search the car while he talked to the 911 caller, witnesses and others who had information on who had been present in the car. The investigators were able to collect physical evidence of bullets and cartage casings that were found outside the vehicle and inside the vehicle on the floorboard of the driver’s side. The team determined the bullets came from a 40 caliber. Other types of physical evidence that were found on the scene were the bloody clothing on the victim, the victim’s cell phone and fibers in the car from the driver’s side. personnel at the scene crime took several photographs, powered test for finger prints and did a blood spatter analysis. Stewart’s autopsy revealed that she had been shot at close range in the left hand once and in the
In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene
The ligature was fashioned with a garrote made from a broken paint brush belonging to Patsy Ramsey. The knot fashioned to hold the garrote in place was intricate, requiring knot tieing knowledge and experience. Fibers were found in the knot tied in the garrote, on the tape used to cover JonBenet Ramsey’s mouth, as well as rope used to bind her hands matching the sweater that Patsy Ramsey was wearing the night before, consequently, she was still wearing it on this day. JonBenet Ramsey had undigested pineapple in her stomach contents. Patsy and John Ramsey advised that JonBenet Ramsey did not eat pineapple the night before, consequently, a bowl containing pineapple was found on the diningroom table. The prints on the bowl belonged to Patsy and Burke Ramsey. There was specultaion that secual assualt may have been a factor in this case, consequently, the evidence could neither support nor deny this. The undergarments that JonBenet Ramsey was wearing did have a spot of dried blood on them. DNA results were inconclusive, the law enforcement officials were unable to find a match for the unknown male
...lice or lawyers used their integrity. The police skirted around the law and use evidence that the witnesses said was not correct. They had a description of the suspect that did not match Bloodsworth but, they went after him as well. They also used eyewitness testimony that could have been contaminated.
The worst thing in life is paying for another man's mistake. Sadly, this is something that occurs frequently. After watching a video about the wrongful conviction and the imprisonment of Ronald Cotton, I was baffled. I find it absurd that an innocent person can lose their freedom for a crime that they were not involved in. Ronald Cotton is not the only unfortunate individual who has endured wrongful imprisonment. Bennet Barbour, James Bain, and many others have been convicted of crimes that they did not commit due to faulty eyewitness testimonies.