Body Fluids as Evidence in Caren Campano Case - Research Paper Example

Body Fluids as Evidence in Caren Campano Case Introduction Biological fluids serve as valuable evidence in criminal cases. Body fluids such as blood stains are now routinely used to either eliminate a suspect from consideration or in associating a suspect with a crime. For instance, the presence of seminal fluids at the crime scene is an indication of sexual act. The presence of DNA in body fluids paves the way for identification of the criminal through sensitive serological techniques and DNA typing. (Vince et al, 2005). Blood stains and other bodily fluids remain on the crime scene in the form of either liquid or stains which are collected and transferred to labs for testing. Besides bloodstains, other fluids classified as body fluids are semen, vaginal fluids, urine, pus, human milk, perspiration, and saliva. The purity of the body fluid sample determines the biological success of the experiments undertaken to associate or eliminate a suspect from consideration. The prospect of secretors and non secretors often plays an important role in biological testing of body fluid samples. The individuals, whose blood contain detectable amounts of the same ABO group characteristics are classified as secretors and such individuals constitute approximately about 80% of the population. Conversely, the rest of the 20% population does not possess such characteristics and are known as non secretors. In most criminal cases containing blood stains and spatter involve reconstruction of the events which occurred at the crime scene. Useful information is provided by the appearance and shape of bloodstains. Moreover, the directionality of the falling drop can be easily analyzed from the spots of blood on walls and floor. The shape of the drop reveals other important information of the assault as well such as their velocity and impact angle. (Palmiotto, 2004). Bloodstains- A valuable source of evidence The Caren Campano Case is a popular case in which body fluids as evidence helped solve a seemingly mysterious case. The case was solved after numerous blood analysis techniques were performed on body fluid samples. On 1st July, Caren Campano mysteriously disappeared from her Oklahoma City home after having a fight with her husband. Upon encounter with the detectives, Caren’s husband allowed them to look around the house and this inevitably proved to be his huge mistake. The detectives found a huge stain in the master bedroom’s carpet which appeared to be a bloodstain. The forensic department performed numerous tests on the sample which are listed below: i. Microcrystal Hema Stick test: The blood testing kit utilizes a blood sensitive chemical to identify human blood in samples collected from crime scene. The hema stick test was performed on the sample collected from the bedroom carpet of Caren’s house. The test came out to be positive because the sample indeed contained human blood. ii. Luminol: The chemical luminol is a crystalline solid which produces chemiluminescence upon contact with blood. The Luminol spray is used to identify bloodstains which are not visible through the naked eye. Luminol is one of the most popular blood identifying techniques that forensic investigators use to detect traces of blood at a crime scene. The crime scene is evenly sprayed with luminal and traces of blood are identified by the eerie blue illumination produced by the chemical in darkness. Apart from the brownish stain on the bedroom carpet, Caren’s house was relatively spotless. However, the luminal test revealed that the house was literally covered with blood. The forensic investigators were left in no doubt of the fact that a virtual bloodbath had taken place because numerous places around the house illuminated. Blood analysis techniques such as the ones performed in Caren’s case provided valuable information which simplified the case. Detailed information is interpreted from the pattern of bloodstains formed at the crime scene. The pattern formed helps determine the track of blood and the number of blows inflicted. Moreover, the pattern also provides information about the location and position of the weapon used by the killer to inflict the wounds. Apart from the blood trail through the house, forensic investigators found numerous bloodstains and spatters on walls, floors, and the ceiling of the house. The investigators were able to reconstruct what had happened in the house by piecing together the data received from the crime scene. Investigators were able to gather that the victim had received fatal forceful blows to the head with a blunt object. iii. Blood Volume Test through stain recreation: In this test, the investigators utilized the rug on which the bloodstain had been found in the bedroom. They poured a volume of blood on the rug equal to the volume which initially produced the stain on the carpet. The motive behind this test was to determine how much blood the victim had lost on the carpet. Investigators found that Caren lost around 40% of her blood on the carpet which would inevitably have been fatal if she had survived the blows to her head. Therefore, there was no chance of her being alive. iv. DNA analysis Reverse Paternity test: For this test, blood samples from Caren’s family members were taken. The test would have been simplified had her father been alive. The police now had enough evidence to arrest Caren’s father because the samples showed partial match with the victim’s blood. (Ramsland, 2012). Caren Campano’s body was not found until a year after her husband was arrested for murder. Her skeletal remains showed numerous fractures on her skull and her dental records confirmed her identity. The case came to an end with the conviction of Chris Campano for murdering her wife. (Ramsland, 2012). Conclusion Modern crime scene investigations heavily rely on science and technology. The utilization of latest blood analysis techniques assist in classical, thorough, patient detective scrutiny. Nowadays, the detectives are assisted by numerous forensic personnel such as forensic pathologists and forensic biologists. Two principle avenues of potential interest are provided by the analysis of body fluid samples collected from the crime scene. The first principle is the reconstruction of the events which took place at the crime scene and the second principle involves the individualization of the chemical characteristics of the biological samples. The history is littered with examples where blood and other body fluid samples have provided a wealth of information such as the Nicole Brown Simpson and Marilyn Sheppard case. Body fluid analysis techniques are extensively employed in numerous cases such as self defense cases, in homicide cases, and in cases of suspicious death. (Raymond, 1997). Blood follows the laws of physical science such as principles of projectile motion when it leaves the body with force. The viscosity and high surface tension of blood prelude sweeping analogues and provides information about not only the location and position of the weapon but also about the number of blows the victim received. Thus, through bloodstain analysis the damage done to the victim can be anticipated even in the absence of the body. In order to detect multiple bleeders, highly sensitive serological tests or DNA typing is used. Furthermore, the attempt to deliberately remove bloodstains by the killer can also be successfully detected. (Raymond, 1997). The utilization of sensitive blood analysis techniques enabled the conviction of Chris Campano. The luminal test revealed the bloodbath that had taken place and the DNA typing enabled the blood to be identified as Caren’s. Thus, Caren received justice only because of the modern blood analysis techniques which enabled the investigators to identify her killer even in the absence of her body. References: Top of Form Vince, J. J., Sherlock, W. E., & American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers. (2005).Evidence collection. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett. Palmiotto, M. (2004). Criminal investigation. Dallas: University Press of America. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Ramsland, K. (2012). Serology: It’s in the Blood. Crime Library. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/forensics/serology/7.html Vince Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Raymond, T. (July 01, 1997). Crime Scene Reconstruction from Bloodstains. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 29, 2, 69-78. Palmiotto Palmiotto Palmiotto Palmiotto, M. (2004). Criminal investigation. Dallas: University Press of America. Palmiotto, M. (2004). Criminal investigation. Dallas: University Press of America. Palmiotto, M. (2004). Criminal investigation. 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