Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Its Varieties - Term Paper Example

 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Blood Stain pattern analysis varies from complex to simple. The scene of crime offers a wide range of castoff blood patterns, which might be understandable and straightforward. At the same time, the crime scene might require professionals and trained specialist in cases where there is employment of determining the origin and convergence. This uses trigonometry or string method. Experienced and trained professionals who might not always be in a normal crime scene normally do analysis of bloodstain patterns, which is scientific (Bevel & Gardner, 2002). When one is in a crime scene, the specialists may use different opinions and definitions, which might be confusing to the average people and investigators. Therefore, it is important to understand some of the terms used and the manner in which they are important in investigation. At the same time, an example of a case involving bloodstain pattern analysis will be used to give a clear picture of the practice. The common words used in bloodstain pattern analysis include splatter and spatter which are interchangeably used. These words continue to confuse the ordinary individual during pattern interpretation or pattern analysis. The word interpretation is associated with the scientific subjectivity in evaluation and analysis of the evidence found in bloodstain patterns. The experts refer to the practice as Bloodstain Pattern Analysis otherwise known as BPA (Wonder, 2007). This is implied to be the structured approach during evaluation of the things to be examined. The science applied in this practice can be compared to the scientific knowledge, which other fields can apply in solving their practical problems. This approach is also applicable in forensic science. The analysis of bloodstain patters can be associated with various disciplines such as math, biology, chemistry physics and other subjects related to science. Case study: The Chamberlain Case This case dates back to august 1980 as the Chamberlain family was camping near rock formation referred to as Ayers Rocks in Australia. Lindy Chamberlin, who was the mother in the family, put her two children to sleep in their tent. They were called Azaria who was 10 week old and Reagan who was 4 years old (Crispin, 2012). She was shocked when she returned as she thought that dingo took her baby. In accordance to her statement, she saw a dingo dragging something but she did not see what it was since she was not close enough to enable her to affirm her implications. On checking the children, she realized that Azaria was nowhere to be found. They embarked on a mission of finding her together with her husband and other campers. One of the campers decided to check on Reagan who was still sleeping. She found some small pool of wet blood and concluded that Azaria was already dead. The head park ranger arrived and he was shown the blood and some torn blanket with blood on it. The remaining part was the work of the police who decided to look at the bloodstain on the clothes. Some tourists came across the baby’s jumpsuit that was slightly torn. It was near a dingo’s layer. The pleats were still on but it was pulled off. According to the baby’s mother, she was wearing clothes that were not found. The police arrived at the scene and folded the jumpsuit. The television crew had arrived at the scene and this led to a lot speculations on what might have happened to the baby. All the rumors and speculations initiated suspicion that the Chamberlain family might have been involved in their daughter’s death. Claims from the police indicated that there were bloodstains, which matched Lindy’s blood near the caves of Ayers Rock. Initially, they had also suspected that the blood at the tent could not belong to the baby (Crispin, 2012). After a few tests were conducted, it was realized that there was enough saturation of blood, which might have resulted to the death of the baby. The examination through the fluorescent to the jumpsuit indicated that there was slitting of the throat through the consistent marks of blood. As the investigations were still being carried out, the local police are said to have handled the evidence and blood spatter in appropriately. They never had the chance of photographing the scene or even preserving the materials that were found there. This made it possible for coming up with speculations, which were later ruled out (Crispin, 2012). From the testimonies that were given by the blood, experts and professionals were enough to indicate that Lindy Chamberlain and her husband were involved in the murder of their daughter. However, Azaria’s clothe was found four years later and was enough to make them to be released. At the same time, it is official that the case will remain unsolved. From this case, it clear to understand the importance of having bloodstain analysis professionals at the scene of crime. The involvement by unprofessional individuals might interfere with the evidences and blood spatter (Crispin, 2012). It is impossible to come up with a concrete conclusion on the crime if the crime scene is changed or the clothes washed. It is essential for the police to have handled the investigations properly as the perpetrators of crime would have been incarcerated and or the Chamberlains would have proven to the public that a dingo had ate the baby. Importance of Precaution From the case stipulated above, it is essential for the crime scene technicians and investigators to approach the bloodstains with precaution. They are also asked to be cognizant in the crime scene since there can be potential dangers related to handling biological fluids and blood in the scene. The crime scene sometimes possesses dangers related to airborne biohazards and pathogens, which might result to hepatitis B, hepatitis and AIDS. Therefore, some practical procedures are always given to the investigators and police whenever they are at the crime scene that involves bloodstain analysis (Bevel & Gardner, 2002). CSI are always required to wear gloves that are disposable whenever they are at the crime scene. This is justified by the fact that blood and fluids might be carriers of pathogens and diseases. Airborne pathogens and communicable diseases are also issues to consider and that is the reason why they are recommended to have disposable masks. They are also advised to wear eye protective and gowns to protect their clothing in case they are exposed to large amounts of body fluids or blood. Bloodstain Pattern Evidence at the Scene In event associated with crime scene that bloodstain is involved, it is claimed that there must be violence involved. This makes investigators to come up with information, which might be used in determining the sequence of events. This violence might have taken place between the assailant and the victim (Wonder, 2007). Bloodstain patterns at the scene of crime or clothes can be used in the justification or refuting an assumption related to the sequence or event. It is through the bloodstain that the investigators can determine the position of the victim to be sitting, either standing or lying. It can also be used in showing some evidence of struggle. Types of Physical Evidences The first evidence that the investigators usually come across is referred to as transient evidence which temporary in nature. This evidence is constituted by imprints, temperatures, odors and indented materials that might change in shape. These materials might be snow, mud, wet sand and butter. This can also be used in reference to blood spatter or markings of lividity that are in moveable objects. There also cases whereby the investigator will discover pattern evidence, which is produced through contact. This form of evidence consists of projectile trajectory, fire burn patterns, tire marks, glass fracture patterns, powder residue patterns and blood splatter. This evidence is normally realized in a crime scene that violence is involved. Conditional evidence is another form of crime scene that the investigators come across. This is caused by an event or action such as lighting resulting from a crime scene color, odor, flame or direction of smoke (James, Kish, & Sutton, 2005). This is sometimes related to the location of the bloodstain evidence found at the crime scene in relation to the position of the body. The final type of evidence is transfer evidence where there is physical contact of the objects and person in the crime scene. This is the type of evidence, which was found in Chamberlain’s case whereby they could not find physical evidence at the scene of crime since it was moved. References Bevel, T., & Gardner, R. M. (2002). Bloodstain pattern analysis: With an introduction to crime scene reconstruction. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Crispin, K. (2012). The Chamberlain case: The legal saga that transfixed the nation. Melbourne, Vic: Scribe Publications. James, S. H., Kish, P. E., & Sutton, T. P. (2005). Principles of bloodstain pattern analysis: Theory and practice. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC. Wonder, A. Y. (2007). Bloodstain pattern evidence: objective approaches and case applications. Burlington, MA: Elsview Academic Press. Read More