Abstract
Physical evidence left behind at a crime scene plays a crucial role in reconstructing the events that took place involving the crime. Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a discipline which utilizes the sciences of biology, physics, and mathematics. Bloodstain interpretation may be accomplished by direct scene evaluation and/or careful study of scene photographs in conjunction with detailed examination of clothing, weapons, and other objects regarded as physical evidence. The location, spreading, and appearance of bloodstains and spatters can be useful for interpreting and reconstructing the events that produced the bleeding. An investigator or bloodstain pattern analyst can decipher from individual bloodstains the direction and angle …show more content…
Sam Sheppard for the murder of his wife Marilyn. In the 1954 trial, State of Ohio v. Samuel Sheppard, Dr. Sam Sheppard, a physician, was convicted for bludgeoning his wife to death while she was in bed. Sheppard stated he was innocent and claimed he was sleeping on a couch down stairs when he heard Marilyn scream his name from upstairs. His statement said he rushed up to the bedroom but was knocked unconscious by an unknown person. The local coroner testified saying that the pool of blood on her pillow held the impression of a surgical tool. He also stated that blood found on Sheppard’s watch was from blood spatter as he was hitting his wife (Desario & Mason 2003). Sheppard was imprisoned for ten years until criminalist Dr. Paul Kirk, after conducting a thorough investigation of the Sheppard home, published a report concluding that the murderer was left-handed and probably used a flashlight as a murder weapon. Dr. Sam Sheppard was right handed. He also reported finding blood in the murder room that came from neither Sam nor Marilyn. Dr. Kirk was also able to conclude that the blood from Sheppard’s watch was blood transfer from trying to find his wife’s pulse (Desario & Mason 2003). Sam Sheppard was found not guilty after the
Physical evidence left behind at a crime scene plays a crucial role in reconstructing the events that took place involving the crime. Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a discipline which utilizes the sciences of biology, physics, and mathematics. Bloodstain interpretation may be accomplished by direct scene evaluation and/or careful study of scene photographs in conjunction with detailed examination of clothing, weapons, and other objects regarded as physical evidence. The location, spreading, and appearance of bloodstains and spatters can be useful for interpreting and reconstructing the events that produced the bleeding. An investigator or bloodstain pattern analyst can decipher from individual bloodstains the direction and angle …show more content…
Sam Sheppard for the murder of his wife Marilyn. In the 1954 trial, State of Ohio v. Samuel Sheppard, Dr. Sam Sheppard, a physician, was convicted for bludgeoning his wife to death while she was in bed. Sheppard stated he was innocent and claimed he was sleeping on a couch down stairs when he heard Marilyn scream his name from upstairs. His statement said he rushed up to the bedroom but was knocked unconscious by an unknown person. The local coroner testified saying that the pool of blood on her pillow held the impression of a surgical tool. He also stated that blood found on Sheppard’s watch was from blood spatter as he was hitting his wife (Desario & Mason 2003). Sheppard was imprisoned for ten years until criminalist Dr. Paul Kirk, after conducting a thorough investigation of the Sheppard home, published a report concluding that the murderer was left-handed and probably used a flashlight as a murder weapon. Dr. Sam Sheppard was right handed. He also reported finding blood in the murder room that came from neither Sam nor Marilyn. Dr. Kirk was also able to conclude that the blood from Sheppard’s watch was blood transfer from trying to find his wife’s pulse (Desario & Mason 2003). Sam Sheppard was found not guilty after the