MICHIGAN STATE POLICE

FORENSIC LABORATORYAP - LT. CHARLES MORDEN

Shelby Turner | 6-2-11

http://www.epier.com/product.asp?1746019

Why…

Always interested in ForensicsI Love:

○ CSI○ Criminal Minds○ NCIS○ Etc.

Narrowed my careers to twoChemical EngineerForensic Scientist

office.microsoft.com

What I learned…

What it is like in the “real world” and the workplace

How to log new evidence The different units in the lab What the trace unit analyzes What it’s like to work with others

Not everything revolves around my schedule

office.microsoft.com

What I did…

Worked at the front deskLogged evidence

Observed in the trace unitChain of custody

Worked on training guideFor future interns

Worked on databaseproduct

My Product

PurposeTo categorize/organize known evidenceEasier to make comparisonsNeeded for certification

Intended AudienceNorthville Trace UnitOther forensic labs

My Product

2-119 Natural FlaxLudlow Corporation

2-120 Natural TossaLudlow Corporation

2-121 Natural Meshta (or Kenaf)Ludlow Corporation

2-122 Natural White JuteLudlow Corporation

2-123 NaturalRamie (degummed)

Ludlow Corporation

2-124 Natural Flax - Water Ret FlaxLudlow Corporation

2-125 Nylon 501, filament E. I. du Pont de Nemours2-126 Kodel - Polyester Eastman Chemical

Identifier Category Description

1-1 Animal Mink - gray phase, guard

1-2 Animal Mink - gray phase body

1-3 Animal Mink - gray phase , belly

1-4 Animal Mink - brown phase , guard

1-5 Animal Mink - brown phase , body

1-6 Animal Mink - brown phase , belly

  Key

1 = Hairs

2 = Fibers

3 = Paint/ Pigments

4 = Glass5 = Feathers6 = Explosives7 = Polymers

8 = Miscellaneous9 = Sets  

8-66 Leather

8-67 Drano8-68 Breast Implant8-69 Breast Implant8-70 Duct Tape

Unknown substance in murder case

Source

9-7-1 Commercial Furs

9-8-2 Commercial Fibers

9-9-2 Synthetic and Manufactured Fibers

9-10 Chemical compoundsSets ID

Research Question

What is Trace Evidence and why is it important in criminal investigations?

Why I chose this question:Different sourcesLearn more about PracticumGeneral question

My Answer

What is trace?It is the miscellaneous evidence

○ Footprints○ Hairs○ Fibers

How is it important?Can provide a solution when blood doesn’tCreates connections between

○ Suspect – victim – crime scene

office.microsoft.com

AP Answer Crime shows are not realistic

Takes a long time to analyze evidence Trace unit analyzes what others don’t

Unknown chemical compounds -> footprints -> rare animal hairs

“When we are given hairs...”

1-210 Animal Hyena - Spotted1-211 Animal Grysbok1-212 Animal Impala1-213 Animal Llama - various natural colors1-214 Animal Eland1-215 Animal Buffalo1-216 Animal Chinchilla

(Morden)

Trace and Blood analysis

Found a new suspect

CSI – Trace Unit

(Zuiker)

(Hoyt)

Locard’s Exchange Principle

He stated:• There is always proof• A cross-transfer• Can’t be removed

• Usually microscopic

(“Locard’s Exchange Principle”)

“It is impossible for a criminal to act…” office.microsoft.com

Hairs

Trace is most often smallIt is almost impossible to clear away from a

crime scene (“Trace Evidence”)

The most common type of evidence analyzed by the trace unit is hairs (Morden)

We lose 50-100 daily (“Hair Loss”)

office.microsoft.com

Fibers

3 types:• Natural, Synthetic, Derived

(de Forest,

192)

• Most common is cotton• Useful when dyed

(de Forest, 194)

• Connection of rare blue fibers in a crime

office.microsoft.com

The Tests Refractive Index:

Is done using a polarized light microscopeMeasures the amount of refractive light

(Petraco, 77)

SpectroscopyMeasures the, “absorption, scattering, or

emission of electromagnetic radiation by atoms or molecules” (“Spectroscopy”)

ChromatographyMeasures the “stickiness” of compoundsAllows for multiple source testing

(“Chromatography”)

The Tests

Spectroscopy Chromatography

http://www.ap.stmarys.ca/~ishort/Astro/ http://www.dnassequencing.com/2011/04/16/chromatography/

Efficiency & Accuracy Catch the “bad guy” quickly All evidence > just fingerprints

More likely the suspect is guiltyImagine a case:

○ Woman is found dead on couch○ Fingerprints = her friend○ Friend has no alibi = friend is guilty○ STOP○ Gray fibers under fingernails ○ From husband’s gray shirt○ HUSBAND IS GUILTY

Case of Brandon MayfieldCase: Train Bombing in Madrid

Suspect: Brandon Mayfield

Evidence: Latent Print

Warrant Granted

Not his Fingerprint

“According to the British standard…”

“However…” (“crime”)

The path of a crime

(“crime”)

Conclusion

Research question:What is trace evidence and why is it

important in criminal investigations?

Answer:Usually microscopicOccurs with contactProves a connection

○ When DNA and blood don’tIs efficient and accurate

Conclusion What I learned:

That forensic science is not for meThat SMP helped me:

○ Prepare for future○ Prepare for workplace

Future goals:U of M Chemical EngineeringMaster’s DegreeStudy abroadWork for a major corporation:

○ Maybe pharmaceuticals

Bibliography“crime.” Encyclopaedia Britannic.Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2011.Encyclopaedia Britannica

Online.Web. 29 Apr. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/142953/crime>.

“Crime Scene Investigation.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/crime-scene-investigation>.

De, Forest Peter R., R. E. Gaensslen, and Henry C. Lee. Forensic Science: an Introduction to Criminalistics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983. Print. “Fibers.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale

Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011.<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/fibers>.

“Forensic Science.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011.<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/trace-evidence>

Gardner, Edward. "Using a Reflected Ultraviolet Imaging System to Recover Friction Ridge Impressions on Post-Blast Material." Journal of Forensic Identification.

Vol. 60. International Association for Identification, 2010. 104-18. Print.

Bibliography"Hair Loss." American Academy of Dermatology.American Academy of Dermatology,

2011.Web. 4 May 2011. <http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/hair-loss>.

Houck, Max M. Mute Witnesses: Trace Evidence Analysis. San Diego, Calif: Academic, 2001. Print.

Houck, Max M. Trace Evidence Analysis: More Cases in Mute Witnesses. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic, 2004. Print.

Hoyt, Jacqueline. "Death and the Maiden." CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Prod. Jerry Bruckheimer. Dir. Brad Tanenbaum. CBS. WWJ-TV, 5 Nov. 2009. Youtube.com. 6 Nov. 2009. Web. 17 May 2011.

“Locard’s Exchange Principle.” World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/locard-s-exchange-principle>.

Morden, Charles, Cheryl Lozen, and Heidi Bonta."Adult Partner."Personal interview. 29 Mar. 2011.

Petraco, Nicholas, and Thomas Kubic. Color Atlas and Manual of Microscopy for Criminalists, Chemists and Conservators. Boca Raton: CRC, 2004. Print.

Bibliography “Physical Evidence.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth

Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011. <http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/physical-evidence>.

“Spectroscopy.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/spectroscopy>.

“Thin Layer Chromatography.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr. 2011. <http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/trace-evidence>.

“Trace Evidence.”World of Forensic Science.Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Gale Cengage, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006.Web. 29 Apr.

2011.<http://www.enotes.com/forensic-science/trace-evidence>.

Zuiker, Anthony E. "If I Had a Hammer." CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Dir. Brad Tanenbaum. Prod. Jerry Bruckheimer. CBS. WWJ-TV, 23 Apr.

2009. Youtube.com. 28 Apr. 2009. Web. 16 May 2011.