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In Bloodstain Pattern Evidence, the concepts introduced in the author's first book, Blood Dynamics, are updated and applied to provide essential answers in the resolution of actual crimes. The book is accessible to all levels of investigators, regardless of academic background, and allows readers to develop a fundamental understanding of the underlying scientific principles behind bloodstain pattern evidence. Bloodstain Pattern Evidence builds on the fundamental ideas brought about by an understanding of Non-Newtonian dynamics, and illustrates through case work the practical forensic science applications of these principles to the analysis of bloodstain patterns. * Extensive case examples provide practical application of essential pattern analysis principles* Extensively illustrated with over 350 photos and line drawings * Takes a unique and scientific approach to bloodstain pattern analysis by exploring the fundamentals of fluid behavior

Reviewing information from widely separated areas, such as Belgravia, Sydney, Bogota, Hong Kong, Chicago, and Toronto, suggests that much needs to be done in correcting misconceptions and misapplications. One of the most surprising statements that have been encountered is that experienced, capable law enforcement officers have never seen castoff bloodstains at the scenes of crime. If individuals capable of seeing, and actually trained to see them, feel they have not been at the scenes of violence especially when the assault was blunt force, then something is dreadfully wrong with their training. This chapter briefly discusses the bloodstain pattern.

This chapter discusses a case study where a teenage boy was accused of beating a woman who he had never met. It was alleged that the victim was asleep in a mobile home with a pillow over her head to keep daylight. The accused came into the bedroom and, without knowing who was sleeping in the bed, beat the victim with a golf club from one of the many sets present around the residence. All identification was made from photographs of the scene with medical reports to confirm the nature of the victim's injuries and health care after the assault. Injury to the head provided blood for all patterns identified. On the ceiling over the middle of the bed was an area of convergence (point of convergence) showing where an impact had occurred directly beneath. Two impact spatter patterns were seen on the wall, directly under the line from the area of convergence on the ceiling. More important to the question of whether the face was seen during the assault was the presence of a blockage transfer (void), positioned between the two areas of convergence on the wall. This corresponded to the size and location of the victim's head when she was seated near the middle of the bed. To each side of the blockage pattern were moving transfers (swipes) in addition to pie-wedge-shaped spatter patterns. This case illustrates that attorneys can benefit greatly from the information regarding bloodstain patterns in their cases, regardless of the other evidence collected. To delay requesting this information can result in serious miscarriages of justice, which may go uncorrected in the legal system.

Bloodstain pattern evidence (BPE) is included in science presentations, training programs, and in new forensic publications. In blood dynamics, the objective is to move toward a more scientific explanation of blood behavior using references from a variety of science fields. No effort is directed at censoring anyone engaged in the use of the evidence. The emphasis has always been on pointing out updated science principles and on encouraging everyone to broaden their perspective on the range of potential that the bloodstain pattern evidence offers. This chapter provides the technical approach begun in blood dynamics and includes practical applications in actual casework. The cases presented show a way the information could be developed. Because this chapter is designed to bring various viewpoints together, rather than approach the material from a single perspective, different writing styles are incorporated. The objective is to provide useful information for a widely divergent audience using semantics from a range of experience and academic backgrounds. Terminology is a source of divergent viewpoints within organizations with members who practice bloodstain pattern analysis. Blood dynamics introduce a simplified approach using a flow diagram of events and the types of patterns that result for each as recognizable divisions of BPE. The main purpose of any flow diagram is to show relationships between actions or events.

This chapter presents a case study related to lab involvement in a case related to homicide. Although the weapon was never discovered, photographs were the predominant source of information for this case. Articles of clothing worn by the roommate were viewed at the law enforcement storage facility later. Although several rounds apparently were fired from a handgun, only three areas of bleeding could be located from the photographs and study of the autopsy report. Two areas were associated with the victim and one with the witness. Bloodstain patterns suggested that the blood source was bleeding rapidly or with some degree of force. The most important pattern in this case was arterial rain (arterial spray), which was identified by a random arrangement of relatively large round bloodstains that lack directions of travel. From the bloodstain pattern evidence, it was suggested that the accused shot the victim and left. The study of bloodstain patterns played a significant role in solving this criminal case. This case suggests that if an agency has access to a good crime lab, which appreciates bloodstain pattern evidence, it seems unfortunate that they would not use it in all death investigation situations. It is recognized that time and funds are a major issue in attempting to limit casework to specific homicides. Practice, however, makes efficiency an economical compromise.

This chapter provides an overview on the preparation for bloodstain pattern workshopsA primary caution for training programs in bloodstain pattern evidence (BPE) is in teaching investigators how to analyze bloodstain patterns without emphasizing pattern match approaches. Experienced instructors and investigators see a lot more than just a bunch of red (brown or black) spots on a white cardboard sheet. They have learned subconsciously, if not consciously, to integrate qualifying characteristics so that in their minds the patterns seen match similar arrangements representing dynamics previously encountered. The whole arrangement of spots representing one dynamic event, directions of travel of individual bloodstains, and recognition of spatters associated with overlapping patterns from subsequent events are some of the characteristics highlighted. Implying from the beginning of a workshop that bloodstain patterns are pattern match is dangerous because it encourages participants to try to memorize what they see in the laboratory sessions, rather than learn why and how things resulted as they did.

This chapter discusses a case study where an alcoholic was found dead from a single gunshot wound. The injury was apparent from photographs, later confirmed from the autopsy report, as a gunshot wound to the left side of the face below the nostril. The autopsy also noted that the left lung had over 100cc of blood accumulation. The first review of the case was with the photographs sent without autopsy or interview information. The crime scene showed the victim was on the floor in an apartment with his left arm along the edge of an end table. The primary concern of the prosecuting attorney was the array of spatters on an end table to the left of the victim's body. The most important observation with the photographs was a flow and blockage transfer (void) outlining the victim's left eye. This was best demonstrated on the autopsy photo, before the body was cleaned, but also visible in the original crime scene view. The flow appeared to run from the stellate entrance wound beside the left nostril to, but not within, the left orbital space. This case emphasized the importance of the autopsy report in the interpretation of the crime. The amount of blood in the lungs should have cautioned any bloodstain pattern analyst to be aware of the possibility of respiratory type patterns, as well as those from the gunshot.

A case study is discussed in this chapter, where three people—two men and a woman— were involved in a drug deal gone badly. They drove to an isolated, rural, unlit cul-de-sac to resolve distribution problems. An argument escalated until one man was beaten, stabbed, and left dead off the road on a weed-covered dirt bank. The victim had injuries to his head but the main source of blood was from a stab wound to the abdomen with knife tracking down to up, slightly to the left to right. The objective approach toward this case was that the drip castoffs (LVIS, passive stains, gravitational, drip trail) show the sequence of the assault. Injury occurred near but not inside the vehicle to expose a blood source with the victim beginning to bleed rapidly. The victim ran toward the dirt bank while dripping blood. Spacing of spots suggests running, not the shape of individual drips. The star witness (female) present during the assault was deposed on the witness stand. First, she was asked if the accused held the knife in one hand and the wrench for beating in the other, or if one was laid on the ground while the other was used. She was slightly confused but still adamant that she had seen the attack and that the man had done both the beating and the stabbing. The jury firmly believed the woman did the stabbing leading to the victim's death, the prosecutor declined to charge her. This brings out a common misconception that if the person is convicted, they must be guilty, and if they are acquitted, they did not do it.