HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE ANALYSIS

BY DIANA AND JAPJOT KAUR

 Homicide is the unlawful act of causing the
death of another person, either intentionally
(with malice aforethought) or through actions
that demonstrate a reckless disregard for
human life. It encompasses actions such as
murder, manslaughter, and other forms of
killing another individual, excluding instances
deemed justifiable or lawful, such as self-
defense or capital punishment sanctioned by
the legal system. Homicide is a broad legal
and societal term that covers various
circumstances surrounding the taking of a
person's life.
 INVESTIGATING THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE

The homicide crime scene is the most important crime scene an investigator will
be called upon to respond to. Because of the nature of the crime (death by
violence or unnatural causes), can only be determined after a careful and
intelligent examination of the crime scene and after the professional and medical
evaluation of the various bits and pieces of evidence gathered by the investigator.
These bits and pieces may be in the form of trace evidence found at the scene,
statements taken from suspects, direct eyewitness accounts, or autopsy results.
 Basic Principles For Homicide Investigation:-

.1. Rapid Response

Immediate response to protect and preserve evidentiary materials.

Prevent destruction, alteration, or loss of evidence.

2. Consider Everything as Evidence

Preserve and note all physical or testimonial evidence.

Eyewitness accounts and spontaneous suspect statements are initial evidence.
3. PRIMARY CRIME SCENE:

LOCATION WHERE THE BODY WAS ORIGINALLY FOUND.

INCLUDES WHERE THE ASSAULT OCCURRED, TRACE EVIDENCE SITES, VEHICLE USED, ETC.

4. PROTECT AND PRESERVE CRIME SCENE:

IDENTIFY AND ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES OF THE CRIME SCENE.

PREVENT ALTERATION, MOVEMENT, DESTRUCTION, OR CONTAMINATION OF PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE.
Preliminary Investigation at Primary
Crime Scene:

1. Preliminary "Walk-Through":

Evaluate scene, note consistencies/inconsistencies,

identify fragile evidence.
Establish "chain of custody" for evidence.

2. Scene Presentation

Body condition and position provide crucial

investigative insights.
Helps in forming early investigative hypotheses and
validating consistency.
 1. PHOTOGRAPHIC AND DIAGRAMMATIC RECORDING:

DOCUMENTATION OF CRIME RECORD THE SCENE THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS AND

DIAGRAMS FOR ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION.
SCENE 2. EFFECTIVE NOTES:

DETAILED NOTES ON NOTIFICATION, ARRIVAL, SCENE

DESCRIPTION, AND VICTIM DETAILS.

3. STILL PHOTOGRAPHY:

PROVIDES A TRUE AND ACCURATE PICTORIAL RECORD OF

THE SCENE AND EVIDENCE.
IMPORTANT FOR ANALYSIS, LEGAL PURPOSES, AND AS A
PERMANENT RECORD.

4. SKETCHING:

ASSIGN UNITS OF MEASUREMENT AND CORRECT

PERSPECTIVE TO THE SCENE AND RELEVANT PHYSICAL
EVIDENCE.
CRIME SCENE
PHOTOGRAPHY,
SKTECHING AND
NOTEMAKING
KATHLEEN
PETERSON
ACCIDENT OR
MURDER?
 CASE SYNOPSIS
On December 9, 2001, Michael called the emergency line to report that he had just found
Kathleen and suspected that she had fallen down "15 or 20 stairs." Peterson maintained that
Kathleen must have fallen down the stairs after consuming alcohol and valium. Toxicology
results showed that his wife's blood alcohol content was 0.07 percent.

The autopsy report concluded that the 48 year old victim sustained a matrix of severe injuries,
including a fracture of the thyroid neck cartilage and seven lacerations to the top and back of
her head consistent with blows from a blunt object.
BODY AT THE CRIME
SCENE
Experts concluded that the injuries
sustained were inconsistent with an
accidental fall down the stairs. As
Michael Peterson was the only person
at the residence at the time of
Kathleen's death, he was the prime
suspect, and was soon charged with
her murder. He pleaded not guilty.
FOLLOWING THE 7'S OF CRIME SCENE

1. SECURE THE SCENE

2. SEPARATE THE WITNESSES
3. SCAN THE SCENE
4. SEE THE SCENE
5. SKETCH THE SCENE
6. SEARCH FOR EVIDENCES
7. SECURE AND COLLECT EVIDENCES
THANK YOU!