Bloodstain Pattern Analysis With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction Third Edition 52683_C000.indd 1 2/13/08 8:54:51 AM CRC SERIES IN PRA CTICA L A SPECTS O F CRIM IN A L A N D FO REN SIC IN V ESTIG A TIO N S VERN O N J. GEBERTH , BBA , M PS, FBIN A Series Editor Practical H om icide Investigation: T actics, Procedures, and Forensic T echniques, Fourth Edition V ernon J. Geberth The Counterterrorism H andbook: T actics, Procedures, and T echniques, Third Edition Frank Bolz, Jr., Kenneth J. D udonis, and D avid P. Schulz Forensic Pathology, Second Edition D om inick J. D i M aio and V incent J. M . D i M aio Interpretation of Bloodstain Evidence at Crim e Scenes, Second Edition W illiam G. Eckert and Stuart H . Jam es Tire Im print Evidence Peter M cD onald Practical D rug Enforcem ent, Third Edition M ichael D . Lym an Practical A spects of Rape Investigation: A M ultidisciplinary A pproach, Third Edition Robert R. H azelw ood and A nn W olbert Burgess The Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Practical G uide to A ssessm ent, Investigation, and Intervention, Second Edition Seth L. Goldstein G unshot W ounds: Practical A spects of Firearm s, Ballistics, and Forensic T echniques, Second Edition V incent J. M . D i M aio Friction Ridge Skin: Com parison and Identification of Fingerprints Jam es F. Cow ger Footw ear Im pression Evidence: D etection, Recovery and Exam ination, Second Edition W illiam J. Bodziak Principles of K inesic Interview and Interrogation, Second Edition Stan W alters Practical Fire and A rson Investigation, Second Edition D avid R. Redsicker and John J. O ’Connor The Practical M ethodology of Forensic Photography, Second Edition D avid R. Redsicker Practical A spects of Interview and Interrogation, Second Edition D avid E. Zulaw ski and D ouglas E. W icklander 52683_C000.indd 2 2/13/08 8:54:52 AM Investigating Com puter Crim e Franklin Clark and Ken D iliberto Practical H om icide Investigation Checklist and Field G uide V ernon J. Geberth Practical A spects of M unchausen by Proxy and M unchausen Syndrom e Investigation Kathryn A rtingstall Q uantitative-Q ualitative Friction Ridge A nalysis: A n Introduction to Basic and A dvanced Ridgeology D avid R. A shbaugh Practical Crim inal Investigations in Correctional Facilities W illiam R. Bell O fficer-Involved Shootings and U se of Force: Practical Investigative T echniques, Second Edition D avid E. H atch Sex-Related H om icide and D eath Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives V ernon J. Geberth G lobal D rug Enforcem ent: Practical Investigative T echniques Gregory D . Lee Practical Investigation of Sex Crim es: A Strategic and O perational A pproach Thom as P. Carney Principles of Bloodstain Pattern A nalysis: Theory and Practice Stuart Jam es, Paul Kish, and T. Paulette Sutton Cold Case H om icides: Practical Investigative T echniques Richard H . W alton Practical Crim e Scene Processing and Investigation Ross M . Gardner Practical Bom b Scene Investigation Jam es T. Thurm an Practical A nalysis and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents Edw ard E. H ueske Tire T read and Tire T rack Evidence: Recovery and Forensic Exam ination W illiam J. Bodziak Bloodstain Pattern A nalysis: W ith an Introduction to Crim e Scene Reconstruction, Third Edition Tom Bevel and Ross M . Gardner 52683_C000.indd 3 2/13/08 8:54:53 AM Editor’s Note This textbook is part of a series entitled “Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investi­ gations.” This series was created by Vernon J. Geberth, New York City Police Department Lieutenant Commander (Ret.), who is an author, educator, and consultant on homicide and forensic investigations. This series has been designed to provide contemporary, comprehensive, and pragmatic information to the practitioner involved in criminal and forensic investigations by authors who are nationally recognized experts in their respective fields. 52683_C000.indd 4 2/13/08 8:54:53 AM CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business Boca Raton London New York Bloodstain Pattern Analysis With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction Third Edition Tom Bevel Ross M. Gardner 52683_C000.indd 5 2/13/08 8:54:53 AM CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487‑2742 © 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed in the United States of America on acid‑free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number‑13: 978‑1‑4200‑5268‑8 (Hardcover) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. 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Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data Bevel, Tom. Bloodstain pattern analysis with an introduction to crime scene reconstruction, / Tom Bevel and Ross M. Gardner. ‑‑ 3rd ed. p. cm. ‑‑ (CRC series in practical aspects of criminal and forensic investigations ; 46) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978‑1‑4200‑5268‑8 (alk. paper) 1. Bloodstains. 2. Forensic hematology. 3. Crime scene searches. I. Gardner, Ross M. II. Title. III. Series. HV8077.5.B56B48 2008 363.25’62‑‑dc22 2007040618 Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com 52683_C000.indd 6 2/13/08 8:54:54 AM vii Contents Foreword xv Preface xix Acknowledgments xxiii Introduction xxvii The Authors xxxi 1 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Its Function and a Historical Perspective 1 The Function of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 1 Historical Perspective of Bloodstain Pattern Evidence 2 Early Scientific References 3 Modern Works in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 12 Summary 13 References 14 2 Bloodstain Pattern Terminology 17 Referring to the Discipline 17 General Terms Relating to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 18 Angle of Impact 18 (Arterial) Spurt/Gush 19 Atomized Blood/Misting 20 Blood into Blood Patterns 20 Blowback Effect 21 Capillary Action 21 Cast­Off Patterns 22 Clot 23 Contact Stain 24 Directionality 24 Directional Angle 24 Drip/Drip Trail 25 Expectorate Spatter/Blood 25 Flow 26 Fly Spot 27 Impact Site 27 Non­Spatter Stains 28 Origin/Area of Origin 28 Parent Stain 28 Pattern Transfer 29 Primary Stain 29 52683_C000.indd 7 2/13/08 8:54:54 AM viii Contents Ricochet Stain 30 Satellite Stain/Spatter 30 Saturation Stain 31 Shadowing/Ghosting/Void 31 Skeletonized Stain/Skeletonization 32 Smear 33 Spatter Stains 33 Spines 34 Swipe 35 Wipe 35 Summary 36 References 36 3 Bloodstain Classification 37 Classification vs. Overall Opinion 37 Classification vs. Definition 38 Why a Taxonomic Classification System? 39 A Taxonomic Classification System for Bloodstains 40 The Spatter Family 41 Category: Spatter 43 Category: Linear Spatter 43 Category: Spurt 44 Category: Cast­Off 46 Category: Drip Trail 47 Category: Non­Linear Spatter 49 Category: Impact Pattern 50 Category: Expectorate Spatter 52 Category: Drips 53 The Non­Spatter Family 54 Category: Non­Spatter 54 Category: Irregular Margin 55 Category: Gush/Splash 56 Category: Blood into Blood 57 Category: Smear 58 Category: Wipe 59 Category: Swipe 59 Category: Regular Margin 60 Category: Pattern Transfer 61 Category: Pool 61 Category: Saturation 62 Category: Flow 63 Complex Patterns 63 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Decision Map 64 Altered Stains and the Decision Map 74 Practical Application of Taxonomy and Decision Map 74 52683_C000.indd 8 2/13/08 8:54:55 AM Contents ix Applying the Decision Map with Other Bloodstain Pattern Classification Systems 77 Low, Medium, and High Velocity 77 Spatter, Non­Spatter 81 Passive, Spatter, Altered 83 Passive, Transfer, Projected/Dynamic 83 Summary 85 References 87 4 A Methodology for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 89 Scientific Method 89 A Practical Methodology for Applying Scientific Method 94 Step 1: Become Familiar with the Entire Scene 94 Step 2: Identify Discrete Patterns 96 Step 3: Classify the Patterns 99 Step 4: Evaluate Aspects of Directionality and Motion for the Pattern 101 Step 5: Evaluate Point of Convergence and Area of Origin 102 Step 6: Evaluate Interrelationships among Patterns and Other Evidence 103 Step 7: Evaluate Viable Source Events in an Effort to Explain the Pattern 103 Step 8: Define a Best Explanation Given the Data 105 Applying the Methodology in Different Environments 106 Active Scenes 107 Released Scenes 108 Cold Case Scenes 109 Summary 109 References 110 5 The Medium of Blood 111 Spatter Droplet Dynamics 112 Spatter Drop Dynamics on Impact 114 Contact/Collapse 115 Displacement 116 Dispersion 120 Retraction 121 Liquid­to­Liquid Impacts 122 Blood Behavior When Exposed to Different Mechanisms 123 Blood Dispersed through the Air as a Function of Gravity 124 Blood Dispersed from a Point Source 125 Blood Ejected from an Object in Motion 128 Blood Ejected in Volume under Pressure 129 Blood That Accumulates and/or Flows on a Surface 131 Blood Deposited through Transfer 132 Summary 132 References 132 52683_C000.indd 9 2/13/08 8:54:56 AM