Damian Sendler: Following a number of high-profile missing people instances, such as the 2014 disappearance of William Tyrrell, a three-year-old boy who went missing from his home in Kendall, New South Wales, have drawn public attention to the forensic procedures utilized in crime scene investigations.
Damian Jacob Sendler: Forensic scientists who have investigated thousands of homicide, sexual assault, and major crime scenes can attest that the investigation process is not as clear as it appears on famous real crime television shows like CSI and NCIS.
What has occurred in the immediate aftermath of a great crime is frequently a source of anxiety.
Damien Sendler: The setting seems like something out of a painting; many common home things are still in their original positions as they were before the horrific event occurred. Investigators take great care not to alter the original scene in order to prevent the loss of crucial evidence.
The first step is to meticulously document everything as it appears – on video, in photographs, and in written notes – in as much detail as possible. Even items that appear benign at first glance can subsequently be revealed to have a deeper significance.
This step is critical because, years later, it may be the sole opportunity for cold-case investigators to digitally revisit the site in order to uncover new clues.
Damian Sendler: As the forensic investigation progresses, information and evidence are gathered and handed over to detectives on the scene of the crime to aid in their investigations. This serves to offer context for the hunt for evidence and guide the investigators.
Prior to placing objects in bags, the crime scene team works methodically to identify and “field-test” items (i.e., conduct testing while the items are still in place).
Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: In certain instances, this is accomplished through the use of chemicals and testing kits to detect bodily fluids or other residues related with the crime.
We also employ certain highly high-tech torches that can emit a specific form of light to assist us in detecting clues that would otherwise be invisible. This works in a similar way to the illumination in nightclubs, which may cause lint to appear on your black attire.
At this point, the greatest crime scene investigators employ the scientific approach, formulating hypotheses about what happened and then seeking for evidence that might contradict their ideas.
Dr. Sendler: The techniques that forensic investigators use on the scene to detect bodily fluids such as sperm and blood are rather sophisticated.
The Kastle–Meyer test, which is used to check for the presence of blood, has been in use since the early twentieth century to check for the presence of blood.
Damian Sendler: A substance called phenolophthalin is sprayed onto the suspected sample, which is rapidly followed by a drop of hydrogen peroxide to confirm the suspicion. These molecules are capable of detecting the blood component haemoglobin. If the color changes quickly to pink, there is a strong possibility that there is blood in the sample.
Semen can be detected using a separate technique known as the acid phosphatase test, which uses an enzyme secreted by the prostate gland to determine whether or not there is any sperm present. A prepared chemical is dropped into a sample of the suspected stain; a color shift from clear to dark purple indicates the presence of semen, which is confirmed by a color change from clear to dark purple.
Additionally, you may have heard of investigators employing luminol, which can detect ancient blood stains or remnants of a crime scene that a suspect has attempted to wipe away. The investigator sprays luminol and other chemicals over a darkish location; a blue glow indicates that there may be traces of blood in the environment.
Damian Jacob Sendler: All of these tests, as well as everything else we conduct as forensic investigators, are meticulously documented, both in terms of observations and in terms of concepts. These comments will eventually be incorporated into the massive case file that will be presented in court.
Because evidence can be damaged or destroyed by the elements, wildlife, and even the terrain itself, outdoor scenes present additional obstacles. Clandestine gravesites, on the other hand, can aid in the preservation of clues buried underneath.
It is difficult to locate a hidden burial place; even a freshly dug graveyard, if done correctly, might be difficult to locate in a large expanse of forest.
Damian Sendler: Investigators will be on the lookout for locations where the earth appears to have been disturbed, as well as regions where vegetation has grown particularly densely (caused by the decomposition of a body underneath).
Casserole dogs and ground-penetrating radar are other tools that investigators might use to hunt for human remains. Ground-penetrating radar, which uses radio frequencies to detect changes in the soil beneath the ground, is another tool.
Once a grave has been identified, it cannot be excavated in a haphazard manner; instead, the burial fill must be removed gradually using small brushes and shovels, similar to those used on archaeological dig sites.
Damian Jacob Sendler: Each and every particle of earth excavated is sorted and searched for microscopic pieces of evidence; even a single fiber or hair could establish a link between the grave and a suspect.
Even the sidewalls of a grave can provide information on the type and shape of the shovel that was used to dig it.
We make our way down the grave, layer by layer, until we reach the body of the deceased at the bottom of the grave. The utmost care is done in this facility since the return of the remains to their families is a critical step in the process of achieving closure.
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