Crime Scene Investigation

In this activity, I was grouped with other classmates and required to investigate a crime scene. When we entered the scene, a night club, the first thing we did was take multiple pictures of the various exhibits, just as you would at an actual crime scene. When then went on to examine the various exhibits. This is what we found:


Exhibit 1: A red headed woman was lying on the hood of a car, apparently killed by having her throat slit, or possible strangulation.



Exhibit 2: A sample of blood was found that was O negative. This blood matched the type of both the victim, Ginger Snap, and the suspect, Candi Stores.

Exhibit 3: A tented arch fingerprint was lifted that matched the suspect Candi Stores.

Exhibit 4: A mixed drink was found with lip prints on the rim from a dark red lipstick. Our team analyzed that the person who drank from the cup left a large, heavy print with their bottom lip. This also led us to believe that the person was female.

Exhibit 5: My team and I then went on to analyze the drink itself to see if it contained any poisons or illegal substances. All tests turned up negative.

Exhibit 6: A fiber sample was found at the scene. Upon analysis, it was discovered that the fiber was cotton. This was concluded by viewing the fiber through a microscope and comparing it to known samples from our previous lab in class. The discovery of this fiber led us to believe that a struggle occured between the two people.

Exhibit 7: A handwriting sample was found that read "Please help me!" Upon analysis, it was concluded that the handwriting was that of the victim Ginger Snap. This conclusion was reached because once the sample was compared to a known sample of Ginger's handwriting, we distinguished that both samples had narrow loops, small letters that were close together, and the words slanted right.



Exhibit 7A: A second handwriting sample was discovered that read "I needed the money." Upon analysis, it was concluded that the hadwriting belonged to the main suspect Candi Stores. This conclusion was reached because when this sample was compared to a known sample of the suspect's handwriting, it was distinguished that both samples had distinct 'a's, letter size varied similarly in both, the words did not line up, and the letter 'e' matched in both.

Exhibit 8: A black fiber sample was discovered at the scene. Upon analysis, it was concluded that the fiber was wool. This was concluded the same way that the cotton sample was. This further confirmed that a struggle occurred at the scene.

Exhibit 9: A gold necklace was discovered at the scene. Our group decided that this item was of no importance to the investigation, probably belonging to a bystander.

Exhibit 10: A double loop fingerprint was discovered that matched the victim Ginger Snap.

Exhibit 11: An ulnar loop fingerprint was discovered on a glass surface that we proceeded to lift. Upon analysis, it was concluded that the fingerprint was of no importance to the investigation, probably belonging to a bystander.


Conclusion: Fingerprints discovered at the scene match the main suspect Candi Stores and the victim Ginger Snap. One of the women was under the influence of alcohol. Handwriting analysis suggests that Ginger Snap was suspicious of what was to come, while Candi Store was paid to the victim. Blood samples discovered at the scene match the victim. Loose fibers suggest a struggle occurred. It was concluded that Candi Store murdered Ginger Snap by way of cutting the victim's throat. This was done in order to recieve an unknown amount of payment from an unknown source, most likely the unidentified bystander, who left a fingerprint and necklace at the scene. It is also possible that the necklace was used to strangle the victim, however, no DNA was discovered on the piece of jewlery.

(All photos in this section are courtesy of Ashley Eakins, who was one of my group members for this activity)