Overview of The Crime Scene Investigator Job

Normally, the start of any investigative inquiry commences at the crime scene. The crime scene is the initial step in the investigation where you can gather evidence or any data that may be critical to a case. Whether it is fingerprints, DNA, filaments, or possibly even the alleged murder weapon, the crime scene could be the only chance a forensic investigator has to collect any evidence properly. This should be done by following detailed steps and actions to guarantee all possible evidence is collected. Crime scene investigation may seem simple or maybe even an easy step for someone who watches TV, but any mishaps throughout this process may impact the feat of the investigation once it enters to court.

Crime scene investigation, often mentioned as CSI, is the inspection of any area where a crime may have occurred (“Crime”, 2017). The objective of any crime scene investigator is to identify, assemble, preserve, and if required, interpret all the pertinent corporal evidence found at the crime scene (James, Nordby, & Bell, 2014). At any scene, corporal evidence that is considered valuable will be collected. Physical evidence is vital to any investigation because it can establish that a crime has been committed. Once all evidence is composed and scrutinized, investigators attempt to recreate the actions that produced the evidence. Every crime scene investigation follows a deliberate and methodical method so that no evidence goes unnoticed. It is better for an investigation to have copious amounts of evidence, rather than missing out on data that could prove crucial to an investigation.

By the time the detectives had arrived the children were already secured. They showed no sign of injury or harm. An initial sweep of the residence was done and the bodies of two dead females, apparently shot to death, were found inside. They were later identified as Karen D Green (53YOA) and Tracey D. Smith (31YOA). There were approximately 3 dogs at the residence, which the kids had secured in the house for the responding officers. The dogs were labeled as being aggressive in the direction of unfamiliar persons. Two dogs were allegedly secured in a room with one dog left running loose. Once the officers started putting crime scene tape around the house, they notice another dog laying dead just outside the glass screen door. This would have been the same glass door that the first female (Karen D Green) was observed laying beside in the residence. Based on the initial crime scene size up, the officers quickly obtained a search warrant for the residence, that was signed by Hardin County Circuit Judge Janet Cole.

The Hardin County Animal Control Office was also notified and asked to respond to the scene to remove all the animals. When they arrived, the officers entered the home along with the Animal Control Officer and removed three dogs. They removed a large black and gray dog, (collie mix), from a bedroom. This bedroom is located immediately on the left as you entered the home through the front door. Two more dogs were then removed from another bedroom, possibly (Labrador mix). The second dog removed from this bedroom was a brown in color Labrador. These two dogs were removed from a bedroom located down the hallway, on the right. The bedroom, was the second bedroom from the end of the hallway.

After securing the crime scene, detectives were ordered to do a second crime scene canvas, which yielded some vital information regarding the victims and the crime scene. They discovered the back-porch door broken open along with a gunshot through a side window. When they first entered the kitchen, the body of Karen Green, was found with her back laying against the wall near the rear door entrance, followed by a large amount of blood found on the interior and exterior of the rear door.

As the officers continued down the hall, they observed a bullet hole in the wall which may have entered the first bedroom located to the right, of the children’s bedroom. A follow up examination of this bullet's path exhibited that this bullet was fired through the rear patio door, through the bedroom wall, and exited the bedroom window. This bullet was the initially shot fired and had apparently missed its target by the shooter. A portion of this bullet (only the jacket) was found still hanging from the blinds.

Continuing down the hall, the bathroom doorway is positioned to the left. A single slug was taken from the basin in the bathroom. Also, a wet washcloth was recovered from the sink. This bullet was found to have had entered from Tracy's room located directly on the other side of this bathroom wall. The bullet's path was later calculated to be fired at a downward angle. At the end of the same hallway, Tracy's room is located to left along with the baby's bedroom to the right. Her body could be seen laying immediately just inside her bedroom doorway, with a large pool of blood located under her upper body

Following the documentation of all evidence relating to the bodies and their positions, the Coroner removed the bodies of Tracy Smith and Karen Green from the scene. The bodies evidenced signs of lividity and rigor mortis in their extremities. The hands of both victims were secured inside paper bags to preserve possible evidence.

The scene was then photographed starting from the outside in, the bodies in their original locations, including all evidence as they were located. The evidence was then photographed a second time with a corresponding item number as it was collected and filed. In the house, it appeared as if nothing was taken. After several hours at the crime scene, all officers cleared and left the scene. Following the removal of all evidence, officers dusted for hidden fingerprints. No usable prints were found or lifted from the residence.

On exiting the residence, there were two automobiles parked in the driveway. One was a green Chevy Camaro, convertible. Later, it was learned that this vehicle belonged to Tracy D. Smith. The other vehicle was a green Chevy, Crew-Cab pickup truck. There was also a boat in the back yard. A total of five casings were recovered. Two were recovered in the bedroom of Tracy Smith. Three casings were recovered on the back-concrete patio.

Crime scene investigation, the initial point to any case, is a multi-step procedure that encompasses the collaboration of an entire team of forensic scientists and crime scene investigators to collect, preserve, process, and analyze evidence. Due to the weight that is put on forensic evidence in court rooms today, the importance of accurately and efficiently processing a crime scene cannot be overstated. Whether it is securing the crime scene, taking photographs, sketching the scene, taking notes, or collecting evidence, the procedures and processes set forth for crime scene investigators are to ensure that every piece of a crime scene is documented thoroughly.

References

1. Crime scene investigation. (2017). In Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.stevenson.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=CR241850&site=ehost-live.
2. James, S. H., Nordby, J. J., & Bell, S. (2014). Forensic science: An introduction to scientific and investigative techniques (4th ed.). London: Taylor & Francis.
3. Hessick, C. B. (2007). Violence between lovers, strangers, and friends. Washington University Law Review,85(343). Retrieved from https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&context=law_lawreview.