Pettler Crime Scene Staging Dynamics in Homicide Cases

1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4987-1119-7
Verlag: CRC Press
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 416 Seiten

Individuals who perpetrate murder sometimes pose or reposition victims, weapons, and evidence to make it look like events happened in a different way than what actually transpired. Until now, there has been scarce literature published on crime scene staging.

Crime Scene Staging Dynamics in Homicide Cases is the first book to look at this practice, providing a methodology of identifying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the evidence of each case by learning to marry the physical evidence to the behavioral evidence.

The book begins with the history of crime scene staging and includes many case examples that illustrate how, when, and why criminals stage crime scenes. The characteristics of crime scene stagers and their victims are examined along with the intent of crime scene staging and dynamics of the staged crime scene. In addition, coverage of forensic victimology explores the reasons why a person might become a victim and why, based on this, staging may be performed.

The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing behavioral red flags which are often present in staged crime scenes. These indicators can be commonly overlooked by investigators when they focus only on the physical evidence of a crime scene. Early detection, crime scene analysis, and crime scene reconstruction of the staged crime scene are each supported—by the full body of literature and latest published research on staging as well as by proven real-world, field-based methodologies.

The book identifies and describes various types of crime scene staging behavioral patterns, presenting the complications and challenges that crime scene staging presents for investigators. This book will be an invaluable tool for forensic scientists, investigators, homicide detectives, and law enforcement to understand all aspects of crime scene staging dynamics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Pettler, Laura Gail

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Strafrecht Rechtsmedizin, Forensik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION TO STAGING

History of Crime Scene Staging

Early Historical References to Crime Scene Staging 1514 The Story of Richard Hunne 1841 The Story of Mister 1859 The Budge Case 1882 Bloodstains on the Doorjamb 1882 Dr. Carl Liman and Staged Weapons 1887 Dr. Eduard R. von Hofman Murder Staged as Suicide 1892 Lizzie Borden Glaister 1902 1924 Hans Gross 1936 O’Connell and Soderman 1962 Soderman and O’Connell 1972 O’Hara and Osterberg 1974 Svensson and Wendel
Contemporary References to Crime Scene Staging 1984 Puschel, Holtz, Hildebrand, Naeve, Brinkman 1989 Ueno, Fukanaga, Nakagawa, Imabayashi, Fukiwara, Adachi, Mizoi 1992 Douglas and Munn 1996 Geberth 1996–2006 Geberth 1996 Leth and Vesterby 1998 Yamamoto, Hayase, Matsumoto, Yamamoto 1998 Mallach and Pollak 1999 Adair and Dobersen 1999–2011 Turvey 2000 Turvey 2001 Meloy 2002 Adair 2004 Hazelwood and Napier 2004 Keppel and Weis 2006 Douglas and Douglas Eke 2007 2007, 2011 Chisum and Turvey 2009 Cobin 2010 Geberth 2011 Ferguson 2011 Pettler 2012 Schlesinger, Gardenier, Jarvis, and Sheehan-Cook 2014 Chancellor and Graham 2014 Ferguson 2015 Pettler

Summary of Crime Scene Staging Literature

References

Introduction to Crime Scene Staging
Introduction

Staging versus Scene Alteration

Staging versus Precautionary Acts
Deception
Crime Scene Staging Statistics and No Repository
Crime Scene Staging Is a Problem
References

Crime Scene Dynamics

Heart of It All: Ethics Death Scene Characteristics Indicative of Homicide

Anatomy of a Homicide Physical Evidence Behavioral Evidence Circumstantial Evidence Body as Evidence

Staged Scenes versus Other Types of Scenes

References

SECTION II: OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS

Offender Characteristics and Behaviors

Introduction

Offender Characteristics Offenders Are Most Often Male Personality Behavior Emotionality Cognition Envirosocioculturalism

Crime Scene Staging Behavior
Categorizing Crime Scene Staging Behaviors Crime Scene Staging, Research, and Typologies Cleaner Concealer Creator Fabricator Inflictor Planner Evaluating Typologies

Building Theories about Crime Scene Staging Development of a Substantiated Theory on Crime Scene Staging Pettler’s 2011 Theory of Crime Scene Staging Breaking Down the Theory: The Problem of Crime Scene Staging Breaking Down the Theory: The Problem for Society Breaking Down the Theory: Identifying Solutions Breaking Down the Theory: Strengths and Weaknesses
References

Victimology

Introduction

Defining Victimology

Victimology Theory Case Example

Victimology and Politics

Importance of Victimology Case Example
Research-Based Forensic Victimology: A Suggested Approach Taxonomic Hierarchal Arrangement of Victimological Components Conceptual Model of Research-Based Forensic Victimology Implications of Research-Based Forensic Victimology Physiological: Victim’s Physical Demographics and Attributes Safety: Victim in Relation to Personal, Familial, Financial, and Occupational Safety Love and Belonging: Victim in Relation to Relationships Esteem: Victim in Relation to Personality, Cognition, Emotionality, Behavior, and Achievement Self-Actualization: Victim in Relation to Relative Adoption of Worldly Concepts Appendices

Victim–Offender Relationship Importance of Victim–Offender Relationship Examination Importance of Victim–Offender Relationship: Circumstantial Evidence Facilitation, Precipitation, and Victim Risk Case Example Case Example Assessing Risk Level

References

Purposes and Motives

Introduction Disconnecting the Victim–Offender Relationship Deception Misdirect Investigations Self-Preservation Avoid Apprehension

Motives for Murder Motive 1: Argument/Conflict/Confrontation Motive 2: Property Gain Motive 3: Robbery Motive 4: Sexual Assault

References

Intimicide

Introduction
Intimate Partner Violence Intimate Partner Violence and Risk Factors Indicating Lethality Case Example Physical Abuse Emotional Abuse Psychological Abuse (Mental Abuse) Sexual Abuse Economic Abuse

Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence Physical Consequences Psychological Consequences Lifestyle-Related Consequences

Intimate Partner Homicide

Intimicide Intimicide Characteristics Intimicide Dynamics Power–Anger Conceptual Continuum Intimicide Homicidal Pattern

Criminal Profiling and Its Value toward Predicting Risk and Preventing Lethality in Intimicide Intimicide Offender Characteristics

References

Types of Staging

Introduction

Homicides Staged as Suicides Case Example Suicide and Firearms The Betty "Bea" Lafon Johnson Malone Flynn Sills Gentry Neumar Case Example Case Example
Homicides Staged as Robberies, Home Invasions, and Burglaries Case Example

Homicides Staged as Accidents Case Example Arson Case Example

Homicides Staged as Car Accidents
Homicides Staged as Sexual Homicides Case Example

Homicides Staged as Self-Defense Cases Case Example

Homicides Staged as Missing Persons Case Example Case Example

References

SECTION III: VICTIM-CENTERED DEATH INVESTIGATION METHODOLOGY

Crime Identification: Detecting Deception

Introduction

Bloom’s Taxonomy Phase 1: Knowledge, Comprehension, and Application Phase 2: Analysis Phase 3: Synthesis and Evaluation

Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology (VCDIM) Suggested Approach Overview of the VCDIM Process VCDIM: Outline VCDIM Stage 1: Crime Scene Knowledge Staging Identification Trilogy Conflict and Confrontation Victim Discovery Verbal Staging

Crime Scene Investigation Assumption of Integrity Constellation Theory

VCDIM Stage 2: Crime Scene Comprehension

VCDIM Stage 3: Application of the Crime Scene Processing
Technology

References

Crime Analysis

Introduction

Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology: Outline

VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis
VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 1 (Victimology)

VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 2 (Crime Scene and Lab Reports) Victim Discovery and Notification Time, Date, Location, and Number of Crime Scenes Initial Contact Location Murder Scene Location Victim Recovery and Disposal Site Location First Responders Crime Scene Logs Points of Entry and Exit Documentation Notes Photographs Measurements Sketches and Maps Evidence Lists Reports Evidence of Staging Cleaning the Crime Scene Hiding and Removing Evidence Creating Evidence Destroying Evidence

VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 3 (Autopsy: Wound Pattern Analysis) Physical Evidence on the Body Time of Death Evidence of Injury

VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 5 (Suspectology)

VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 5 (Statement Analysis) "How-To": Organize to Multiple Statements Detecting Deception Types of Narratives
VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 6 (The Scientific Method) Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Shooting Incident Reconstruction Kaleidoscope System

References

Crime Synthesis and Evaluation

Introduction

Summary of Crime Scene Staging Behaviors and Characteristics

VCDIM Outline VCDIM Stage 5: Crime Synthesis Before, During, and After the Death of the Victim Victim-Centered Modified Triangulation: Empirical, Quasi-Empirical, and Nonempirical Tying It All Together VCDIM Stage 6: Crime Evaluation
References

Custom Art

Introduction
Crime Scene Staging Awareness Initiative

Recommendations for Future Research Expanded Sample Sizes Staging Prevalence and Frequency Staging and the CSI Effect Offender Characteristics and Behaviors Victim Characteristics: Victimological Studies Victim–Offender Relationship Conflict and Confrontation Victim Discovery Weapons Verbal Staging Behavioral Taxonomy Crime Scene Staging and Law Enforcement Professionals

American Cold Case Epidemic

American Investigative Society of Cold Cases

Cold Cases and Crime Scene Staging

Conclusion

References

Appendix A: Research-Based Forensic Victimology

Appendix B: Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology Outline

Appendix C: Crime Synthesis Matrix

Appendix D: Physical Evidence Inventory and Information Worksheet

Appendix E: Crime Scene Photo Log Worksheet

Appendix F: Wound Pattern Analysis Worksheet

Appendix G: Statement Analysis Worksheet

Appendix H: Prereconstruction Checklist

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Laura Gail Pettler is a forensic criminologist, author, educator, and inventor. She is a crusader for justice for victims in homicide cases. Laura is dedicated to using her life to make a difference. Laura holds a bachelor of science degree in preprofessional psychology; a master of science degree in criminal justice where she focused on death investigation, forensic psychology, and aspects of forensic science; and a doctor of philosophy degree in public safety specializing in criminal justice where she focused on forensic criminology and specifically on the study of intimate partner violence and crime scene staging behaviors. Laura is an International Association for Identification (IAI) Certified Senior Crime Scene analyst and is the chairwoman of the IAI’s Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee.

Laura was inducted into the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases (AISOCC) and served one year on its honorary review board while simultaneously serving as AISOCC’s Director of Development before being promoted to vice president in 2014. Laura dedicates a tremendous amount of time and resources toward furthering AISOCC’s mission in support of cold case victims and their family in the pursuit of justice.