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Case of the Bloodied Bully

  • Page ID
    66717
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    Forward to the Case Report (Student Pages)

    Major Evidence Techniques Set Up for a Particular Case *

    Blood Samples

    • from Samuel Herrick
    • from Michael Brown

    Gas chromatography (ethanol)

    Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (drugs)

    • Herrick: ethanol (0.15 g/100 mL); cocaine (200 ng/mL)
    • Brown: ethanol (0 g/100 mL); cocaine (400 ng/mL)

    Gunshot Residue Samples (Handwashings: left hand / right hand)

    • from Samuel Herrick
    • from Michael Brown
    • from Donna Stevens
    • from Caroline Stevens

    Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry (lead)

    • Herrick: 300 ppb / 400 ppb Pb
    • Brown: background level
    • Donna Stevens: 700 / 1300 ppb
    • Caroline Stevens: 700 / 500 ppb

    Arson Sample and Flammables

    • carpet from crime scene
    • unburned carpet
    • liquid from Stevens' home
    • liquid from Herrick's apartment

    Gas chromatography

    • Crime scene: kerosene added to carpet that is subsequently burned.
    • Kerosene at the Stevens' home
    • Gasoline at Herrick's apartment

    Ink Samples from Pens

    • Suicide note
    • from Samuel Herrick
    • from Michael Brown
    • from Donna Stevens
    • from Caroline Stevens

    UV-Visible spectrophotometry (color)

    Liquid chromatography (components)

    • Suicide note: UltraFine Flair
    • Herrick: Flair B0
    • Brown: PMOP; PaperMater
    • D. Stevens: UltraFine Flair
    • C. Stevens: Sanford Sharpie

    White Powder from Michael Brown

    Infrared spectrophotometry (bulk drug)

    • Mixture of glucose and caffeine ("cocaine")

    * ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO: Samuel Herrick did not kill himself; rather he was murdered by his abused lover, Donna Stevens. After shooting and killing Herrick, Donna started a fire in the apartment in hopes of covering her tracks.


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