Recreating Death’s Half Acre: Forensic Science and Tech Farm

1. Recreating Death’s Half Acre:Forensic Science and Tech Farm Dr. David K. MillsLouisiana Tech University

2. Forensic Science at Louisiana Tech University • A Brief History • Coursework • Research Activities • Future Directions

3. Forensic Science What is it? Components- Applied Science Basic Science Legal/Courts & Testimony Facilities

4. Scope of Forensic Science Criminalistics Specialities Medicine Anthropology Odontology Entomology Others

5. History of Forensic Science Chinese medicine-6th Century 1839-MJB Orfila, toxicology Late 1800s-Alexandre Lacassagne, ballistics and bloodstain patterns 1910-Edmund Locard, exchange principle 1924-August Vollmer, LAPD crime lab 1932-FBI Laboratory, fingerprints

6. Forensic Science is NOT

7. Forensic Science is • CS Investigators • Physical Evidence • Forensic Science • Forensic Taphonomy • Forensic Archeology

8. Forensic Anthropology at Louisiana Tech University Integrating Field Investigations with Laboratory Analysis

9. Coursework in Forensic Science • Forensic Anthropology • Biological Anthropology • Research in Forensic Anthropology • Readings in Forensic Science • Readings in Bioanthropology

10. Human Osteology Lab Objectives • Intense instruction in human osteobiology • Methods used in human identification • Aging • Sexing • Population Affinity • Diet • Pathology • Trauma

11. Investigative Field Techniques • Simulated Crime Scenes • Pics as model corpses • Forensic Taphonomy • Forensic Archeology • Moot Court

12. Crime Scene Excavation • Site survey and discovery • Crime scene preservation • Site formation processes • Site excavation • Forensic archeological methods • Importance of context and the • chain of evidence • The art of archeology

13. Recovery and Analysis • Recovery of material artifacts • Data recording • Forensic photography • Preservation of skeletal remains • Preliminary field analysis • Curation and transport

14. Investigative Field TechniquesForensic Archeology

15. Laboratory Analysis and Reconstruction

16. Mock Inquest

17. Mock Inquest • Each forensic team submits a written forensic case report. • Students portray expert witnesses and defend their conclusions. • Afterwards, crime scenario is presented and compared to forensic team findings.

18. Model Human Corpse • Hormel pygmy pig is used as a model human corpse • Document arthropod succession is used to determine post-mortem death interval • Patterns of decomposition and disarticulation are documented • The model corpse is used for other research purposes (e.g. studies in taphonomy)

19. Forensic Entomology • Students prepare experimental area in environment A • Two entomology groups sample, monitor and analyze arthropod and tissue samples • Model corpse is placed in secured cage surrounded by dead fall traps • Sampling will begin when first blow fly lands

21. Traps are sampled at set times in morning and afternoon. • Temperature, rainfall and other climatic variables are measured. • Arthropods are sorted and counted. • Arthropod taxonomy is identified, and succession is determined. • Tissues are fixed and processed for paraffin embedding and stained. • .

22. Research Activities inForensic Taphonomy • Bioturbation • Cut mark analysis • Differentiating bone trauma from geofact • Cell and tissue decay • Site formation processes • Chlorophyll concentration as PMI indicator • Hydraulic transport and differential preservation

23. Image Analysis and Forensic Anthropology

24. Bone Modification