The Mystery of Lyle and Louise A Forensic Entomology Lab Nature’s Witness The Mystery of Lyle and Louise A Forensic Entomology Lab

Investigation Background Mondelo family car found over side of Backbone Mt. 9 days ago Louise (mom) and children (Wally and Jan) found burned beyond recognition Lyle (dad) missing, person of interest, assumed armed and dangerous Driving 1993 blue Ford Ranger w/Tumbling Water Land Development logo 4 days ago Lyle’s credit card used to purchase gas in TX

Investigation Family came from small town: Highland Park Owners of Tumbling Water Land Development Co. Business associate of Lyle, John Wayne Gretzky interviewed Lyle slipping into deep depression Family issues Detectives noted large bite mark on John’s arm (claimed it was from bar brawl)

Background Lyle and Louise met and then married in college Ran into John Wayne Gretzky in Highland Park (he was Louise’s high school sweetheart) Lyle and John started company together Louise suspected of having affair with John around time of first child, Wally Louise left TWLDC after second child, Jan

Background A year ago bankruptcy papers prepared but deal to build fishing cabins on Bedrock River saved company 2 weeks before crash, Louise filed for divorce Suspected Lyle was involved with drugs Requested peace bond (restraining order) against Lyle – harassed her and kids Friends believed Louise was involved with John again 2 days ago abandoned Ford Ranger w/out of state plates and Tumbling Water Land Development Co. sign on back tailgate

Related Case… 3 weeks ago – crystal meth lab discovered in abandoned camper on Tumbling Water land (6kg found) Mitch Wilson (Louise’s nephew) and Larry Gretzky (John Wayne’s brother) found in the lab and indicted for possession w/intent to sell and released on bond (posted by Lyle and John) Both suspects skipped town w/Larry’s girlfriend Mary Bradey

At the scene… Small cabin in forest of Tumbling Water Land Development Co property 2 bodies (one male, one female) – female Id’d as Louise Mondelo Overturned chairs, tables, and other signs of struggle Blood on floor and walls around male body Flesh on stone and firewood of fireplace consistent with head wounds on female Maggots on head of female victim (back of head where blunt force trauma occurred & eye/nose/mouth areas)

Pre-Lab Questions What is the role of a forensic entomologist in a homicide investigation? The forensic entomologist can determine the time of death if the bodies have already cooled to the ambient temperature Why are insects important when determining PMI? If the body is exposed, the predictable growth rates of many insects can be used to determine PMI What is an instar? An instar is a larval growth stage characterized by the larvae shedding a smaller cuticle and forming a larger one

Pre-lab questions What are some factors that may delay fly oviposition? If the decedent is located in an enclosed area inaccessible to flies or if the decedent died during night time or during a cold period, flies will not lay eggs immediately Flies develop at predictable rates. What measure is used to make this prediction? Degree-hours, degree-days, or another measure of temperature-time

Pre-lab questions What should you record on your Species Separation sheet? Characteristics that are different between two flies of different species but the same life stage How many individuals from the sample collected from the decedent will you identify? 10 How will you determine the species and life stage of these individuals? By using characteristics identified and written on the Species Separation sheet as well as those on the Fly Life Stage chart

Actual Lab data Adult Woman in Cabin Adult Man in Cabin Species A Species B Eggs 1 1st Instar 2 2nd Instar 3rd Feeding 3rd Migrating 3 Pre-Pupae Pupae Adult Species A Species B Eggs 1 1st Instar 3 2nd Instar 5 2 3rd Feeding 3rd Migrating 4 Pre-Pupae Pupae Adult

Post lab What species was/were found on the Male decedent? The female? Species A & B were found on both victims What was the latest life stage of which species found on the Male decedent? The Female? Migrating 3rd instars of species A are the latest stages found on both victims. 2nd instar of species B are found on both victims For both victims, what were the minimum number of degree hours that passed between time of death and discovery? 2688 degree hours for life stage of migrating 3rd instar for species A at 21 degrees C

Post lab What were the PMIs for the two victims? 8 days 16 hrs What life stage did you find the most of on the Male decedent? The Female? 2nd instars

Post lab What reasons can you think of to explain why there were more of this life stage than any other life stage? A few flies found the bodies immediately and the number of lies that found the body steadily grew as the body began to decompose and smell. After a few days the number of suitable places to lay eggs decreased, and so the number of eggs laid decreased. This results in a bell-curve shape of egg laying, and a similar bell-curve of life stages. Blow flies are attracted to the cadaver immediately while flesh flies are attracted 3-4days after death (after decomposition and decay)

Climatological data

Post lab Review the climatological data (on previous slide). Which three categories of information do you believe will impact the development of insects the most & why? Temperature, humidity, and wind. Low temperatures will prevent flies from getting to the body to lay eggs and delay life cycle development. High temperatures will excel development. High humidity and wind will prevent oviposition.

Post lab What was the weather like on the day the PMI predicts the individuals died? Approximately 9 days ago there was a thunderstorm (from background information that indicated a car was run off a cliff in a thunderstorm)