The Case of the Murdered Mayor Forensic Investigation

Case Overview Victim: Robert Burlington, Mayor of Allenville Background: Born in Allenville and Elected to be mayor over Timothy Taylor by a narrow margin Supporting the industrial park on the site of Lake Larson Park Having a heated and very public argument with wife: Nicole Bullied the town council in the council meeting to push industrial park plan Missing one day before the planned town council vote to “a silly meeting”

What We’ve Found Car near Lake Larson with key Blood on front seat of the car A tire iron with blood in the woods near the car A second set of tire tracks nearby and led to a cabin In the cabin: shattered glass, scattered and broken furniture  a struggle (fight) had taken place Also in the cabin: body of mayor Robert Burlington. A single bullet hole in the chest A large wound on the back of his head

Evidence Collected Blood Evidence: from the victim, the victim’s car, the cabin floor, the tire iron, and the six suspects Hair Evidence: from the victim’s clothing, the victim’s car, the cabin floor and the six suspects’ vehicles Fingerprint Evidence: from the victim, a piece of broken glass in the cabin, a bloodstained piece of wood in the cabin, the tire iron, and the six suspects

Evidence Cont. Impression Evidence: photo of the tire impression at the cabin crime scene and the photo of the tires of vehicles belonging to the six suspects Entomological Evidence: insect larvae (i.e., maggots) from the victim’s head and chest wound sites

The Suspects Chris Cunningham: a senior partner of Burlington and town council member Matthew Maloy: a local veterinarian and an animal-right activist Pam Preston: an environmental scientist Timothy Taylor: the former mayor Vic Velto: a businessman investing in the recreation sports in Lake Larson area Nicole Burlington: mayor Robert Burlington’s wife

Fingerprint Analysis Evidence we have: 10 fingerprint slides from crime scene, victim, and suspects Each group will be assigned at least one fingerprint to lift I need volunteers or will assign groups to lift the rest Follow the procedure to lift fingerprint Share the fingerprints to do the analysis

Blood Analysis Blood Typing ABO Blood Group Rh Factor Rh+: Rh antigen Rh-: no Rh antigen

Blood Typing Cont. Evidence we have: 10 blood samples from crime scene, victim and suspects Anti-A serum (blue), anti-B serum (yellow), and anti-Rh serum (clear) Follow the procedure in your packet to test the blood evidence Data analysis: Example: If a blood sample agglutinates after adding anti- A serum  A antigen presents  the blood type is A

Entomological Analysis Identify and separate the largest maggot specimens from the container Measure the largest maggots Determine the average length Average length = (Length1 + Length2 + … + LengthN) / N Refer to the table to estimate the time of death

Hair Analysis Impression Analysis Five hair evidence in petri dishes Prepare the samples Observe and compare under microscope Impression Analysis Compare the tire impression evidence to the photos of each suspects’ vehicle’s tire treads.

Report to the District Attorney’s Office In form of PowerPoint, Poster, or a typed report (Word/Pages) A summary of all of the evidence collected (In Tables) A detailed statement of the results of each analysis Your primary suspect(s) and why What do you think happened? What additional information is necessary to further this investigation?

Group Assignment Group A: Faith, Diana, Laura – Blood analysis Group B: Vicent, Cain, Erick, Breana – Blood analysis Group C: Russell, Louis, Devin P., Miles – Entomological analysis Group D: Talizejah, Delmari, Devin H., Precious – Hair analysis Group E: Maia, Dasia, Shaiqwon – Fingerprint station

Group Assignment Group A: Ashley, Cortez, Corey, Jada W. – blood analysis Group B: Khyre, Latif, Alex, Chereace – blood analysis Group C: Sierra, Terrez, Jalen, Jazzlyn – hair analysis Group D: Jordan, Sanchez, Lorenzo, Jhamiel – hair analysis Group E: Myles, Wyatt, Chris -- entomological Group F: Esther, Kaija, Diamond, Micah -- entomological Group G: Roosevelt, Rhalon, Jada P., Kora -- fingerprinting