1. Blood Spatter Analysis
Or “Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation”
Rupert Peers

2. Contents What is it? Blood Splatter More than just a drop?
Educational Requirements
Equipment – Basic
Equipment – Specific
Right for you?
The big picture
What to expect
Case 1
Case 2
Bibliography

3. What is it?
Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation is the analysis of blood splatter to help determine if a crime was committed, and if the blood is evidence to that crime.

4. Blood Splatter
Bloodstain evidence describes a lot about a crime, such as:
How many people were involved
Piecing together what took place
Ruling out other types of crime
Time the crime occurred
Handedness of assailant
Identifying the victim
Determining who is responsible

5. More than just a drop?
Blood spatter analysts can tell a lot from a single drop of blood. Experts can measure:
The height from which the drop fell
The bloods trajectory
Speed at which blood was travelling

6. Educational Requirements
The Pre-requisites are a major in general forensic science, or at least a science related field. One must then:
Pursue general study specific to blood spatter analysis
Find an association with which you can do additional on-the- job training
Enroll in blood pattern analysis training courses
Apply to be a member of IABPA (International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation)
Complete 40 hours of IABPA coursework

7. Equipment - basic
Blood Splatter Analysts need to be familiar with these sorts of equipment:
Forensic Comparison Microscopes
Cameras
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultraviolet lamps
Fume Enclosures

8. Equipment - Specific
These are the tools commonly found in ‘Blood Splatter Kits’
Crime scene sticks, strings, magnets, linen testers, photo scales, mounting putty, plastic tweezers, tape measure, and a scientific calculator
DNA comparison equipment

9. Right for you?
“Blood Splatter Analysts need to have a keen eye to detail,” says Shanna Freeman. “Blood splatter analysis takes time and patience, but is very rewarding.” Beginning salary - 35,000 5 years or plus of exp. - 45,000 – 120,000

10. The big picture
Blood splatter at a crime scene is concrete evidence, which proves very useful in the courtroom. It may be the easiest thing to overlook, but in the big picture it is a proven method of putting people behind bars. The DNA in blood links people to a place, as well as visually telling a story of its own on what unfolded.

11. What to expect
Upon arriving at the crime scene, The Blood Spatter Analyst will first number and photograph each mark of what may be blood.
Collecting samples of the blood is the second task – to verify that it is indeed human blood, and then to analyze the DNA for potential suspects.
The size of droplets must be measured, and all sorts of other factors must be considered. It is a must for the person to pay high attention to detail.

12. Case 1
Expert: Blood spatter proves teen could not have murdered her parents
A crime-scene expert told jurors Wednesday that a teen accused of gunning down her parents was not sprayed with blood, and therefore could not have pulled the trigger.

13. Case 2 OJ Simpson murder case
There is an enormous amount of DNA evidence pointing straight to Simpson. Blood of his targets were found on his socks, glove and car as well as bloody footprints that were most likely his. OJ was acquitted after a 9 month trial because there was reasonable doubt on how the DNA evidence was handled.

14. Bibliography
laboratory-tools-and-equipment.html
lab?_s=PM:LAW Case 1