1. Documentation at Crime Scene (Domestic crime scene)
Photography
Videotape
Scene Diagrams
Triangulation
Notes

2. The crime Scene Diagrams / Mapping
Simple drawing indicating position of the body in relation to other relevant items in crime scene (careful notes on measurements and distances).
It is NOT replaced by photography.
If the sketch / map is smoothed or finished at the office the original sketch should NOT EVER be altered, changed, or otherwise tampered with, after the person who draw it was completed at the scene: THE ORIGINAL MAP IS EVIDENCE!
There should never be inconsistencies or discrepancies between original and prepared copies for court

3. DATUM
Fixed point at scene to which all other evidence/materials/features are referenced
Must know GPS location, height
Permanent feature or anchored point

4. Mapping Guidelines
Pick one system of measurement and stay with it (feet/inches vs. metric)
Smaller grids over graves or defined features
Select datum closest to majority of evidence
All maps must show datum and North arrow
Include elevation at datum

5. Scene Type CONTAINED: All remains are isolated in a single location
Example: grave, car trunk, plastic bag
OPEN: The distribution or dispersal of remains is unknown
Example: scavenged body, body part found in water, burned body in collapsed building

6. Case Study #1
CONTAINED SCENE
“THE BODY IN THE WELL”

7. Figure 1 – Overview of scene 4896-1002-4M Arrival time 9:33 am
fenceline
shed
house
well
DATUM
Upper left corner of
Door
Elev ft N W
outbuilding
Rd 518 N
Tramperos Rd.
Map not to scale

8. N Figure 2 – Detail of well and search area DATUM – 202 cm height
HOUSE
door
247 cm
Area A
Stone wall of well
80 cm
Sand removed by
Sheriff 10/08/02 N
60 cm
Area B
Sand removed by
Law enforcement
Map not to scale

9. Figure 3 – Schematic of Well and position of remains
DATUM
87 cm
547 cm to sand
584 cm to exposed foot
653 cm to waist
Cement
Water table
Garbage and sand
fill
75 cm

10. Case Study #2
OPEN SCENE
“THE BODY IN LIME”

13. Crime scene search
Before starting any crime scene search, make sure you have legal authority to do so.
The systematic search, collection, and preservation of physical evidence is the goal
Physical evidence is any tangible article which tends to prove or disprove a point in question. Anything and everything should be considered as evidence until proven differently.

14. Method
Usually determined by the size, location, and complexity of the scene
Most common types:
Strip:
If area to be covered is large and open or in a room by one investigator

15. Method
Practically speaking it really does not matter which method you select, as long as the method is systematic and complete. (Geberth 2006)
Most common types:
Strip
Spiral
Effective in small area. However, as spiral widens, evidence can be overlooked

16. Method
Usually determined by the size, location, and complexity of the scene
Most common types:
Strip
Spiral
Wheel
Possibility of ruining evidence when gathering at the center, and increasing distance
between searchers.

17. Method
Usually determined by the size, location, and complexity of the scene
Most common types:
Strip
Spiral
Wheel
Grid
Best for large areas. Area is covered twice.

18. The scope of the search is usually determined by a “working” theory of what has occurred
Purpose is to locate and identify potential physical evidence
Take overall scene photographs before beginning
Do not collect evidence until it is documented through photographs and measurements for scale diagram
Handle and bag all items of evidence individually to avoid cross contamination

19. Site Transformation at Open Scenes
Postmortem alteration of the body by the perpetrator
Exposure to the elements, possibly involving animal activities.
Concealment of the mortal remains with sealing and hiding behaviors.
Scene response to disturbance (e.g., colonization by weeds, slumping, compaction).

20. Site Transformation at Open Scenes
Deliberate removal of remains to secondary graves with dismemberment and commingling (especially mass graves)
Discovery and recovery.
Scene processing
The collection of evidence is inevitably accompanied by the loss of evidence.

21. Clearly, the scene as treated by the investigators has to be visualized as part of an extended process involving many influences-all of which have to be understood to explain the state of the remains when it comes time to present the evidence in court

22. An autopsy starts at the scene.
You are, in effect, conducting an examination into the manner and cause of death from the moment you start to investigate. You, as the forensic archaeologist, commence the autopsy.

23. Possible Difficulties Encountered in Open Crime Scenes
Defining the perimeter of the investigation: How big is the crime scene?
Understanding which objects are evidence and related to the crime (Control scene contamination)
Encountering body parts and not complete bodies.
Recognizing animal from human bone
Recognize sub-adult remains with epiphyses not fused
Remains that were eaten, moved, gnawed and spread by animal activity
Decomposition of body depending on weather conditions.

24. The typical scene Is there such a thing
The typical scene Is there such a thing? Not really, but we can be prepared in a general sense

25. map of surface evidence and features
Minimally, with a buried feature such as a body or mass of bodies, the investigator would be looking to create the following maps:
surface relief
map of surface evidence and features
location, size and orientation of buried feature(s)
size, shape and surface relief of pit feature

26. Sketch Map
Clifford Olson Case

27. Varieties of Scene Settings Demand Flexible Response Capability

28. Bosnia 1992 – 1995 war 6 Republics formed Yugoslavia
July 1995, Srebrenica

29. Europe

30. Mostar
Kosovo
The Balkans, ex-Yugoslavia

31. Conclusions and Round ups
Genocide (vs. civil war, murder, war crimes):
Three elements to be demonstrated:
1.- physical element or actions which represent legally acts of genocide (Incitement to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity, killing members of target group, etc.)
2.- victim identity (religious, ethnic, racial, national group)
3.- Mental element indicating “intent” of the perpetrators to destroy the targeted group in whole or in part.

32. Conclusions and Round ups
War crimes:
Wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including... wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person.
It only becomes a war crime if the expulsions can be proven to be part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing or designed as a mass punishment of civilians