ELIZABETH SMART

Take Home Midterm Case Study due on February 24th

For this project, you will create a report which relates forensic science applications discussed in class to a real-life criminal investigation. Please refer to the rubrics and guides for grading information. This take home exam provides evidence of the extent to which you have mastered and synthesizes the course material and have met course objectives. For this project, you and your partner will select from a number of live demonstrations and will then select a case that used this type of evidence Each of you will create a report which relates forensic science applications discussed in class to a real-life criminal investigation. You and a partner will fully research a case study of your choosing and report the case details, evidence and forensic techniques that have helped solve or better understand the case. The case must include aspects of forensic science that were used to solve the crime. This includes evidence such as fingerprints, hair, testimony and other topics. You will fully research a case study of your choosing and present to the class the case details, evidence and forensic techniques that helped solve or helped investigators understand the case. You will also use the available demonstrative tools to illustrate how the evidence was used and conduct a demonstration, teaching these methods to the entire class

Follow the steps below to finish this assignment:

 Choose which live demonstrations you want to do  Choose a case study: I have provided a list of possible case studies to choose from. It is

important to pick a case that not only interests you but one that you are also comfortable with researching. Your project will be judged by the thoroughness of your research.

 You may choose to use a video as the basis your case study from a non-fiction TV program. If you use a video as the basis for your research, it must be a full episode (more than 35 minutes) on your specific case, not a more general forensics video. If you use a video, you must also analyze the accuracy of this information, compared to the actual case files. Series that have appropriate videos include, but are not limited to:

 Investigation Discovery  NBC News dateline  ABC 20/20  YouTube search: true crime documentary full episodes (must be over 35

minutes) o You can still choose a case study even if there is no video on it, but you will need

to find materials that include the forensic evidence and how it was evaluated and used to solve the crime and convict the perpetrator.

 ALL reports must cite at least three reliable sources (NOT Wikipedia), only one of which may be the video.

 The case may be recent or older, but it must have been solved. It can be a crime of any nature. All of these details should be indicated in the report sheet.

 The case must include aspects of forensic science in attempting to solve the crime. This includes evidence such as fingerprints, hair, testimony and other topics.

 Each student must choose a different case.

Case Study Midterm Presentation - Your presentation needs to be focused around your visual aids. Do

not just read your slides. The visual aid must be a major portion of your presentation. An awesome visual

aid will receive 100 points. An awesome visual aid will contain but not limited to: pictures, diagrams, a

timeline, etc. Just typing in bullet statements into ppt. will not earn you 100 points. Overview of

assignment requirements.

State your source.

Crime Layout - 1. Describe the suspects behavior leading up to the crime.

(Timeline) Premeditated

Heat of Passion

What events led to the suspect to commit the crime?

A psychological profile 10 pts

2. Details of the crime.

Layout the events that took place during the crime.

Layout the evidence left at the scene and other

evidence that was pertinent to the crime. 10pts

Focus on

the science Use your knowledge from this class to explain the science

in your discussion behind the forensic evidence. 25 pts

& presentation!

What good things did collectors do at the crime scene?

What mistakes did collectors make at the crime scene?

(Preservation of Evidence) 10 pts

3. Events and behavior of suspect after the crime.

How did they make their getaway?

Did they do anything to cover up the crime? 5pts

Finding the How was the suspect found?

suspect - State how the evidence lead them to the suspect.

What successes did they have that lead to apprehending

the suspect?

What things hindered the case and may have given false

lead away from the suspect? 10 pts

The trial - The prosecution - How did the prosecution make their case.

What mistakes did the prosecution make. 10 pts

The defense - Did they plead guilty or innocent?

How did the defense try and dispute the forensic

evidence?

What was the defenses overall plan. 10 pts

Other info - How has science (technology) changed since this crime?

How would new technology effected this trial or outcome? 5pts

Your opinion - State your opinion on guilty or innocent. State your opinion on their

sentence. What would you have done differently?

Any other interesting info. 5 pts

total = 100 pts

Name________________________ please circle selection

Forensic Science Case Study Project Suggestion List—make your selections in the Moodle Room 10/3-10/26 This is a list of possible ideas for the Forensic Science Case Study Project. Feel free to choose from this list or research others. You may further research a serial killer. A quick Google search will reveal many more. Another excellent list of cases is http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/complete_list.html

Albert DeSalvo Marilyn Monroe

Amanda Knox Mark Winger

Anthrax Mailing Medgar Evers

Aaron Hernandez Menendez Brothers

Brinks Robbery Michael Jackson

BTK Killer Oklahoma Bombings Casey Anthony trial PanAm flight 103 Lockerbie Bombing

Central Park 5 Paul Bernardo

Charles Chi-Tai Ng Pedro Lopez

Charles Manson Richard Crafts

Colin Ross Sacco-Vanzetti

Coral Eugene Watts Selena

Craig’s List Killer St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Elizabeth Smart Ted Bundy

Georgi Markov The “Ice Man”

Hamm Kidnapping The Coors Kidnapping

Harvey Milk The Green River Killer

Heath Ledger The Lindbergh Kidnapping

Jeffrey MacDonald The Night Stalker

Jessica Lunsford/ John Couey The Sam Sheppard Case

The Stielow Case

John Lennon murder Travon Martin/ George Zimmerman

John Wayne Gacy Troy Davis

Jon Bennet Ramsey Twin Tower Bombings 1993

Kurt Cobain Unabomber

Laci Peterson murder West Memphis 3

Name __________________________ Date _____________________

Forensic Science Case Study Report Sheet

Case Study Midterm Presentation - Your presentation needs to be focused around your visual aid. Do not just

read your slides. The visual aid must be a major portion of your presentation. An awesome visual aid will receive 100 points. An awesome visual aid will contain but not limited to: pictures, diagrams, a timeline, etc. Just typing in bullet statements into ppt. will not earn you 100 points.

Title of Case: _______________________________________________________________

Who was involved in the case?

Victim(s):

Suspect(s)/ Accused:

Case Details: Summarize the case in 2-3 paragraphs using full sentences.

Include in your discussion of the Details of the crime. 10pts

Layout the events that took place during the crime. Layout the evidence left at the scene and other evidence that was pertinent to the crime. Crime Layout - 1. Describe the suspects behavior leading up to the crime. 10 pts (Timeline) Premeditated Heat of Passion What events led to the suspect to commit the crime? A psychological profile Events and behavior of suspect after the crime. 5pts How did they make their getaway? Did they do anything to cover up the crime?

Testimonial evidence

The trial - The prosecution - How did the prosecution make their case. What mistakes did the prosecution make. 10 pts (who testified; what type of witnesses were they (eyewitness; expert; corroborative; character)

The defense - Did they plead guilty or innocent? How did the defense try and dispute the forensic evidence? What was the defenses overall plan. 10 pts (who testified; what type of witnesses were they (eyewitness; expert; corroborative; character)

Physical Evidence

(include the type of evidence and how it links the perpetrator to the crime or how it helped police solve the case. Be specific: Don’t just say “fingerprints, hair, gun powder residue”- describe what makes the evidence unique to the case. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTION OF YOUR REPORT. BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE!):

Focus on the science Use your knowledge from this class to explain the science in your discussion behind the forensic evidence. 25 pts & presentation! What good things did collectors do at the crime scene? What mistakes did collectors make at the crime scene?

(Preservation of Evidence) 10 pts Finding the How was the suspect found? suspect - State how the evidence lead them to the suspect. 10 pts What successes did they have that lead to apprehending the suspect? What things hindered the case and may have given false lead away from the suspect?

Outcome/Results of case (including sentence and current status of perpetrator):

Notes/ Other Relevant Facts:

Other info - How has science (technology) changed since this crime? How would new technology effected this trial or outcome? 5pts Your opinion - State your opinion on guilty or innocent. State your opinion on their sentence. What would you have done differently? Any other interesting info. 5 pts

total = 100 pts

Resources- list of URLs/ books/ articles/ video used: (At least 5; court file; only one video; no Wikipedia)

***THE FINAL TYPED REPORT MUST CONTAIN ALL THE ABOVE AND

WRITTEN IN PARAGRAPH FORM!!!!!!!

PRESENTATION RUBRIC

CONTENT 4- Outstanding “Above & Beyond”

3- Satisfactory “Well done, needs minor improvements”

2-Developing “Lacking in obvious way/s”

1-Limited “Minimal Effort”

Research Report Sheet  Depth of research

 Accuracy of Content

 Forensic science relation

-All content is accurate. There are no factual errors. -All content requested on sheet is present -All content is related to forensic science

-All content is accurate; however, may not be relevant -Missing 2 items or less on report sheet -Forensic science content apparent

-Content is mostly accurate, with few minor discrepancies - Missing 3-4 items on report sheet -Forensic science content not obviously apparent

-Content is mostly inaccurate or irrelevant -Missing 5 or more items on report sheet. -Content not relatable to forensic science

Research Presented  Title

 Victims, suspects

 Case summary, outcome

 Minimum 2 pieces of evidence

 Minimum 1 technique

 Minimum 2 pictures

-All content is described during presentation -All content described is accurate

-1-2 items not described during presentation or -1 piece of information described is inaccurate

-2-3 items not described during presentation or -2 pieces of information are inaccurate

-4 or more items not described or -2 or more pieces of information inaccurate

Presentation Professionalism

 Clarity

 Speaking voice

-Items described in clear (understandable) manner -Very knowledgeable about case -Loud and controlled speaking voice (smooth transitions, no um’s or long pauses)

-Most items described in a clear (understandable manner) -Few um’s, like’s but otherwise controlled speaking voice -Knowledgeable about case

-Items not described in clear, cohesive manner -Many um’s, pauses -Inaudible speaking voice -Seems unfamiliar with case

-Unprofessional speaking voice, presentation -Seems unknowledgeable about topic, unfamiliar with case

Presentation Method  Visual used is eye-

catching and neat

 Spelling/Punctuation

-Quality visual used, colorful, professional looking, neat -No obvious spelling or punctuation errors

-Visually appealing presentation method, mostly professional -Some obvious spelling/punctuatio n errors (3-5)

-Not visually appealing or eye- catching, sloppy -7+ errors in spelling/punctuation

-Overwhelmingly not visually appealing, method not present or 7+ errors in spelling/punctuation

Overall Presentation

The presenter

displayed little

knowledge and

understanding of the

components of

assignment.

The presenter did not

seem comfortable

with the information

and needed a lot of

outside assistance in

getting through the

presentation

A good presentation.

The presentation did

not always keep my

interest.

An outstanding

presentation. The

presentation kept my

interest and was

among the very best

in class.

Name Case______________________

CJI 210 Case Study Midterm Paper and Presentation - Your presentation needs to be focused around your

visual aids. Do not just read your slides. The visual aid must be a major portion of your presentation. An

awesome visual aid will receive 100 points. An awesome visual aid will contain but not limited to: pictures,

diagrams, a timeline, etc. Just typing in bullet statements into ppt. will not earn you 100 points.

Overview of assignment requirements.

State your sources. Resources- list of URLs/ books/ articles/ video used: (At least 5; court file; only one

video; no Wikipedia)

Details

Crime Layout

- (Timeline)

1. Describe the suspects’ behavior leading up to the crime.

Premeditated Heat of Passion What events led to the suspect to commit the crime? A psychological profile 10 pts

Focus on the

science in

your

discussion &

presentation

2. Details of the crime.

Layout the events that took place during the crime.

Layout the evidence left at the scene and other evidence that was pertinent to the crime. 10pts

Use your knowledge from this class to explain the science behind the forensic evidence. 25 pts

What good things did collectors do at the crime scene? What

mistakes did collectors make at the crime scene?

(Preservation of Evidence) 10pts 10 pts

Finding the

suspect

3. Events and behavior of the suspect after the crime.

How did they make their getaway?

Did they do anything to cover up the crime? 5pts

State how the evidence led them to the suspect. What successes did they have that lead to apprehending the

suspect?

What things hindered the case and may have given false lead

away from the suspect? 10 pts

The Trial The prosecution - How did the prosecution make their case. What mistakes did the prosecution make. (who testified; what

type of witnesses were they (eyewitness; expert; corroborative; character) 10 pts

The defense - Did they plead guilty or innocent?

How did the defense try and dispute the forensic evidence? What was the defenses overall plan. (who testified; what type

of witnesses were they (eyewitness; expert; corroborative;

character) 10 pts

Other info Outcome/Results of case (including sentence and current status of perpetrator)

How has science (technology) changed since this crime? How would new technology effected this trial or outcome?5pts 5pts

Your Opinion State your opinion on guilty or innocent. State your opinion

on their sentence. What would you have done differently? Any other interesting info. 5 pts 5 pts

Total 100