Blood Splatter Analysis Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 8 Blood Splatter...
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Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 8 1 Blood Splatter Analysis o Satellite droplets— • When blood falls from a height, or at a high velocity, • It overcomes its natural cohesiveness, and • Separates from the main droplet o Spiking patterns— • Form around the droplet edges when blood falls onto a less-than-smooth surface
Transcript of Blood Splatter Analysis Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 8 Blood Splatter...
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 8 1
Blood Splatter Analysis
o Satellite droplets—• When blood falls from a height, or at a high velocity,• It overcomes its natural cohesiveness, and • Separates from the main droplet
o Spiking patterns—• Form around the droplet
edges when blood falls onto a less-than-smooth surface
Blood Spatter Analysis – Six Patterns
1. Passive fall – falling at a 90 degree angle; circular drops
2. Arterial spurts – pumping action of the heart; usually on walls or ceilings from a cut
3. Splashes – exclamation points; helps locate position of victim at time of attack
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Blood Spatter Analysis – Six Patterns
4. Smears – bleeding victim leaves these on anything touched or brushed against5. Trails – left by bleeding victim as they are moved to a different location; can be many shapes6. Pools – victim bleeding heavily and remains in one place
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Passive Drops
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Arterial Gushes
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Splashes
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Smears
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Trails
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Pools
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Blood Splatter Analysis—Directionality
o The shape of an individual drop of blood provides clues to the direction from where the blood originated.
o Ex: 90 degree angle stay perfectly round
Blood Spatter Analysis -Directionality
o Determine direction when the drop is longer than it is wide
o Point of impact may appear darker and wider than the rest of the drop of blood spatter
o Momentum keeps blood moving in the direction it was traveling
o The “tail” produced points in the direction of the blood’s movement
o Shows the suspect is headed to the right
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Blood Splatter Analysis
Lines of convergence—two or blood splatters can pinpoint the location of the blood source
