Death Scene Death Scene InvestigationInvestigation

Homicide: Case #021858THomicide: Case #021858T

Unidentified Hispanic MaleUnidentified Hispanic Male

Daytime Scene PhotographDaytime Scene Photograph

Housing Projects

Homeless Shelters

Crime Scene

Liquor Store

April 5, 2002 2210 hrsApril 5, 2002 2210 hrs A Fort Worth PD officer is flagged A Fort Worth PD officer is flagged

down by a witness who states that down by a witness who states that there is a fight nearby.there is a fight nearby.

The witness advises that one of the The witness advises that one of the subjects involved was left lying on subjects involved was left lying on the ground and the other participant the ground and the other participant fled the scene.fled the scene.

Fort Worth PD officers and EMS Fort Worth PD officers and EMS respond to the scene.respond to the scene.

The SceneThe Scene 700 E. 17700 E. 17thth St, Fort St, Fort

Worth, TXWorth, TX Vacant field next to Vacant field next to

freewayfreeway Directly under the Directly under the

edge of a 70 foot edge of a 70 foot high freeway high freeway overpassoverpass

Next to a freeway Next to a freeway and railroad tracksand railroad tracks

Near the homeless Near the homeless shelters and low-shelters and low-income housing income housing projectsprojects

Initial Police Observations & Initial Police Observations & ActionsActions

EMS pronounces the decedent at the EMS pronounces the decedent at the scenescene

The area is secured as a crime sceneThe area is secured as a crime scene No witnesses or suspects found at No witnesses or suspects found at

the scenethe scene The cause of death is unknown and The cause of death is unknown and

no obvious weapon is foundno obvious weapon is found Homicide detectives, crime scene Homicide detectives, crime scene

officers and Tarrant County ME are officers and Tarrant County ME are notified of the death and respond to notified of the death and respond to the scenethe scene

Tarrant County ME Forensic Tarrant County ME Forensic Death Investigator arrival and Death Investigator arrival and

initial contactinitial contact

The death investigator meets with The death investigator meets with officers and is briefed on the officers and is briefed on the circumstances of discoverycircumstances of discovery

The witness described to officers that The witness described to officers that the decedent was involved in a fight the decedent was involved in a fight but additional theories of a “body but additional theories of a “body dump” or jumper from the freeway dump” or jumper from the freeway are suggestedare suggested

Scene ObservationsScene Observations The body is face down (prone)The body is face down (prone) There is a large area of blood on the ground around There is a large area of blood on the ground around

the decedent’s headthe decedent’s head There appears to be trauma to the back of the headThere appears to be trauma to the back of the head The decedent’s right rear pants pocket is turned The decedent’s right rear pants pocket is turned

inside outinside out The decedent has what appear to be wood The decedent has what appear to be wood

fragments on his clothingfragments on his clothing

Scene Observations ContinuedScene Observations Continued

There are beer bottles lying on the ground There are beer bottles lying on the ground nearbynearby

There is blood spatter on the ground There is blood spatter on the ground around the decedentaround the decedent

There is no weapon initially visibleThere is no weapon initially visible

Body ExaminationBody Examination The rear of the head has what appear The rear of the head has what appear

to be linear type fracturesto be linear type fractures Blood spatter on the body and Blood spatter on the body and

clothing suggests assault type injuriesclothing suggests assault type injuries The back of the shirt and head have The back of the shirt and head have

dirt or soil on themdirt or soil on them Several possible wood fragments are Several possible wood fragments are

found on the bodyfound on the body Rigor, lividity and body temperature Rigor, lividity and body temperature

are consistent with the position are consistent with the position observed and death at this sceneobserved and death at this scene

Body Examination ContinuedBody Examination Continued The body is rolled over onto a clean sheet to The body is rolled over onto a clean sheet to

preserve trace evidencepreserve trace evidence The decedent’s face has extensive traumaThe decedent’s face has extensive trauma There are multiple abrasions and contusions There are multiple abrasions and contusions

about the bodyabout the body There is blood spatter on the decedent’s There is blood spatter on the decedent’s

clothingclothing The hands are placed in paper bags to preserve The hands are placed in paper bags to preserve

trace evidencetrace evidence A possible wood fragment is secured as A possible wood fragment is secured as

evidence from the decedent’s pants to evidence from the decedent’s pants to preserve it prior to transport and protect it preserve it prior to transport and protect it from the rainfrom the rain

Wound Interpretation and Wound Interpretation and Weapon DescriptionWeapon Description

The wounds on the posterior (back) of the The wounds on the posterior (back) of the head are linear, long and well definedhead are linear, long and well defined

Consistent with an injury from a blunt Consistent with an injury from a blunt force object with a possible defined edgeforce object with a possible defined edge

The wounds on the anterior (front) of the The wounds on the anterior (front) of the head have deformed the face into a head have deformed the face into a flattened appearanceflattened appearance

Consistent with an injury from a blunt Consistent with an injury from a blunt force object that is flat, wide and possibly force object that is flat, wide and possibly heavyheavy

Excluding TheoriesExcluding Theories Jumper from the freeway Jumper from the freeway

overpass above the overpass above the scene is excludedscene is excluded

No other serious injuries No other serious injuries apparent other than apparent other than head traumahead trauma

No leg/feet traumaNo leg/feet trauma Blood spatter at scene Blood spatter at scene

not consistent with a fallnot consistent with a fall Possible soil and wood Possible soil and wood

fragments on clothing fragments on clothing not consistent with a fallnot consistent with a fall

““Body Dump” is Body Dump” is excludedexcluded

No apparent drag No apparent drag marksmarks

Blood spatter Blood spatter consistent with consistent with injuries occurring at injuries occurring at this scenethis scene

No blood trail foundNo blood trail found Rigor and lividity are Rigor and lividity are

consistent with death consistent with death at this sceneat this scene

Locating the WeaponLocating the Weapon Crime Scene officers are informed of Crime Scene officers are informed of

the Death Investigator’s interpretation the Death Investigator’s interpretation of the woundsof the wounds

An expanded crime scene search An expanded crime scene search beginsbegins

A large debris pile is located A large debris pile is located approximately 20 yards from the bodyapproximately 20 yards from the body

The debris pile includes broken and The debris pile includes broken and discarded railroad cross tiesdiscarded railroad cross ties

A possible weapon is locatedA possible weapon is located

Approximate 4 foot long railroad cross Approximate 4 foot long railroad cross tie with blood and possible hair fiber tie with blood and possible hair fiber

evidenceevidence

Scene ConclusionScene Conclusion The decedent appears to be the The decedent appears to be the

victim of an assault consistent with victim of an assault consistent with the original witness statement about a the original witness statement about a fight occurring fight occurring

The decedent has no personal The decedent has no personal property on him and the pants pocket property on him and the pants pocket turned out suggests theft or robberyturned out suggests theft or robbery

Alcohol containers at the scene Alcohol containers at the scene suggests the participants and/or suggests the participants and/or decedent had been drinkingdecedent had been drinking

The incident occurred at this locationThe incident occurred at this location

Police Department Interviews Police Department Interviews and Investigationand Investigation

Detectives locate a witness at a nearby Detectives locate a witness at a nearby liquor store that saw the decedent and liquor store that saw the decedent and suspectsuspect

Beer bottles found at the scene are Beer bottles found at the scene are possibly from the subjects involvedpossibly from the subjects involved

The witness at the liquor store identifies The witness at the liquor store identifies the suspect and his possible home the suspect and his possible home addressaddress

Officers respond to the suspect’s home Officers respond to the suspect’s home address across the highway at the address across the highway at the housing projectshousing projects

Police Department Interviews Police Department Interviews and Investigation Continuedand Investigation Continued

A witness at that location states the A witness at that location states the suspect had just come to the house and suspect had just come to the house and told her that he had killed a Hispanic told her that he had killed a Hispanic malemale

The suspect discards his bloody clothes The suspect discards his bloody clothes at the home which are located by the at the home which are located by the policepolice

The suspect later returns to the home The suspect later returns to the home and is arrestedand is arrested

Both the suspect and decedent are Both the suspect and decedent are transientstransients

The suspect is charged with Capital The suspect is charged with Capital MurderMurder

Examination DetailsExamination Details The decedent arrives at the Medical The decedent arrives at the Medical

Examiner Office for examinationExaminer Office for examination The body is processed by the trace evidence The body is processed by the trace evidence

collection teamcollection team The examining physician identifies 18 The examining physician identifies 18

different sets of wounds on the decedentdifferent sets of wounds on the decedent Cause and Manner of death are finalized: Cause and Manner of death are finalized:

Blunt Force Trauma of Head – Blunt Force Trauma of Head – HomicideHomicide

All attempts to identify the decedent and All attempts to identify the decedent and locate his family are unsuccessfullocate his family are unsuccessful

The decedent’s fingerprints, dental chart, The decedent’s fingerprints, dental chart, DNA and photographs are kept on file for DNA and photographs are kept on file for future identification. The decedent is future identification. The decedent is entered into the NCIC unidentified person entered into the NCIC unidentified person database.database.

The decedent is given a county burial The decedent is given a county burial