Forensic Sciece - the Severed Hand

YSCN0017 - From Sherlock Holmes to Modern Forensic Science

Items that need to be collected for examination are:

Item Location

1. Amputated hand In plastic storage container held by Reagle

2. Plastic Storage Container In possession by Reagle at Duffy’s

3. Bottle of whisky (1) Adjacent to body’s left hip

4. 0.45 Caliber semi-automatic handgun Adjacent to body’s left ear

5. Clothing – yellow collared short sleeve knit shirt, blue denim jeans, white athletic shoes On the body of deceased

6. Wallet - Credit cards, license and other identity documents In deceased’s right read pant pocket

7. Black ladies underwear Living room of farmhouse

8. Armory and ammunition Living room of farmhouse

9. Shovel Outbuilding of farmhouse

10. Men’s t-shirt (white) Living room of farmhouse

11. Bottle of whiskey (2) Living room of farmhouse

12. Blue plastic button Living room of farmhouse

13. Black body bag Holds the body

Types of tests and analysis that need to be done on each relative item:

1. DNA test (RFLP,PCR,STR)

Blood test (presumptive test/confirmatory test) – confirm that the hand belongs to find

Compare wound to any weapons found on the site

2. Finger print test – ridge comparison test (AFIS)

3. Finger print test – ridge comparison test (AFIS)

Saliva - Serological and Biological analysis

4. Finger print test – ridge comparison test (AFIS)

Bullet comparisons - rifling

6. Check payments – check how credible the accounts given are and check recent activity of the Fine while missing

7. Examine the pubic hair medulla patterns and compare to sample from people involved. E.g. Cindy Fine

Also examine for any semen present and perform Serological/Biological analysis

8. Comparison test with the 3 hollow bullet fragments found in autopsy

9. DNA test (RFLP,PCR,STR)

Finger print test – ridge comparison test (AFIS)

Identify soil, minerals, wood and other vegetative matter – trace back where this was used by comparing with soil matters around burial site therefore concluding whether murderer returned to farmhouse post burial of the body

10. DNA test (RFLP,PCR,STR)

Identify fibers – identify whether they are natural or synthetic then perform comparison of medulla patterns

11. Saliva - Serological and Biological analysis

Finger print test – ridge comparison test (AFIS)

12. Comparison test performed with clothing items found on deceased and other people involved.

The button can also be examined, if unique then it could be traced back to manufacturer or retailed and the owner of the garment could be identified

13. Identification of any fibers, blood semen present –

Identification of soil, minerals, wood and other vegetative matter on the exterior to trace back where the bag has been transported from

Control samples such as DNA samples from the suspect John Reagle, the victims’ relatives and possibly people in the neighboring community who may have access to the farmhouse or the cotton field where the body was found. To make a case for Reagle, the police need to illustrate why Reagle has the intentions for this kill, and why he has done so and tried to conceal this fact.

First, any fingerprints