The Signature Murders - Coursework Example

The Signature Murders OverviewThe signature murders involve two separate murders that were committed on a span of one week. The first involved Luis Garcia, he was murdered in his apartment, and was discovered 24 hours later by his sister-in law; his wife and son had travelled across the country to visit their daughter, and Garcia was to join them later. However, on 4th April 1998, Garcia’s wife attempted to call him, but there was no answer, she did the same a couple of times on 5th April, but still there was no answer.

She also called Garcia’s work station and established that he had not reported to work. At the moment Garcia’s sister-in-law visited the apartment with her son, found what had happened and called the police. In the second murder case, 65 years old, Willie Nichols was found dead in his apartment following the insistence of his friend Deborah, who pleaded with the apartment manager to open Nichols apartment after he had failed to pick her calls a number of times. Based on the evidence collected in two crime scene, there was a possible connection that they had been committed by the same individual, who was later identified as Robert Rose (Ramsland, 2012).

StrategiesThe investigators applied professional techniques in the case; firstly they were divided based on the divisions to ensure that the evidence collected on the scene was handled appropriately. Detective Thacker and Small from the Hollywood Homicide Detective evaluated the scene and determined that it was a burglary. The Scientific Investigative Division (SID) collected the evidence, which was given to the criminalistic team for analysis (Ramsland, 2012). To secondary scenes existed and the handling of the crime scene was relevant to the closing of the case.

Forensic TechnologiesForensic technologies were utilized at a wide array in the signature murders. The collected fingerprints were examined using the fingerprint classification (FPC) and the information was transmitted to the AFIS computer for evaluation and comparisons. Electrostatic detection apparatus were used to dust the particles from the offender’s footprints (Ramsland, 2012). The blood collected as evidence, which belonged to both the victim and the offender was also tested. The DNA test was done through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and it distinguished the victims’ blood sample from that of the offender (Krimsky & Simoncelli, 2013).

The rich evidence that was in the two murder cases enabled the investigators and the forensics to be conducted easily and it was admissible to the court.MirandaThe suspect, Robert Rose was read his Miranda rights following the establishment that he was the possible offender of Willie Nichols murder, a situation that led to his arrest (Ramsland, 2012). The Miranda informs criminal suspects of their Constitutional Rights and reminds them that any information they give to the law enforcement agents “can or will” be used in the court of law (Findlaw, 2015).

ConclusionIn conclusion, this paper sought to evaluate the signature murder cases, which took place in 1998. The murders were separate but the evaluation of the crime scenes demonstrated that it was possible they were committed by the same individual and the motive was burglary. The two murder cases were investigated by different detectives, and the second case helped in the determination of the offender. On establishment that the crime scenes were almost similar, detectives from the first case requested for the sampling of the suspects blood, and it matched the blood collected in the first crime scene.

Utilization of adequate forensic technologies enhanced the determination of the offender. The three most crucial factors that enhanced the resolving of the case included the DNA tests, the belt that the suspect left on the crime scene, which compared to the crime he committed and was convicted for in 1989. The other factor was the suspects confession that he committed the two murders.ReferencesFindlaw, (2015). Miranda Warnings and Police Questioning. Retrieved from .Krimsky, S., & Simoncelli, T. (2013). Genetic justice: DNA data banks, criminal investigations, and civil liberties.

Columbia: Columbia University Press.Ramsland, K. (2012). LA Forensics: The Signature Murders. Retrieved from .