Double Homicide Investigations - Case Study Example

Crime scene investigators arrived on scene at approximately 10 AM on October 22, 2013. Police were initially alerted as to the double homicide that took place at 362 West Main St. at approximately 7 AM; at which time the current boyfriend of the woman returned home and states that he found both her and her child dead. Naturally, the boyfriend in this particular case is a prime suspect; however, he is not the only suspect that is being reviewed by police officers. The boyfriend has a very strong alibi that during the hours in which the murders took place he was at work with several coworkers working the night shift at a local bakery. Another possible, and indeed likely suspect, is that of the estranged ex-husband of the woman, and father of the child, that was found murdered. Police are actively following leads in order to build a case and attempt to apprehend the suspect who thus far remains at large. An observation of the crime scene does not lend the investigation to conclude that forced entry was a likely scenario with regards to this particular double homicide. All windows and doors appear to be intact with no evidence of tampering having taken place. A strong possibility is that the individual who gained access to the house either had a key that worked in the locks or was actively and willingly let in. Although it is thus far unclear a specific time of death for either of the individuals involved, three witnesses from the neighborhood indicate that they were awakened by the sound of the gunshot at approximately 2 AM. Not knowing where this gunshot came from, one of the neighbors went to the window and scanned the neighborhood to see if they could find any other indication of problems. Unable to see any clear indication that something was going on, witness 1 then went back to sleep. The other two witnesses that reported hearing the shot did not get out of bed. Another neighbor that was interviewed said that they distinctly heard a loud argument taking place from within the residence denoted above (Brookman & Innes, 2013). Similarly, a third witness says that they distinctly remember hearing a door slam in a car driving away at high speed sometime between two and 2:30 AM; but was unsure if they remember hearing a gunshot or not. The scene within the house, at least where they can a parentheses the mother) was found was especially brutal. The victim suffered at least 37 stab wounds to the face and neck; ultimately dying from a severe loss of blood. Blood splatter was observed on kitchen cabinets, and as far away as the television in the adjoining room. Whereas it is too early to state whether this was motivated by a particular set of actions or premeditated, it is clear and apparent that the brutality and extremely gruesome nature of the crime indicates that this was not a random acts of violence (Beauregard & Martineau, 2013). Moreover, in tandem with the boyfriend (who initially alerted police asked for the crimes), no indication of set of the household belongings or valuables had taken place. In the eventuality that the suspect was allowed into the house, by victim a, it is highly likely that an altercation then started in which the stabbing was an outgrowth/escalation. Although it is difficult to pinpoint the precise time of death, from the consistency and volume of the blood, it can be determined that death took place approximately 7 to 10 hours prior to homicide investigation analyzing the crime scene. Furthermore, the knife that was found at the crime scene appears to belong to a set of kitchen knives within the very same residence. Forensic examination has determined that although no fingerprints have thus far been recovered upon the knife handle in question, the DNA from under the fingernails of the exhibit a is being matched to statewide databases in the hopes that it will reveal the identity of the killer. Similarly, a single strand of hair, belonging to an individual of northern European ancestry, was found within the room of the infant, victim B, that was slain. Although this secondary piece of DNA evidence is not nearly as strong as the first, it could nonetheless help to win of the field of possible suspects and partially exonerate the boyfriend who has thus far been very cooperative with police. Further forensic evidence that was gained was contingent upon hire tracks that were left along the carport of the home in question. Although it is still unclear whether or not these tire tracks can definitively be linked to the crime, the boyfriend states that he is always extraordinarily careful, as was his girlfriend, not to venture off the concrete due to the fact that they had recently planted new grass in the front yard. As such, forensic evidence indicates that the all-terrain tire was a Firestone brand that was most likely place on either a full-size pickup truck or upon an SUV. Although the make and model cannot be determined based upon the tire marks, a further indicate that the prime and potential suspect that he end is the ex-husband of the murder victim and former father of the second murder victim. This is due to the fact that the suspect is known to have a registered 2005 black Chevy Silverado in his possession. It can further be partially determined that the mother was killed first and the infant killed second. The underlying reason for saying this has to do with the fact that the mother’s body was found stabbed to death in the kitchen; whereas the infant son was found shot once in the back of the head in his crib. Such an understanding can be affected with regards to the belief that if the mother had heard the gunshot she would necessarily have run to the aid of her infant; or at least gone to find out what had possibly occurred as a means of precipitating the gunshot. Similarly, in the event that this was something as simple as a robbery gone wrong, it is unlikely to assume that the infant, who could not have witnessed the crime or told investigators any details with regards to the occurrences that took place would have been killed with the mother (Williams & Weetman, 2013). Wedged beneath the particleboard that made up the flooring, a 32 caliber slug was extracted by the homicide investigations team. This particular slug is expected to belong to a weapon that was registered with the mother. As such, only an individual familiar with where the mother store this weapon would have resorted to utilizing it instead of the same knife that was used on victim A. Result of DNA tests will be required in order to further determine who the prime suspect of this investigation should be concentric upon. However, this preliminary juncture, and overall lack of forced entry, the fact that the infant was killed via a different weapon as compared to the mother, and in a completely dissimilar way, and the extreme brutality that was exhibited with respect to the nature of the wounds that the mother sustained, all indicate that this was a crime that was likely perpetrated by an individual who do the family very well; and most likely had a lasting grudge against some aspect of their current life (Harris, 2013). As has been indicated previously, the primary suspect is that of the ex-husband; however, without the DNA proof or the ability to find this individual and question them, the case will need to wait upon the final results from the laboratory prior to issuing an arrest warrant. References Beauregard, E., & Martineau, M. (2013). A Descriptive Study of Sexual Homicide: Implications for Police Investigation.International Journal Of Offender Therapy & Comparative Criminology, 57(12), 1454-1476. doi:10.1177/0306624X12456682 Brookman, F., & Innes, M. (2013). The problem of success: What is a ‘good’ homicide investigation?. Policing & Society, 23(3), 292-310. doi:10.1080/10439463.2013.771538 Harris, C. (2013). Investigating homicide investigation. Policing & Society, 23(3), 328-345. doi:10.1080/10439463.2013.784294 Williams, R., & Weetman, J. (2013). Enacting forensics in homicide investigations. Policing & Society, 23(3), 376-389. doi:10.1080/10439463.2012.703200 Read More