What We Do
Bloodstain pattern analysis techniques can allow us to determine such information as the type of bloodstain pattern involved, the event that produced it, and the area from which the bloodshed originated.
Knox & Associates provides crime scene analysis and reconstruction services for all types of cases. We specialize in:
- Firearms, Ballistics & Shooting Incident Reconstruction
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
- Death Scene Analysis
- Homicides
- Suicides
- Accidental Deaths
- Equivocal Death Analysis
- Wrongful Death Cases
- Product Liability / Defective Firearms
- Police-Involved Shooting Incidents
- Sequence of Events
Crime Scene Reconstruction
Bloodstain patterns can be enhanced using chemicals such as luminol. In this case, the victim's body can be plainly seen on carpet where very little blood was visible prior to enhancement.
Crime scene reconstruction is the process of taking all available information, with a focus on physical evidence, to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding a crime, a suicide, or an accident. The crime scene reconstructionist seeks to determine:
- What happened?
- How did it happen?
- Where did it happen?
- Why did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Who was involved?
It is important to understand that a crime scene reconstructionist can rarely make specific determinations about when a crime occurred; in other words, he will not often be able to say, "The victim was killed at 7:35 p.m. on Thursday." However, it is often possible to determine that one event occurred prior to another event, e.g., the suspect fired a shot at the victim before the victim fired back at the suspect.
Proper crime scene reconstruction is conducted in three phases:
- Investigation: The crime scene is examined and documented to determine what evidence is present without consideration to the particular meaning of any of the evidence.
- Analysis: Individual items of evidence, or groups of related evidence, are examined to determine their individual significance without respect to how those items fit into the overall reconstruction of the crime.
- Reconstruction: All evidence, including testimonial and documentary evidence, is taken into consideration to determine how the crime took place. The overriding concern here is: CONTEXT.
Crime scene reconstruction can be described as putting together a puzzle without knowing what the picture is supposed to look like and without even having all of the pieces. The more pieces you have, the more clearly you see the picture. It is the job of a crime scene reconstructionist to find the pieces and put them together.
Knox & Associates can provide a variety of crime scene reconstruction services including bloodstain pattern analysis and shooting incident reconstruction. We can also evaluate death scenes in equivocal death investigations to determine the manner of death. Knox & Associates can also process physical evidence for fingerprints; collect blood and biological evidence for submission to a DNA laboratory; search crime scenes for trace evidence and invisible blood; photograph and videotape scenes and physical evidence; and create diagrams of crime scenes and reconstruction efforts.
Firearms, Ballistics & Shooting Reconstruction
At Knox & Associates, we specialize in the reconstruction of shooting incidents for criminal and civil cases. We handle all types of firearms-related cases including police-involved shootings, homicide cases, accidental shootings, product liability/defective firearms cases, and other wrongful death litigation. Our experts bring you not only the ability to analyze a shooting incident for the purpose of determining what happened, but we can provide technical analysis involving ballistics, the performance of firearms, and firearms defects and failures that contributed to a shooting incident.
At Knox & Associates, we use the latest technology to find and examine the physical evidence that will get to the bottom of what happened during a shooting incident. One of our most valuable tools is the ability to take photographs with an infrared-sensitive digital camera that can reveal the presence of gunshot residue even when the background substrate is dark and little contrast can be achieved with normal photography. We also use the latest technologies in measurement to acquire the data needed for an accurate reconstruction. Our toolbox includes three-dimensional laser mapping techniques to accurate measure a scene and map bullet trajectories; photogrammetry to obtain measurements from photographs, including those taken by other photographers such as crime scene investigators that documented the original shooting scene; and, three-dimensional computer modeling software to create accurate models of shooting scenes and render those models to photorealistic images. We can also analyze video surveillance footage and audio recordings of shooting incidents to aid in reconstructing sequence and timing, as well as to put the recordings into the context of the other physical evidence in the case.
The photograph on the left shows a gunshot residue pattern on blue denim material photographed only with visible light. The pattern is not readily apparent due to a lack of contrast with the background. The photograph on the right shows the same pattern photographed using infrared light. The gunshot residue pattern becomes apparent because of a significant increase in contrast. Infrared photography can also allow photography of gunshot residue on clothing that has been saturated with blood and to help visualize the presence of lead bullet wipe surrounding a bullet hole.
Understanding gunshot wounds and terminal ballistics is critical to understanding how a shooting incident took place. At Knox & Associates, we can examine autopsy reports, medical records, and x-rays to determine, in the context of other physical and testimonial evidence, the position of a victim's body when shots were inflicted.
X-rays can be used to determine such factors as wound path and projectile caliber. Often evaluation of medical records and x-rays is the only way to determine wound paths for reconstruction of the shooting.
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Bloodstain patterns such as these are very telling. Our experts can use these patterns in conjunction with other crime scene evidence to tell you a great deal about how a particular crime happened. (The baby in the photograph is only a toy doll.)
Bloodstain patterns at crime scenes, accident scenes, and other death scenes can be some of the most telling evidence available. Bloodstain patterns can indicate such information as what events took place, where those events took place, and even what type of weapon was involved. Bloodstain patterns can often tell an analyst very specific information about the origin of an impact, such as a blow received during a beating. Such information can show, for example, that a victim was kneeling rather than standing.
Bloodstain pattern evidence can often be difficult to detect. However, it is possible to find, document, and even collect blood evidence that has been cleaned up and even painted over. Knox & Associates can use a variety of chemicals and methods to detect invisible blood, enhance bloodstain patterns, and provide you with meaningful results.
Blood evidence also is important for DNA comparison. Knox & Associates can properly collect and package blood evidence to be submitted to a DNA laboratory.
Bloodstain patterns can be analyzed using a variety of methods including the use of strings that show the area of origin of medium-velocity impact spatter patterns from a beating death.