For Desmond Turner, everything came down to one bullet. Prosecutors had eyewitness testimony, Turner’s own statements and plenty of circumstantial evidence. But no physical evidence tied Turner to the worst mass shooting in Indianapolis history. Except one round of rifle ...

Tagged with: ballistics firearms forensics

Questions to ask an arson or fire investigation expert: 1. During your investigation, did you use the National Fire Protection Association 921 manual? 2. When did you investigate the scene, and how soon after the fire? 3. Is your investigation ...

Tagged with: arson forensics

Ballistics: The study of the movement of a projectile through the air, which could include bullets, missiles or other objects. “Ballistic fingerprinting” refers to the forensic science of firearm and bullet analysis. Bullet: A projectile propelled by a firearm. The ...

Tagged with: ballistics forensics

Questions to ask a ballistics expert: 1. Are you certified as a firearms examiner by the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners? 2. Did you clean or alter the crime scene bullets in any way to facilitate comparison? How ...

Tagged with: ballistics crime lab forensics

Here are some Web resources for those wanting to learn more about ballistics evidence. Firearms Tutorials This comprehensive site from the University of Utah is designed for medical professionals studying pathology, and includes detailed information for professionals who may encounter ...

Tagged with: ballistics evidence forensics

Here are some Web resources for those looking for more information about fire investigation. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Division A collection of fire tests and data from one of a federal lab devoted to ...

Tagged with: arson evidence forensics

Jim Kuticka circles the outside of the burned building in his steel-toed hunting boots, looking for charred walls or ceilings that might cave in, just as he has since he was a novice fire investigator in 1972. If ash covers ...

Tagged with: arson forensics

“Many long-held beliefs about arson have been proven untrue.” “Fingerprint evidence can be unreliable.” “Some lab technicians who conduct tests aren’t well-trained.” Those sentiments come not from a desperate defense attorney but are the thrust of a report by the ...

Tagged with: arson ballistics forensics