Put Together A Case File: Part 2

This is PART 2 and will cover evidence collection and case conclusion.  You might want to read PART 1 since I will be referencing case file documents (from zip file) and building upon this first post. PART 3 will cover interviews and statements.

Evidence collection is a long discussion, so I’ll try to condense things as much as I can.  The process of collecting evidence starts with understanding how to process a crime scene, how to NOT contaminate evidence while collecting it, and potentially sending it to a third-party for analysis.

Before we begin, understand that you are not the police. Let the police handle the scene first, if at all possible (which it is in most cases). If there is a body or bones or more than 1 cup of blood, call the police. You can tell them your RLSH name or just say "a neighbor" or something like that.

If you are planning on collecting evidence, make sure you have some PPE on your person. See this picture of Batman wearing nitrile gloves? That's what I'm talking about. Have some nitrile gloves that you can put on while out in the field.

Also, you will want to secure any loose parts of your uniform. That means coats, capes, sashes, etc. Get them out of your way so they don't end up contaminating the scene.

The Basics

The basics refer to the things that are often overlooked and forgotten.  Most of these things you probably have in your home right now.

• Journal & writing utensils (pen, pencil, china marker, sharpie)

• Tools of measurement (tape measure, ruler, sewing tape measure)

• Flashlight

• Flags or flagging tape (used by law enforcement and others)

• GPS device

These basic items will allow you to make notes during your investigations (time and date your notes), measure lengths and widths and heights of things, illuminate your way, flag items, and note where you are through GPS.  When you take notes, you should note the time and date so you can refer back to it later.  It also allows you to cross-check information.  An example of this would be if you hear a sound at “approximately 12:30am”, then cross-check, and find out that a barge was out on water near your location at 12:43am.

The tools of measurement are important because if you find forensic evidence you will want to photograph a tool of measurement next to the item.  You may want to measure the height of hair found caught in a bush and then measure the approximate length of the hair as found naturally (undisturbed).  You can measure the actual length after you collect it.  When you do measure these things, you should also take a photo that includes the tool of measurement.  A tool of measurement should be unchanging sources like a ruler or a coin.  If you use your hand, no one will have a proper reference of size because hands come in all sizes.  Do not use your hand, your foot, a partially eaten candy bar, or other item that is not static in size.

Flashlights can be used to illuminate a dark spot, provide better illumination of an object, to help illuminate tracks, and to help if you are writing notes.  It can also be a signaling tool if you get lost.

Flags or flagging tape can be used to mark certain spots.  You may want to mark spots and take area photos, which help establish evidence correlation.  Flags can also help you return to track casts that require time to set up.  It can also let other people you are with know where evidence is, so they don’t walk through the area.  It should be noted that while these are very basic for law enforcement and other types of investigators, it might not be practical for RLSH.

A GPS device can be used to document location of evidence, document your own location, and be able to send out an emergency call - if you ever need to.  You can just use your phone’s maps feature.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to keep you safe.  Typical PPE will be a first aid kit and nitrile or latex gloves.  You may need some additional specialty gloves, like if you are working out on the water or in snowy conditions.

The first aid kit that you decide to have with you should fit with the environment you will be in.  You should assess the environment you are going to be in, where the closest emergency services are to the location, common injuries that you may sustain, and the worst injuries that may happen.  This could range from bandaids (most common) to a pocket trauma kit (worst injury).

Other PPE items may include: protective eyewear, ear protection, hat, hand towel, tourniquet or rope, etc.

Evidence Collection Kit

A basic evidence collection kit is designed to allow you to mark, measure, and collect forensic evidence.  You can buy kits online or put your own together.

A kit should include: nitrile gloves, photographic scales, sewing tape measure, tweezers, scalpel, sterile swabs and capped test tubes OR capped sterile swabs and swab boxes, tongue depressors, disposable pipettes, sterile gauze pads, sealing tape, and evidence collection bags (plastic bags and paper bags).  You can expand upon this as you explore what you may or may not need for your area.

Tracks

With cryptozoology, tracks are commonly talked about; with law enforcement, its more about footprints and tire tracks.  Tracks and impressions can also be made by a body.  A snake moving through sand will leave an impression behind that can be photographed, but possibly not casted.  Predators may leave claw marks.  Heavy vehicles leave deeper tire tracks, while lighter vehicles leave shallow tracks (usually).

Tracks would be considered physical evidence and hard evidence, but you must be aware that tracks can be faked or there could be a double-step/double-tread that leads to misidentification of a track.

When you come across tracks or impressions that you find interesting, begin by photographing them.  You can take photos from a distance, if there appears to be a trail of impressions.  Definitely take a photo of an impression with a tool of measurement next to it to show length and width.  You may need to use a flashlight to help create light and shadow in your photos to better see the impression.

Prints

Prints are left behind when skin is pressed against a surface.  The seebum, a natural skin oil, is left behind by the higher skin ridges and allows us to collect prints.  The types of locations that are more likely to have prints left behind are: vehicles, beverages or drinkware, door knob, tv remote control, handles, and on items very common for people to touch.

Sirchie Detective Pocket Latent Kit

The best method for beginners to collect prints is to have a handy fingerprint collection kit handy.  These can range from $30 to $600+.  I would suggest a Sirchie Detective Pocket Latent Kit for $34.50 (sirchie.com).  Photo of this particular kit is on the right.  It includes black latent powder, white latent powder, powder brushes, magnifying glass, hinge lifters in black and white and transparent, and a carrying case.  This is a lightweight kit that can easily fit into a backpack.

As with any tool that you plan on carrying, you should practice collecting prints.

Step 1 - Put on nitrile gloves and have your latent print kit ready.

Step 2 - Use the appropriate powder color and brush to dust the area of the print.  Light powder on dark surface or dark powder on light surface.  When you “dust the area” do not touch it with the brush.  Hold the brush loaded with powder about an inch over the area and gently roll the brush between your fingers to release the powder.  Touching the area, where the prints are, will destroy the prints.

Step 3 - After the print is developed and you are able to see it, gently blow off the excess powder.  This should leave the prints behind.  If you need to, try using various light sources to help you see better, such as a UV flashlight and orange or yellow safety glasses.

Step 3B - In the field, this is when you would want to photograph the prints before you collect them.  Powdered prints should show up in photos and video.

Step 4 - Using lifting tape or a hinge lifter (that will allow the print the show), press over the print.  It should cover the whole print, be flat, and have no bubbles to it.  Slide your fingers over the tape to make sure you are collecting the whole print before pulling the lifting tape or hinge lifter from the print.

Step 5 - Lifting tape can be mounted on lifting tape pads or index cards (in a pinch).  Hinge lifters come with their mount attached by the hinged end.  Mount your prints.

Hair, Fur, Feather, Scales

Hair, fur, feathers, and scales are usually dry items since they are not liquids.  This type of biological forensic evidence can easily be sent to a biology or wildlife laboratory for examination and identification.  For this particular type of evidence, you will want to have an evidence bag available, plastic bag if fully dry or paper bag if moisture is detected.  We want to prevent any rot or deterioration from happening to the samples.

Step 1 - Put on nitrile gloves before photographing and measuring the sample.  You should take establishing photos to show the overall location of the sample, as well as close-ups of the sample.  Since these items are usually small, be sure to use a photographic scale in your photos.

Step 2 - If dry, you can use a plastic bag; if moisture is detected, you can use a paper bag.  Have your collection bag ready.  Use tweezers to carefully place your evidence into the collection bag.  If you are using a paper bag, be sure to use sealing tape to secure the bag.

Step 3 - Give the evidence a number or a name that you can refer to later.  Write it on the bag with a permanent marker.

Step 4 - Make notes in your journal of the evidence found: location, date, time, weather conditions, type of evidence, color, size, and other observations.  If you found it in a bush, you may want to make note of that.  If you found it 8-feet up a tree trunk, you may want to make note of that.

Saliva, Urine, Blood

Saliva, urine, and blood are all liquid-based biological forensic evidence.  If small amounts are found, you can use a swab and container for collection.  If there is a sizable amount of blood, more than a swab, then you can use a sterile gauze pad to absorb additional liquid for analysis.

Step 1 - Put on nitrile gloves and any other appropriate PPE.

Step 2 - Flag and photograph the evidence.  Take establishing photos to show the overall location of the sample, as well as close-ups of the sample.  Use tools of measurement to show size of evidence and location (height or spray).

Step 3 - Have either a sterile swab and capped test tube OR capped sterile swab and swab box ready.  Collect sample with the cotton end of the swab and immediately contain.  For swab and tube, place the swab into the tube and cap the tube.  For capped swab and box, push cap up around the swab end and close cap top, and then place the collection into a swab box.  REPEAT this as many times as you need to, but use separate containers for each collection.  If you don’t, you will cross-contaminate your sample and it becomes useless.

Step 3B - If you have a large pool of blood or saliva or urine, in a single spot, you can use a sterile gauze pad and tweezers to absorb a larger amount of evidence.  This gauze pad with evidence can be placed into a capped test tube or into a petri dish.

Step 4 - Label your samples as you collect them.  If you are using capped test tubes or petri dishes, you should use sealing tape to make sure the lids don’t come off during transportation.

Step 5 - Secure your samples for transportation and start your notions on the samples.  You can opt to have a second person make evidence notation as you make your collections.  Be sure to note what you collected, time, date, location, color, odor, and any other observations.  When transporting samples, avoid extreme temperatures if possible.

Bones & Body

Secure the scene and call the police. This isn't something for RLSH to handle.

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Matt Murdock in court

Case Conclusion

Concluding a case for an RLSH means that you believe you have a solid case put together, supporting or dismissing suspects, with a body of evidence, contacts, statements, references, etc.  This is something that you should be able to hand over to a police detective or a journalist or an attorney - you should also hand over any vital collected evidence as well.  Nothing in your case should make assumptions or jump to any conclusions.  If you do have holes in your case, make sure you indicate these to the detective you hand the file to.

You cannot arrest anyone for a crime.  Let the police do that.

You have to believe that the system can work and you have to work with it in order for this to happen.  Never falsify anything or you will lose trust.

In order to have "case conclusion", you will need to have at least one special contact in your community. I suggest a police officer, a reputable journalist, or an attorney. These are people who could move the case along in some capacity.

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I know this was pretty hefty, but now you have an idea on how to properly collect evidence (if you need to) and how to conclude a case file. PART 3 will cover interviews and statements.