Crime Science by Joe Nickell and John Fischer

Joe Nickell is the author of Detecting Forgery and Camera Clues; John Fischer is a former forensic analyst in a Florida crime lab and is now the president of Forensic Research and Supply Corporation. These two are well qualified to put out such a book — and they do an excellent job.

Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection takes the reader through crime scene investigation step-by-step. Each chapter focuses on a specific area: trace evidence, firearms, fingerprinting, impression analysis, questioned documents, serology, chemistry, pathology, and anthropology.

The language is easy to understand without becoming overly technical. There are many illustrations and photos to explain the text and the layout is logical and easy to navigate.

True cases are used at the end of each chapter to illustrate how each technique was used to solve the crime. For example, the case of Jeffrey MacDonald follows a discussion on documenting the crime scene and collecting and preserving evidence. In the MacDonald case, 26-year-old Green Beret Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, MD, called for help early in the morning on February 17, 1970.

MPs responded and found Mrs. Colette MacDonald stabbed and battered in a utility room. Next to her was Jeffrey, also covered in blood. Down the hall, they discovered the bodies of five-year-old Kimberly and two-year-old Kristen. Captain MacDonald was the lone survivor of an attack by four hippies, according to his statements.

Investigators didn’t think MacDonald’s story sounded right. They soon discovered that MacDonald’s version of the attack was impossible in light of the evidence. For example, MacDonald claimed to have been lying in the hall unconscious, yet no blood was found there. No fingerprints were found on the phone he used to call for help. The word “PIG” had been written in blood on the headboard of Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald’s bed. Closer inspection revealed that two fingers enclosed in something like a latex glove were used to write the word. All four family members had different blood types, making the investigation easier from the standpoint of determining whose blood was found in different places and on different articles.

Pick up this book to find out how this and other intriguing crimes were solved!

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic