BLOOD SPATTER ANALYSIS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | UPDATED
2024/25 RATED
blood spatter analysis was adopted in practical manner in US after what court case? -
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1954 Sheppard case
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blood spatter analysis can provide what information? - -who shed blood?
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-how did it get where it was found?
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-what was the sequence of events that led to this pattern?
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-origin of blood stain II II II
-type of instrument causing stain
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-direction from which it struck victim II II II II II
-relative position of victim/assailant II II II
-# of blows/gun shots
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-truthfulness of suspects/witnesses II II
II what is blood held together by? - surface tension
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surface tension - cohesive forces that produce a surface resistant to penetration or
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separation
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before a drop of blood can fall, what needs to happen? - gravitational attraction for the
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drop must exceed surface tension
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*surface tension is broken w/ energy II II II II II
shape and size of blood drop depends on what four factors? - size of drop
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velocity
angle
type of surface hit
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how fast does a drop of blood fall? - increases speed as it falls until it hits terminal
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velocity (25 ft/ second)
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when a drop of blood strikes at a right angle, spatter pattern forms what shape? - even
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circle around point of impact
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when a drop of blood strikes at a smaller angle than 90 degrees, what shape does it
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create? - oval pattern w/ narrow/pointed end aiming in direction of travel
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these surfaces create small patterns of blood spatter - smooth surfaces like glass, tile,
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and marble
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, when a drop of blood falls onto a hard surface, what can happen to the drops? - small
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secondary/satellite droplet may surround initial circular stain
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with drops that hit smooth surfaces at less than 90 degrees- secondary stains are
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elongated but tails of satellite droplets point which direction? - point where they came
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from (NOT direction they are traveling)
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spatters can be produced by what mechanisms? - stabbings
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beatings
gunshots
arterial bleeds II
cast-off blood II
splashing
expirated blood II
II impact angle - slant at which blood drops strike surface
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II directionality - course the blood drop followed II II II II II II II II II
II how is impact angle determined? - using blood stain's width to length ratio
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what is directionality used for? - used to make point of convergence and point of origin
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determinations
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point of convergence - 2d representation of the point where lines tracking the pathways
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of 2 or more spatters meet
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at the scene, strings are attached from each stain according to direction of impact...where
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strings meet equal the - point of convergence
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point of origin - 3d representation of the point where lines tracking, not only the
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pathways, but also angles of impact of 2 or more spatters meet
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II what does the point of origin indicate? - general spatial location of blood source
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void pattern - absence of blood spatter in area you'd otherwise expect it
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*could show where attacker was standing b/c body prevents blood from spattering behind
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it
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you can classify projected spatter two different ways: - type of spatter
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by velocity
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*both are useful due to overlapping in many areas
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impact spatters occur in what type of situation? - beatings
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stabbings
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