Introduction to Forensic Science

385 Pages·1994·7.691 MB·English

by  William G. Eckert.

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Introduction
to Forensic
Sciences
2nd Edition
WILLIAM G. ECKERT
CRC Press
Boca Raton New York London Tokyo
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Publisher: Robert B. Stern
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Eckert, William G.
Introduction to forensic sciences, second editon/ William G. Eckert
Originally published: New York: Elsevier, 1992
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8493-8101-0
1. Forensic sciences. I. Eckert, William G.. II. Title.
QR749.H64G78 1996
616′.0149—dc20
for Library of Congress 96-54316
CIP
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted
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© 1997 by CRC Press, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Preface
The Editor
Contributors
Acknowledgments
1 Introduction to Forensic Sciences
WILLIAM G. ECKERT
2 Historical Development of Forensic Sciences
WILLIAM G. ECKERT
3 The Role of the Forensic Laboratory
WILLIAM G. ECKERT AND STUART H. JAMES
4 Forensic Psychiatry
WILLIAM G. ECKERT AND RONALD J. TURCO
5 Scientific Evidence in Court
WILLIAM G. ECKERT AND RONALD K. WRIGHT
6 Legal Medicine and Jurisprudence
CYRIL H. WECHT

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7 Forensic Pathology
WILLIAM G. ECKERT, AND RONALD K. WRIGHT
8
Forensic Toxicology
ALPHONSE POKLIS
9 Questioned Documents
WILLIAM H. STORER
10 Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation
STUART H. JAMES AND CHARLES F. EDEL
11 Serology and DNA Typing
GEORGE T. DUNCAN AND MARTIN L. TRACEY
12 Forensic Odontology
MARK BERNSTEIN
13 The Scope of Forensic Anthropology
MEHMET YASAR ÎSCAN AND SUSAN R. LOTH
Appendix

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Preface
This work is dedicated to students at all levels of education, who are interested
in the fascinating field of forensic science. The contents of this book, by
outstanding contributors, provides the reader with information on the var-
ious fields of forensic science that may help them make a career choice or
add to their present knowledge. Entry into this field offers a new and reward-
ing challenge to students who can apply the latest in laser and computer
technology to help solve the forensic problems of today.
The new edition of this book has been completely updated. Information
is now included on the latest techniques in DNA typing and new information
on clinical forensic medicine. Many of the chapters, such as those dealing
with forensic science and the law, as well as the historical background chap-
ters, have also been completely rewritten.
Forensic science not only benefits the scientific minded, but has appli-
cations in law enforcement. It brings a more practical use of these techniques
and a confidence in the results as never before seen. Everyone has potential
for making discoveries in this field. The first thing is to identify what the
problems are and then to apply common sense and team work to solving
them.
William G. Eckert, M.D.

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The Editor
William G. Eckert, M.D., a forensic pathologist, was in the first group to be
certified in this specialty by the American Board of Pathology in 1959. He
has practiced this specialty in New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, New Orleans,
Kansas, and California in both coroner and medical examiners’ offices and
as a private consultant for both prosecution and defense attorneys.
He has done extensive research in multiple areas of forensic science such
as accident investigation, child abuse, serial murders, jail deaths, street gangs,
and clinical forensic medicine to name a few, and his expertise has been called
on to consult on numerous high-profile cases He consulted on the Charles
Manson case, the Robert Kennedy case with Dr. Thomas Noguchi of Los
Angeles, California, the DC-10 crash in Chicago, and the John Wayne Gacy
case with the late Dr. Robert Stein of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Eckert also con-
sulted for the U.S. Department of Transportation on the jumbo jet crash in
the Canary Islands.
The International Reference Organization in Forensic Sciences and Med-
icine, INFORM, was founded and edited by Dr. Eckert for a number of years.
He established the Milton Helpern Center for the Forensic Sciences at Wichita
State University which serves as a database for 120 countries. The American
Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology was founded by Dr. Eckert in 1979
and he served as the editor of this important journal for 12 years. Dr. Eckert
founded the Asian Pacific Society in 1983 as well as the Pan American Asso-
ciation for Forensic Sciences.
Dr. Eckert also been very active in the field nationally and internationally.
He is a past president of the National Association of Medical Examiners; is
past president of the International Association of Forensic Sciences, and he
was a secretary and vice president of the American Academy of Forensic
Sciences.
Among Dr. Eckert’s publications are a three-volume text, Forensic
Medicine with Dr. C. Tedischi and Dr. L. Tedischi and Interpretation of Blood
Stain Evidence at Crime Scences with Stuart H. James. Dr. Eckert has published
over 50 articles and a large number of bibliographies and monographs.

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Contributors
Mark L. Bernstein, M.D.
Department of Surgical and
Hospital Dentistry
School of Dentistry
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
George T. Duncan, M.S.
Broward County Crime Laboratory
DNA Unit
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
William G. Eckert, M.D.
General and Forensic Pathology
Simi Valley, California
Charles F. Edel
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
M. Yasar Iscan, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Stuart H. James, B.A.
Forensic Consultants, Inc.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Susan R. Loth, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Alphonse Polkis, Ph.D.
Departments of Pathology and
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia

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William H. Storer, M.S.
Examiner of Questioned Documents
St. Louis, Missouri
Martin L. Tracey, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
International University
Miami, Florida
Ronald N. Turco, M.D.
Beaverton, Oregon
Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D.
Department of Pathology
St. Francis Central Hospital
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ronald K. Wright, M.D., J.D.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Acknowledgments
Those scientists who helped make this work a success have to be acknowl-
edged and thanked, especially the authors of the last six chapters. They took
the time to make our specialty understood and demonstrate a sincere appre-
ciation for the forensic sciences.
Since starting this book, we have lost two men who were not only friends,
but teachers of this science: Dr. Robert Stein, Chief Medical Examiner of
Cook County and Chicago, Illinois, and Dr. Tom Krauss, a forensic dentist
from Kansas. Dr. Krauss was a well-known investigator in the application of
photography at crime scenes and the study of trauma from bite marks as
forensic evidence of identification.
I would like to express my appreciation to the many educators of forensic
sciences in departments of criminal justice, administration of justice and the
schools of law enforcement (academies) in America and overseas. These
teachers must be recognized for their continuing efforts in providing con-
siderable leadership in improving knowledge and interest in this field.
I am especially thankful that we have had the opportunity to present the
newest specialty of forensic science—clinical forensic medicine. This specialty
involves the evaluation of trauma in the living—murder suspects, who have
injuries which can be related to those seen on the victims and injuries which
are also comparable with victims of assault such as children, the elderly, or
spouses. This has been an unknown possibility for prosecutors and defense
attorneys in cases.
It has been very fortunate that I have had the advice of two strong
supporters of this book, namely, my son and attorney Bill Eckert of New
Orleans, and Mr. Robert Wachendorf, an experienced and now retired attor-
ney from New Jersey, who supplied the medicolegal aspects.
This book was written for young people who are starting out in the field
of forensic sciences. I sincerely hope we have achieved our hope of giving
them an insight into a fascinating and rewarding field.

©1997 CRC Press LLC