There could hardly be a better follow-up story to that recent post about the importance of forensic science. A recent story from WPXI (read it here) details the multiple murder convictions of a California serial killer. Rodney Alcala's first known crime was in 1968, when he abducted an 8 year-old girl on her way to school. He brutally beat her with a lead pipe and raped her repeatedly but was caught thanks to the quick action of a witness to the abduction. That witness likely saved the little girl's life, as Alcala's next victims were all murdered after being raped and tortured in various ways.
Disillusioned idealist needs a place to rant. Complaints welcome but only if accompanied by intelligent suggestions for potential solutions.
Showing posts with label WM3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WM3. Show all posts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Science & yokels just don't mix
Ted Bundy is the most notorious killer to have been convicted of murder using forensic odontology (dentistry). After murdering almost 30 women (maybe even closer to 40), he still hadn't been connected to all of his crimes. Even after multiple arrests & jail escapes, he was still killing. One of his last massacres was a sorority house attack in Florida. The only evidence linking Bundy to that crime was bite marks. Without the bite mark evidence, he may not have been convicted of the two murders, both of which resulted in death sentences. Soon after, he was tried for another murder (believed to be his last) where he was largely convicted on the basis of fiber evidence.
This short history of forensic science is a quick lesson needeed before reading another far more troubling story. There's not much that could be more troubling than a sociopathic serial killer murdering lots of innocent women, but some miscarriages of American justice are equally chilling. In 1993, three 8 year old boys were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Soon afterward, 3 teenage boys (one of them mentally retarded), were convicted of the crimes. Two received life sentences, the other's on death row. There was no forensic evidence linking any of the teens to the crime; In fact, fibers, bite marks & other scientific findings generally exclude the suspects. It seems as though the jury was influenced by sensationalized media coverage of the horrific crimes, as well as unprofessional investigative tactics & a foolhardy judge who made light of scientific data & evidence.
This short history of forensic science is a quick lesson needeed before reading another far more troubling story. There's not much that could be more troubling than a sociopathic serial killer murdering lots of innocent women, but some miscarriages of American justice are equally chilling. In 1993, three 8 year old boys were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Soon afterward, 3 teenage boys (one of them mentally retarded), were convicted of the crimes. Two received life sentences, the other's on death row. There was no forensic evidence linking any of the teens to the crime; In fact, fibers, bite marks & other scientific findings generally exclude the suspects. It seems as though the jury was influenced by sensationalized media coverage of the horrific crimes, as well as unprofessional investigative tactics & a foolhardy judge who made light of scientific data & evidence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)