Although a voracious reader, I must confess that I probably watch too much television. The advent of a DVR for $5 per month thanks to the magic of satellite tv has transformed my life. Sometimes during an excited conversation of a good show, I find that scene from Natural Born Killers flashing through my head, the one where the old Navajo man looks at Mickey & Mallory to see "too much tv" written across their bodies.
Disillusioned idealist needs a place to rant. Complaints welcome but only if accompanied by intelligent suggestions for potential solutions.
Showing posts with label forensic science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forensic science. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 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.
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