1. The document discusses homicide investigation techniques in the 21st century, noting that while tools and technology have advanced, it remains the investigator's duty to determine who committed the crime and gather solid evidence for conviction. 2. It explains that the investigator must first determine whether a scene involves homicide or suicide, and then classify the type of homicide. The investigator collects and analyzes evidence from the scene and body to determine cause and time of death. 3. Motive is ascertained by examining the crime details and investigating the victim's life through records and interviews to understand who may have wanted to harm them. The goal is to answer the key questions of who, what, when, where, and why to

1. Homicide Investigation 1
Running Header: HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN THE TWENTY FIRST
CENTURY
Homicide Investigation in the Twenty First Century
Elizabeth Hall
Kaplan University
Criminal Investigation CJ210
Joseph Reynolds
December 2, 2009
Abstract:
“ It doesn’t matter how handsome or articulate a person might be, or how nicely they smile at you,
for behind it all, there could reside the most diabolical person you’ll ever meet” notes true crime
writer Kevin Sullivan who had the fortune to examine Ted Bundy’s actual murder kit when researching
to write a book about him. (Executions Today, 2009) The tools and techniques available to the
investigator today have come a long way since the late 1970’s when Ted Bundy was arrested; however,
the tools available to criminals have progressed in much the same way. It is the investigator’s duty to
determine who committed the crime, and to gather enough solid evidence to convict this person. While
the investigative techniques and tools remain the same for most crimes, we will focus on the crime of
homicide, because of all crime; this type causes the most fear and unrest in individual communities
and society as a whole. The investigator must determine if the crime scene is that of a homicide or a
suicide, and if homicide is the case, which category of homicide the crime is, all the while, following
the guidelines for collecting, and preserving the evidence so as avoid contamination. In conclusion,
only a successful investigation provides the justice system with the tools necessary to convict a person
of the crimes they have committed.

2. Homicide Investigation in the Twenty-First Century
“ It doesn’t matter how handsome or articulate a person might be, or how nicely they smile at you,
for behind it all, there could reside the most diabolical person you’ll ever meet” notes true crime writer
Kevin Sullivan who had the fortune to examine Ted Bundy’s actual murder kit when researching to
write a book about him. (Executions Today, 2009) The tools and techniques available to the
investigator today have come a long way since the late 1970’s when Ted Bundy was arrested; however,
the tools available to criminals have progressed in much the same way. It is the investigator’s duty to
determine who committed the crime, and to gather enough solid evidence to convict this person. While
the investigative techniques and tools remain the same for most crimes, we will focus on the crime of
homicide, because of all crime; this type causes the most fear and unrest in individual communities and
society as a whole, and utilizes every available investigative tool and technique available to the
investigator. (Osterburg, J & Ward, R. 2007 pp349-439). The investigator must determine if the crime
scene is that of a homicide or a suicide, and if homicide is the case, which category of homicide the
crime is, all the while, following the guidelines for collecting, and preserving the evidence so as avoid
contamination. In conclusion, only a successful investigation provides the justice system with the tools
necessary to convict a person of the crimes they have committed.
When the detective arrives at a fresh crime scene, the first order of business is to make sure that the
first responding officer has successfully secured the scene to protect it from contamination. Once this is
accomplished, the investigator can isolate any potential witnesses or victims that remain, and perform a
preliminary walk through of the scene to determine what crime scene personnel and equipment is
needed. During this decision making process, the investigator must also decide what type of warrants
are needed, and take the proper steps to obtain them. Once warrants are obtained, the detailed search
and careful recording of the crime scene can begin.
Upon discovery of a body, or enough blood at a scene to constitute that a homicide was committed,
the first thing that the investigator must decide is whether or not they are looking at a homicide, where
another person caused the death of the deceased, or a suicide, where the deceased willingly took their
own life. Many homicides are staged to resemble suicides in order to lead investigators in the wrong
direction, but a seasoned
investigator using the previous experience they have gained along with advances in scientific
techniques for identifying evidence should be able to distinguish from the two using facts gained from
careful examination of the physical evidence, and statements made during interviews and or
interrogations of victims, witnesses, family members and friends of both the victim and any suspects
that arise from the examination of the evidence found during the investigation of the physical scene, or
facts gained from records available to them. These records can be obtained from public databases,
family members, and pawn shops, for example, and includes such things as handwriting samples, pawn
shop receipts, credit card receipts or any documents that pertain to the investigation of the case.
When a crime is identified to be a homicide, it must be determined which type of murder has been
committed, as there are several types of this offense:
1. Justifiable homicide- the direct and lawful taking of a life.
2. Excusable Homicide- the taking of a life by another without meaning to and not
committing gross negligence.
3. Suicide- the killing of oneself.

3. 4. Criminal Homicide- the illegitimate taking of a life by another person either classified
as manslaughter or murder.
When there is a body discovered at a scene, it must be examined by a forensic pathologist to determine
the cause of death. This is part of the corpus delicti which is a compilation of fundamental evidence
that proves that a crime has indeed taken place and someone was responsible for it happening. It is the
investigator’s duty to make sure that there is evidence to support these statements. Other evidence
available from the body includes: time and manner of death, trace evidence on the body, possible DNA
from fingernail scrapings or from semen left from the crime, fibers left on clothing, and hairs from the
suspect.
The most important questions that the investigator must answer: who, what, when , where, and why
the crime was committed. It is these answers that must be proven without a doubt in order to gain a
conviction in the courtroom. The basic functions of an investigation are: “record crime scene,
recognize, collect, and preserve all physical evidence to link a suspect to the victim, crime scene, or
both, identify the victim, identify a substance (poison, narcotic, blood, semen) or object (bludgeon,
gun) to locate its source and trace its owner, establish cause, manner, and time of death, and to
ascertain the motive for the crime.” (Osterberg, J. & Ward, R. 2007 pp 349-439)
Ascertaining the motive of the crime can be done by looking at the manner in which the suspect
committed the crime, from the people who had any knowledge of the way the victim spent their time,
and various documents either from others to the victim or vice versa.
The investigator must then try to find more information by interviewing people, examining all
records available to understand all business activities of the victim, check all available
interdepartmental resources to look for similarities, and obtaining any samples needed from any
suspects such as DNA, hair, or blood samples. They must also make sure that any suspects are
questioned, and that they have been given proper Miranda Warnings.
Should there be any similarities discovered while investigating, that resemble any other
interdepartmental cases, the Modus Operandi, which is a method that is specific to the criminal, such as
Richard Ramirez leaving pentagrams, and entering homes at night.
This is important, because it can link cases together no matter the geographical location, and alert the
authorities to other crimes related to the same suspect, or perhaps it is the result of a serial killer,
bomber, or arsonist.
In short, the investigator is the person whose responsibility is to determine what happened, where it
happened, and who is responsible for it happening. They are also charged with finding and preserving
all of the evidence needed to maintain the burden of proof required at trial to obtain a conviction. One
mistake by an investigator could result in a criminal being set free.
References:
Executions Today. (2009) 1989: Ted Bundy, psycho killer. Retrieved From the World Wide
Web December 2, 2009. http://www.executedtoday.com/2009/01/24/1989-ted-bundy-psycho-
killer/
Osterburg, J. & Ward, R. (2007). Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the
Past, Fifth Edition. Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group.
Newark, NJ.