Blood Spatter Pattern Analysis
Kimberley Kanuch-Brown
Everest University

Abstract

Given that blood spatter analysis is an emergent field, with rapidly occurring developments have significant probative implications for the court system, this project will seek to examine the multi-faceted elements of blood spatter analysis to provide an overview of the field’s different dimensions. Focusing on technical developments, analytical interpretation and court relevance, the project will propose that blood spatter’s analysis as a mainstream element of the CSI toolkit results from the combination of physical sciences and analytical rigor which lies at its core. Beginning with questions of technical and physical science, the project will examine the manner in which blood spatter analysis is increasingly capable of understanding how human usage of different weapons impacts the static nature of a given crime scene. Moving to questions of interpretation, the project will touch upon the manner in which information technology is improving the rigor and caliber of analysis, and thus leading to greater continuity and replicability in blood spatter analysis. Concluding, it will examine the manner in which the court system is now viewing blood spatter analysis with greater heft because of these developments.

Blood Spatter Analysis and Science Beginning with questions of science, the work of Randall (2009) demonstrates how even the most esoteric of weapons can be analyzed using blood-spatter analysis. Focusing on the chain saw and its use as either a murder weapon or tool of dismemberment, Randall (2009) makes it evident that the manner in which the user interacts with the chain saw can have dramatic implications for spatter pattern, and for ultimate crime scene reconstruction. On this basis, this piece of work is crucially important in demonstrating how blood spatter analysis has been capable of bridging the gap between the static properties of even the most esoteric weapons, and the manners in which human interactions with them impact blood spatter patterns. As such, it becomes clear that the discipline’s rigor is growing because of our enhanced understanding of these physical and social science nexuses. Indeed, and as discussed below, these nexuses lie at the absolute core of the successes which Blood Spatter Analysis has developed in terms of cementing the credibility of its analyses. In a similar vein, the work of Byard et al. (2007), examine the manner in which blood spatter analysis can be applied to cases of natural death for a scholarly and technical audience. Specifically studying fatal hemorrhages resulting from varicose veins, the authors note that in both the contexts of forensic pathology and crime scene investigation, it is possible to use blood spatter techniques to rule out non-natural causes of death in a rigorous fashion. In this regard, the importance of this work, for the scientific foundations of Blood Spatter Analysis, is that it demonstrates that the discipline is absolutely versatile in terms of the different elements of crime scene reconstruction which it can display competence within. Indeed, Byard et al. (2007) are capable of demonstrating that, even in cases of bloody natural deaths, spatter analysts have sufficient knowledge of human anatomy, and the processes by which the body sheds blood, so as to be able to discern when patterns of blood spatter are natural contra indications of criminality. Finally, in terms of the raw science underling Blood Spatter Analysis, Taylor et al. (2011), argue that the gases produced when a gun is shot can affect the viability and patterns of blood spatter. On this basis, their work is incredibly important in that it demonstrates the wide variation, in baseline spatter processes, which can occur in contexts when spatter is mixed with chemicals, and other processes. Thus, aside from understanding different positions, weapons and bodily processes, Blood Spatter analysts are also well versed to understand the biochemical and physical properties of different chemical elements of the atmosphere, of taking these into account in their interpretations, and in thus providing full and holistic accounts of the crime scenes which they are tasked with analyzing, reconstructing, and ultimately providing courtroom-relevant probative evidence in relation to.
Blood Spatter Analysis and Interpretation Moving forward to questions of blood spatter interpretation, historically a subjective area of practice, the work of Trombka et al. (2002) sheds important light on how computerized analysis can now lead to the automation of many elements of blood spatter analysis. This is incredibly beneficial, for this particular CSI technique, because of the fact that computerized analysis brings about the type of parsimony, associated with rigorous hard sciences, which increases a discipline’s credibility in a court-of-law. Indeed, and because computerized spatter analysis will inevitably bring about greater reliability in spatter analysis, inasmuch as cases will now be analyzed in identical ways by different analysts, the discipline’s probative relevance to court cases is likely to be increased dramatically. In a similar vein, Raul et al. (2005) argue that, in conceptualizing of the gunshot, we must make assumptions regarding its blood effects on the basis of trajectory and other elements. Examining shots to the head, the authors note that, depending on the trajectory of the bullet, the head will move in a different way. Because of this, blood spatter analysis must take into account the physics of head movement so as to make adequate pronouncements on what different pieces of blood spatter evidence mean. In other words, building optimal models for interpretation, such as the automated ones discussed above, absolutely depends on the crucial modeling of bodily processes, and the consequential making of proper assumption regarding how bodies react to different weapons and vice-versa. In other words, this significant area of Blood Spatter Analysis expertise, as it pertains to interpreting multi-modal and multi-faceted crime scenes with multiple inputs and outputs, demonstrates that a high degree of rigor can be built into the automation processes of this type of CSI analysis. Indeed, the veracity of these assumptions will be absolutely crucial, as the discipline moves forward and grows, in terms of ensuring its continued rigor and relevance.
Blood Spatter Analysis and the Courtroom Finally, in terms of the probative value which blood spatter analysis holds in a court-of-law, the work of Ristenbatt & Shafer (1995) pioneers in terms of demonstrating the unique insights which splatter analysis can offer in the context of probative evidence. Retelling a story in which it was possible for spatter analysts to recreate the exact height of an attacker, based on spatter patterns in a bludgeoning incident, the author’s note the manner in which their findings directly led to a conviction in the case. With this in mind, it becomes clear that the courtroom-associated value of blood spatter analysis is undergoing a period of growth, and that this growth, combined with automation and a better understanding of the nexuses touched upon above, will even more significantly increase blood spatter analysis’ probative value as time goes on. In a similar vein, Yen et al. (2003) note that an oft-underdeveloped area of blood spatters analysis pertains to residue which is left on the hands of a potential perpetrator, and their victim. Indeed, hand-based blood spatter is portrayed as something with great potential to shed light on the distance at which an incident occurred, and with regards to the relative positioning of the individuals involved in a struggle involving a firearm or a knife. With this in mind, the authors note that this is especially valuable, in cause-of-death investigations, as it pertains to delineating between incidents which are homicide, suicide, and accidents. As such, they also make it clear that the insights offered by Blood Spatter analysts go beyond mere splatter, and can have far greater importance in the modern courtroom.

Conclusion Ultimately, the continued development and refinement of Blood Spatter Analysis techniques, within the broader context of CSI, is likely to significantly enhance the rigors of the discipline – especially as it pertains to parsimonious and automated analysis of patterns for probative questions of criminal law. With this, the developments which will continue to occur in the area of blood spatter analysis will be cumulative in nature, and will thus serve to allow the discipline to grow both in terms of its technological baseline, and with regards to the professionalization of its practitioners. Ultimately, this set of dynamics is thus almost certain to result in a context wherein Blood Spatter Analysis will come to play an important and crucial role in terms of death investigations of all types, rapes, sexual assaults, and other forms of violent crime. Indeed, as it continues to develop, the discipline is likely to play an even greater role, in the courtroom and broader law enforcement practice, than it does in the current day.
Annotated Bibliography
Byard, R.W., Veldhoen, D., Manock, C., & Gilbert, J.D. (2007), Blood stain pattern interpretation in cases of fatal hemorrhage from ruptured varicose veins. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 14(3), 155-158.
In this piece, Byard et al. (2007), all medical doctors, examine the manner in which blood spatter analysis can be applied to cases of natural death for a scholarly and technical audience. Specifically studying fatal hemorrhages resulting from varicose veins, the authors note that in both the contexts of forensic pathology and crime scene investigation, it is possible to use blood spatter techniques to rule out non-natural causes of death in a rigorous fashion. Because the piece so specifically describes the manner in which this specific type of splatter can be identified, and thus used to rule out other more nebulous causes of death, it represents a very valuable addition to the CSI toolkit. Indeed, and for the purposes of this essay, this piece will thus be used to demonstrate the incredibly varied utility of this type of analysis.
Randall, B. (2009). Blood and tissue spatter associated with chainsaw dismemberment. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 54(6), 1310-1314.
In this piece, Randall (2009), a medical doctor, examines the very specific patterns of blood and tissue spatter associated with dismemberment by chainsaw. With this peer-reviewed article oriented towards a technical or scholarly audience, Randall (2009)’s principal proposition is that dismemberment via chainsaw, as the authors managed to dismember two pig carcasses using a small chainsaw, and that it produces effusive spatter of both blood and tissue. Depending on the direction of the discharge chute of the chainsaw, the manner in which these tissues and blood spatter are discharged is contingent. With this, Randall (2009) provides a rigorous documentation of the different dynamics of blood spatter orientation resulting from different manners of chainsaw handling. From the point-of-view of this project, this is thus highly useful in terms of demonstrating that blood spatter analysis is very much situationally-contingent, and that the assumptions made in CSI must be contingent upon the instruments used in the crime being studied.
Raul, J.S., Deck, C., & Meyer, F. (2005), A finite element model investigation of gunshot injury; International Journal of Legal Medicine, 121(2), 143-146
Given that blood spatter analysis’ accuracy is dependent on our accurate modeling of bodily processes, Raul et al. (2005), a team of CSI investigators and academic pathologists argue that, in conceptualizing of the gunshot, we must make assumptions regarding its blood effects on the basis of trajectory and other elements. Examining shots to the head, the authors note that, depending on the trajectory of the bullet, the head will move in a different way. Because of this, blood spatter analysis must take into account the physics of head movement so as to make adequate pronouncements on what different pieces of blood spatter evidence mean. For the purposes of this project, the utility of this piece will thus result directly from our understanding of how the body moves in contexts of gunshot wounds.
Raymond, M.A., Smith, E.R., & Liesegang, J. (1996): Oscillating blood droplets – implications for crime scene reconstruction; Science & Justice, 36(3), 161-171.
In this piece, Raymond et al. (1996) examine the physical dimensions of blood spatter so as to note that one of the discipline’s assumptions, about blood spatter, is erroneous. Written by three doctoral level scholars of crime scene reconstruction, for a technical and academic audience, the authors propose that the assumption of spherical blood droplets is one which is problematic for crime scene reconstruction. Noting that viscosity can lead some blood spatter to oscillate, the authors note the manner in which non-spherical droplet strains can lead to erroneous inferences within the reconstruction process. For the purpose of this project, the work of Raymond et al. (1996) will thus be useful in terms of demonstrating the manifold ways in which the basic assumptions of blood spatter analysis can affect its rigor.
Ristenbatt, R.R., & Shafer, R.C. (1995), A bloodstain pattern interpretation in a homicide case involving an apparent "stomping". Journal of Forensic Sciences, 40(1), 139-145.
In this piece, Ristenbatt & Shafer (1995), two members of the New York City’s Medical Examiner’s Office, provide an overview of stomping death-related blood spatter for a technical audience. Engaging in a case study of this specific case, where stomping had creating bludgeoning-type wounds to the face, neck and chest areas, the authors note the manner in which blood spatter analysis was used to evaluate the height of the attacker. “Demonstrating that this blood spatter analysis was incredibly probative in a courtroom setting, in that it served to directly refute assertions made by the case’s defendant, the authors thus demonstrate the degree to which blood spatter analysis is potent in the context of courtroom adjudication” Ultimately, the value of this piece, in the context of this project, will be to demonstrate the manner in which blood spatter analysis can be used strategically so as to effectively prosecute criminals.
Taylor, M.C., Laber, T.L., & Epstein, B.P. (2011): The effect of firearm muzzle gases on the backspatter of blood. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 125, 617-628.
In this piece, Taylor et al. (2011), forensic scientists and doctors, write for a scholarly audience in the context of a peer-reviewed journal. At base, they argue that the gases produced when a gun is shot can affect the viability and patterns of blood spatter. On this basis, their work is incredibly important in that it demonstrates the wide variation, in baseline spatter processes, which can occur in contexts when spatter is mixed with chemicals, and other processes. Thus, it’s worth, in the context of this project, will be to further demonstrate the importance of taking environmental variables in mind when reconstructing crime scenes through blood spatter analysis.
Trombka, J.I., Schweitzer, J., & Selavka, C. (2002): Crime scene investigations using portable, non-destructive space exploration technology; Forensic Science International, 129(1), 1-9.
In this piece, Trombka et al. (2002) examine the manner in which space exploration technology can be used so as to automate some portions of blood spatter analysis. Written by a team of academic crime scene researchers, in a peer-reviewed journal and for a scholarly audience, this essay thus demonstrates that technological innovation will allow for more rapid blood spatter analysis, and for the ultimate achievement of greater cross-case rigor in blood spatter accumulation and analysis. With this in mind, the virtue of this piece, in the context of this essay, will be to demonstrate the degree to which it is now increasingly possible to automate certain portions of the analysis process, and use technology so as to more significantly bring about accurate and probative results for legal proceedings.
Yen, K., Thali, M.J., & Peschel, O. (2003): Blood-Spatter Patterns: Hands Hold Clues for the Forensic Reconstruction of the Sequence of Events. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 24(2), 132-140.
In this scholarly journal article, written by a set of doctors and crime scene analysts, Yen et al. (2003) orient their work towards a specialized audience of pathological and forensic scientists. In this regard, they note that an oft-underdeveloped area of blood spatter analysis pertains to residue which is left on the hands of a potential perpetrator, and their victim. Indeed, hand-based blood spatter is portrayed as something with great potential to shed light on the distance at which an incident occurred, and with regards to the relative positioning of the individuals involved in a struggle involving a firearm or a knife. With this in mind, the authors note that this is especially valuable, in cause-of-death investigations, as it pertains to delineating between incidents which are homicide, suicide, and accidents. For the purposes of this project’s focus on blood spatter as a tool in crime scene investigation, the utility of this article will pertain directly to demonstrating the different ranges at which blood spatter analysis are useful.

References
Byard, R.W., Veldhoen, D., Manock, C., & Gilbert, J.D. (2007) Blood stain pattern interpretation in cases of fatal hemorrhage from ruptured varicose veins. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 14(3), 155-158.
Randall, B. (2009). Blood and tissue spatter associated with chainsaw dismemberment. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 54(6), 1310-1314.
Raul, J.S., Deck, C., & Meyer, F. (2005): A finite element model investigation of gunshot injury. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 121(2), 143-146.
Ristenbatt, R.R., & Shafer, R.C. (1995) A bloodstain pattern interpretation in a homicide case involving an apparent "stomping". Journal of Forensic Sciences, 40(1), 139-145.
Taylor, M.C., Laber, T.L., & Epstein, B.P. (2011): The effect of firearm muzzle gases on the backspatter of blood. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 125, 617-628.
Trombka, J.I., Schweitzer, J., & Selavka, C. (2002): Crime scene investigations using portable, non-destructive space exploration technology. Forensic Science International, 129(1), 1-9.
Yen, K., Thali, M.J., & Peschel, O. (2003): Blood-Spatter Patterns: Hands Hold Clues for the Forensic Reconstruction of the Sequence of Events. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 24(2), 132-140.