Veterinary Forensics: Applying Forensic

Science to Animal CasesDr. Melinda MerckDr. Melinda Merck

Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences, Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences, ASPCAASPCA

catdvm@bellsouth.netcatdvm@bellsouth.net678678--773773--80148014

Animal Abuse: The Link To Animal Abuse: The Link To Human ViolenceHuman Violence

5x more likely to commit violent crimes5x more likely to commit violent crimes

4x more likely to commit property crimes4x more likely to commit property crimes

3x more likely to commit drug related crimes3x more likely to commit drug related crimes

70% have committed at least one other crime70% have committed at least one other crime

40% have committed violent crimes40% have committed violent crimes

74% of battered women with pets74% of battered women with pets

88% of families with reported child abuse88% of families with reported child abuse

Case in Point - USA

Dog fighting Dog fighting link to drugs, illegal link to drugs, illegal firearms, gambling, child sexual assaultfirearms, gambling, child sexual assault

Child porn Child porn link to animal sexual assaultlink to animal sexual assault Gangs Gangs initiation killinitiation kill FL case: Lake City, LevyFL case: Lake City, Levy Vick case Vick case appx $1 million asset forfeitureappx $1 million asset forfeiture

ASSESSING THE SCENE: ASSESSING THE SCENE: LOOKING FOR EVIDENCELOOKING FOR EVIDENCE Need to assess evidence considering animal Need to assess evidence considering animal

behavior behavior Animal behavior influenced by: age, species, Animal behavior influenced by: age, species,

breed, sex, intact or notbreed, sex, intact or not Need to consider what animal would do when Need to consider what animal would do when

fearful, in pain fearful, in pain

Linking Victim to Suspect, Weapon, Linking Victim to Suspect, Weapon, SceneScene Transfer Evidence Transfer Evidence -- Collect fur from Collect fur from

animal; all color patterns and lengthsanimal; all color patterns and lengths Inspect edges and inside of wounds, fur, and Inspect edges and inside of wounds, fur, and

feet for trace, residue, fragmentsfeet for trace, residue, fragments DNA DNA animal, humananimal, human Pet ownership amongst criminals is same Pet ownership amongst criminals is same

stats as general population stats as general population

TRACE EVIDENCETRACE EVIDENCE

Persistence affected by type of material, Persistence affected by type of material, surface, how easily removed, time, activitysurface, how easily removed, time, activity

Behavior of injured animal Behavior of injured animal Collect fur Collect fur each color, lengtheach color, length

Embedded Trace EvidenceEmbedded Trace Evidence

Comb by sectionComb by section

Examine debris with indirect light sourceExamine debris with indirect light source

DOG FIGHTING DOG FIGHTING INVESTIGATIONSINVESTIGATIONS

EVIDENCE: PROVING INTENTEVIDENCE: PROVING INTENT

Scar Charts: Distribution PatternScar Charts: Distribution Pattern

Scars consistent with

Yard incident?Yard incident? Number of scars/woundsNumber of scars/wounds Age of woundsAge of wounds Limitations of what can sayLimitations of what can say

Animal DNA Forensic Animal DNA Forensic TestingTesting

Animal DNA unique to individual animal Animal DNA unique to individual animal

DNA, mitochondrial DNA, sex, parentage, breed?DNA, mitochondrial DNA, sex, parentage, breed?

DNA may become important later in case; always DNA may become important later in case; always take samples/buccal swabstake samples/buccal swabs

Sources: same as humans plus Sources: same as humans plus urineurine

Canine Codis- Dog fighting DNA database

www.vgl.ucdavis.eduwww.vgl.ucdavis.edu

Blood Spatter-Differences

Animals bleed differentlyAnimals bleed differently Head, ears, toenails, pads, tailHead, ears, toenails, pads, tail Long sinus cavityLong sinus cavity Legs, skinLegs, skin

Dog Fighting Pits: Blood Stain Dog Fighting Pits: Blood Stain AnalysisAnalysis

Anticipating Defenses

Blood spatter = dog fighting or 2 dogs Blood spatter = dog fighting or 2 dogs fought during breedingfought during breeding

Dog in heat = test for male DNADog in heat = test for male DNA If get male DNA = will say from whelpingIf get male DNA = will say from whelping How to prove puppy male vs adult male = How to prove puppy male vs adult male =

Testosterone levelsTestosterone levels Results: over 600ng/dl = adult dogResults: over 600ng/dl = adult dog

Establishing Sequence of EventsEstablishing Sequence of Events State of Georgia v. Joshua (17) and Justin State of Georgia v. Joshua (17) and Justin

(19) Moulder (19) Moulder The Puppy Torture CaseThe Puppy Torture Case Broke into community center and caused Broke into community center and caused

extensive damage (Burglary, criminal extensive damage (Burglary, criminal damage to property)damage to property)

Deceased puppy found in oven (animal Deceased puppy found in oven (animal cruelty?)cruelty?)

Had brought children in to see puppy in Had brought children in to see puppy in oven (child cruelty); threatened them if they oven (child cruelty); threatened them if they snitched (terroristic threats)snitched (terroristic threats)

Initial Crime Scene FindingsInitial Crime Scene Findings

Oven still warm but turned offOven still warm but turned off One of oven racks had been removed prior One of oven racks had been removed prior

to placing puppy in ovento placing puppy in oven Residue from fire extinguishers on all Residue from fire extinguishers on all

surfacessurfaces Urine and paint on floorsUrine and paint on floors Paint in ovenPaint in oven

Significance of FindingsSignificance of Findings

Duct tape applied first, paint afterwards, last Duct tape applied first, paint afterwards, last was placed in ovenwas placed in oven

Evidence puppy alive prior: urine DNA Evidence puppy alive prior: urine DNA match, paint swipes inside oven, blood on match, paint swipes inside oven, blood on oven door/bloody nailsoven door/bloody nails

Duct tape compromised breathingDuct tape compromised breathing Questions: would it take 1 or 2 to hogQuestions: would it take 1 or 2 to hog--tie, tie,

how long to die, cause of death, antemortem how long to die, cause of death, antemortem injury?injury?

Histopath: consistent with thermal injury Histopath: consistent with thermal injury cannot determine if bruising with thermal cannot determine if bruising with thermal damagedamage

COD: MultiCOD: Multi--organ failure due to thermal organ failure due to thermal injuryinjury

Unknown what temp oven was set at, Unknown what temp oven was set at, cannot determine how long it took for her to cannot determine how long it took for her to die; what is important is the evidence of die; what is important is the evidence of struggle (paint, blood, nails)struggle (paint, blood, nails)

2 people to hog2 people to hog--tie tie why? Which taped why? Which taped first legs or muzzle? What would the first legs or muzzle? What would the puppypuppys reaction have been? s reaction have been? ..

Puppy Demo as EvidencePuppy Demo as Evidence

Outcome:Outcome:

Hung Jury, 11Hung Jury, 11--11 Retrial set Retrial set 3 days before jury selection 3 days before jury selection

they pled guilty to all 9 countsthey pled guilty to all 9 counts Sentencing hearing: juvenile records Sentencing hearing: juvenile records

revealedrevealed Judge issued sentence: Max on all charges Judge issued sentence: Max on all charges

to serve concurrent (burglary longest, 20 to serve concurrent (burglary longest, 20 yrs) to serve 10 and 10 yrs of probationyrs) to serve 10 and 10 yrs of probation

Dead-End Cases?

Additional Evidence and Testing

Weight from barbellWeight from barbell Wood chip fragmentsWood chip fragments Collected DNACollected DNA Police Detectives organize doorPolice Detectives organize door--toto--doordoor

Forensic EntomologyForensic EntomologyThe The most accuratemost accurate determination for TODdetermination for TOD

Can also be used to determine location of Can also be used to determine location of death, for DNA and toxicology testingdeath, for DNA and toxicology testing

Entomologists need daily weather reports of Entomologists need daily weather reports of the prior 2the prior 2--3 weeks from closest weather 3 weeks from closest weather station (Hi/Lo, precip, +/station (Hi/Lo, precip, +/-- wind)wind)Insect collection from the body: need time Insect collection from the body: need time frame and temp of where has been stored frame and temp of where has been stored

Basis for Forensic EntomologyBasis for Forensic Entomology Flies lay eggs based on species of fly, Flies lay eggs based on species of fly,

temperature, rain, time of day, degree of temperature, rain, time of day, degree of decompdecomp

Location of eggs usually mouth and eyes, Location of eggs usually mouth and eyes, rear, wounds, usually not in areas of direct rear, wounds, usually not in areas of direct sunlightsunlight

The length of the life cycle is affected by The length of the life cycle is affected by weather conditionsweather conditions

Certain insects are attracted to body at Certain insects are attracted to body at different timesdifferent times

Eggs Eggs 11stst instar (maggot) instar (maggot) 22ndnd instar instar (larger) (larger) 33rdrd instar (largest) instar (largest) puparium puparium newly emerged adult fly (+ empty pupa newly emerged adult fly (+ empty pupa casing) casing) adult flyadult fly

Can have several life cycle stages presentCan have several life cycle stages present Want to look for and sample oldest life Want to look for and sample oldest life

cycle cycle Want to get picture/sample of adult flies and Want to get picture/sample of adult flies and

any other insects present, including yellow any other insects present, including yellow jacketsjackets

Entomology 101Entomology 101

Maggot eggsMaggot eggs

Left: intact puparium (maggot in pupa stage inside)Left: intact puparium (maggot in pupa stage inside)Right: empty pupa casing Right: empty pupa casing fly has hatched out fly has hatched out

popping the end offpopping the end offSpecial collection techniquesSpecial collection techniques

Forensic EntomologistsForensic Entomologists

Horse Case-Using Forensic Botany

Skeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains

Blunt Force Trauma

Head TraumaHead Trauma FracturesFractures Skin BruisingSkin Bruising Subcutaneous BruisingSubcutaneous Bruising Muscle Injury Muscle Injury Increased CPKIncreased CPK PainPain NothingNothing FLIR CameraFLIR Camera

Petechial hemorrhages within Petechial hemorrhages within ear canal lining not seen in ear canal lining not seen in human head traumahuman head trauma

Weapon MarksWeapon Marks Take good quality photos with special photo Take good quality photos with special photo

scalescale Mikrosil rubber casting materialMikrosil rubber casting material

Cat Strangulation Case:Cat Strangulation Case:

Found tied up Found tied up crucifixioncrucifixion style with wire style with wire cable behind homecable behind home

Friendly catFriendly cat Issues: COD, evidence to link suspect, Issues: COD, evidence to link suspect,

primary or secondary crime sceneprimary or secondary crime scene

Tardieu SpotsTardieu Spots

Gunshot Cases

Gunshot CaseGunshot Case

Dog was escaped from yard directly into Dog was escaped from yard directly into neighborneighbors yard; owner ran to the fence and s yard; owner ran to the fence and was calling dog when the dog was shotwas calling dog when the dog was shot

Issues: why was the dog shot? Was is selfIssues: why was the dog shot? Was is self--defense? Who shot the dog?defense? Who shot the dog?

Suspect claimed that he did not shoot the Suspect claimed that he did not shoot the dogdog

Crime Scene ReconstructionCrime Scene Reconstruction Need to use trajectory to determine who Need to use trajectory to determine who

could have shot dogcould have shot dog Owner saw dogOwner saw dogs approximate location s approximate location

when the dog was shotwhen the dog was shot Owner heard the shot Owner heard the shot what is the what is the

significance?significance? Determination of lineDetermination of line--ofof--sight for other sight for other

homeshomes Process of eliminationProcess of elimination

Trial: State v. David PattersonTrial: State v. David Patterson

All neighbors: no possession of airAll neighbors: no possession of air--type guntype gun OwnerOwner--heard shot but no other neighborheard shot but no other neighbor Similar transactions Similar transactions acquitted for previous acquitted for previous

dog shooting; S.W.A.T.dog shooting; S.W.A.T. Vet: trajectory, cause of death, dog behavior Vet: trajectory, cause of death, dog behavior

after she was shotafter she was shot

GUILTY!GUILTY!

Any questions?Any questions?

Dr. Melinda Merckmelindam@aspca.org

678-773-8014