Crime Scene Staging Dynamics in Homicide Cases

Individuals who perpetrate murder sometimes pose or reposition victims, weapons, and evidence to make it look like events happened in a different way than what actually transpired. Until now, there has been scarce literature published on crime scene staging.Crime Scene Staging Dynamics in Homicide Cases is the first book to look at this practice, providing a methodology of identifying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the evidence of each case by learning to marry the physical evidence to the behavioral evidence.The book begins with the history of crime scene staging and includes many case examples that illustrate how, when, and why criminals stage crime scenes. The characteristics of crime scene stagers and their victims are examined along with the intent of crime scene staging and dynamics of the staged crime scene. In addition, coverage of forensic victimology explores the reasons why a person might become a victim and why, based on this, staging may be performed.The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing behavioral red flags which are often present in staged crime scenes. These indicators can be commonly overlooked by investigators when they focus only on the physical evidence of a crime scene. Early detection, crime scene analysis, and crime scene reconstruction of the staged crime scene are each supported—by the full body of literature and latest published research on staging as well as by proven real-world, field-based methodologies.The book identifies and describes various types of crime scene staging behavioral patterns, presenting the complications and challenges that crime scene staging presents for investigators. This book will be an invaluable tool for forensic scientists, investigators, homicide detectives, and law enforcement to understand all aspects of crime scene staging dynamics.

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION TO STAGINGHistory of Crime Scene Staging Early Historical References to Crime Scene Staging 1514 The Story of Richard Hunne 1841 The Story of Mister 1859 The Budge Case 1882 Bloodstains on the Doorjamb 1882 Dr. Carl Liman and Staged Weapons 1887 Dr. Eduard R. von Hofman Murder Staged as Suicide 1892 Lizzie Borden Glaister 1902 1924 Hans Gross 1936 O’Connell and Soderman 1962 Soderman and O’Connell 1972 O’Hara and Osterberg 1974 Svensson and WendelContemporary References to Crime Scene Staging 1984 Puschel, Holtz, Hildebrand, Naeve, Brinkman 1989 Ueno, Fukanaga, Nakagawa, Imabayashi, Fukiwara, Adachi, Mizoi 1992 Douglas and Munn 1996 Geberth 1996–2006 Geberth 1996 Leth and Vesterby 1998 Yamamoto, Hayase, Matsumoto, Yamamoto 1998 Mallach and Pollak 1999 Adair and Dobersen 1999–2011 Turvey 2000 Turvey 2001 Meloy 2002 Adair 2004 Hazelwood and Napier 2004 Keppel and Weis 2006 Douglas and Douglas Eke 2007 2007, 2011 Chisum and Turvey 2009 Cobin 2010 Geberth 2011 Ferguson 2011 Pettler 2012 Schlesinger, Gardenier, Jarvis, and Sheehan-Cook 2014 Chancellor and Graham 2014 Ferguson 2015 Pettler Summary of Crime Scene Staging Literature ReferencesIntroduction to Crime Scene StagingIntroduction Staging versus Scene Alteration Staging versus Precautionary ActsDeceptionCrime Scene Staging Statistics and No RepositoryCrime Scene Staging Is a ProblemReferencesCrime Scene Dynamics Heart of It All: Ethics Death Scene Characteristics Indicative of Homicide Anatomy of a Homicide Physical Evidence Behavioral Evidence Circumstantial Evidence Body as Evidence Staged Scenes versus Other Types of Scenes ReferencesSECTION II: OFFENDERS AND VICTIMSOffender Characteristics and Behaviors Introduction Offender Characteristics Offenders Are Most Often Male Personality Behavior Emotionality Cognition Envirosocioculturalism Crime Scene Staging BehaviorCategorizing Crime Scene Staging Behaviors Crime Scene Staging, Research, and Typologies Cleaner Concealer Creator Fabricator Inflictor Planner Evaluating Typologies Building Theories about Crime Scene Staging Development of a Substantiated Theory on Crime Scene Staging Pettler’s 2011 Theory of Crime Scene Staging Breaking Down the Theory: The Problem of Crime Scene Staging Breaking Down the Theory: The Problem for Society Breaking Down the Theory: Identifying Solutions Breaking Down the Theory: Strengths and WeaknessesReferences Victimology Introduction Defining Victimology Victimology Theory Case Example Victimology and Politics Importance of Victimology Case ExampleResearch-Based Forensic Victimology: A Suggested Approach Taxonomic Hierarchal Arrangement of Victimological Components Conceptual Model of Research-Based Forensic Victimology Implications of Research-Based Forensic Victimology Physiological: Victim’s Physical Demographics and Attributes Safety: Victim in Relation to Personal, Familial, Financial, and Occupational Safety Love and Belonging: Victim in Relation to Relationships Esteem: Victim in Relation to Personality, Cognition, Emotionality, Behavior, and Achievement Self-Actualization: Victim in Relation to Relative Adoption of Worldly Concepts Appendices Victim–Offender Relationship Importance of Victim–Offender Relationship Examination Importance of Victim–Offender Relationship: Circumstantial Evidence Facilitation, Precipitation, and Victim Risk Case Example Case Example Assessing Risk Level ReferencesPurposes and Motives Introduction Disconnecting the Victim–Offender Relationship Deception Misdirect Investigations Self-Preservation Avoid Apprehension Motives for Murder Motive 1: Argument/Conflict/Confrontation Motive 2: Property Gain Motive 3: Robbery Motive 4: Sexual Assault ReferencesIntimicide IntroductionIntimate Partner Violence Intimate Partner Violence and Risk Factors Indicating Lethality Case Example Physical Abuse Emotional Abuse Psychological Abuse (Mental Abuse) Sexual Abuse Economic Abuse Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence Physical Consequences Psychological Consequences Lifestyle-Related Consequences Intimate Partner Homicide Intimicide Intimicide Characteristics Intimicide Dynamics Power–Anger Conceptual Continuum Intimicide Homicidal Pattern Criminal Profiling and Its Value toward Predicting Risk and Preventing Lethality in Intimicide Intimicide Offender Characteristics References Types of Staging Introduction Homicides Staged as Suicides Case Example Suicide and Firearms The Betty "Bea" Lafon Johnson Malone Flynn Sills Gentry Neumar Case Example Case ExampleHomicides Staged as Robberies, Home Invasions, and Burglaries Case Example Homicides Staged as Accidents Case Example Arson Case Example Homicides Staged as Car AccidentsHomicides Staged as Sexual Homicides Case Example Homicides Staged as Self-Defense Cases Case Example Homicides Staged as Missing Persons Case Example Case Example References SECTION III: VICTIM-CENTERED DEATH INVESTIGATION METHODOLOGYCrime Identification: Detecting Deception Introduction Bloom’s Taxonomy Phase 1: Knowledge, Comprehension, and Application Phase 2: Analysis Phase 3: Synthesis and Evaluation Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology (VCDIM) Suggested Approach Overview of the VCDIM Process VCDIM: Outline VCDIM Stage 1: Crime Scene Knowledge Staging Identification Trilogy Conflict and Confrontation Victim Discovery Verbal Staging Crime Scene Investigation Assumption of Integrity Constellation Theory VCDIM Stage 2: Crime Scene Comprehension VCDIM Stage 3: Application of the Crime Scene ProcessingTechnology References Crime Analysis Introduction Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology: Outline VCDIM Stage 4: Crime AnalysisVCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 1 (Victimology) VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 2 (Crime Scene and Lab Reports) Victim Discovery and Notification Time, Date, Location, and Number of Crime Scenes Initial Contact Location Murder Scene Location Victim Recovery and Disposal Site Location First Responders Crime Scene Logs Points of Entry and Exit Documentation Notes Photographs Measurements Sketches and Maps Evidence Lists Reports Evidence of Staging Cleaning the Crime Scene Hiding and Removing Evidence Creating Evidence Destroying Evidence VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 3 (Autopsy: Wound Pattern Analysis) Physical Evidence on the Body Time of Death Evidence of Injury VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 5 (Suspectology) VCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 5 (Statement Analysis) "How-To": Organize to Multiple Statements Detecting Deception Types of NarrativesVCDIM Stage 4: Crime Analysis—Component 6 (The Scientific Method) Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Shooting Incident Reconstruction Kaleidoscope System ReferencesCrime Synthesis and Evaluation Introduction Summary of Crime Scene Staging Behaviors and Characteristics VCDIM Outline VCDIM Stage 5: Crime Synthesis Before, During, and After the Death of the Victim Victim-Centered Modified Triangulation: Empirical, Quasi-Empirical, and Nonempirical Tying It All Together VCDIM Stage 6: Crime EvaluationReferencesCustom Art IntroductionCrime Scene Staging Awareness Initiative Recommendations for Future Research Expanded Sample Sizes Staging Prevalence and Frequency Staging and the CSI Effect Offender Characteristics and Behaviors Victim Characteristics: Victimological Studies Victim–Offender Relationship Conflict and Confrontation Victim Discovery Weapons Verbal Staging Behavioral Taxonomy Crime Scene Staging and Law Enforcement Professionals American Cold Case Epidemic American Investigative Society of Cold Cases Cold Cases and Crime Scene Staging Conclusion References Appendix A: Research-Based Forensic Victimology Appendix B: Victim-Centered Death Investigation Methodology Outline Appendix C: Crime Synthesis MatrixAppendix D: Physical Evidence Inventory and Information Worksheet Appendix E: Crime Scene Photo Log Worksheet Appendix F: Wound Pattern Analysis Worksheet Appendix G: Statement Analysis Worksheet Appendix H: Prereconstruction

Laura Gail Pettler is a forensic criminologist, author, educator, and inventor. She is a crusader for justice for victims in homicide cases. Laura is dedicated to using her life to make a difference. Laura holds a bachelor of science degree in preprofessional psychology; a master of science degree in criminal justice where she focused on death investigation, forensic psychology, and aspects of forensic science; and a doctor of philosophy degree in public safety specializing in criminal justice where she focused on forensic criminology and specifically on the study of intimate partner violence and crime scene staging behaviors. Laura is an International Association for Identification (IAI) Certified Senior Crime Scene analyst and is the chairwoman of the IAI’s Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee.Laura was inducted into the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases (AISOCC) and served one year on its honorary review board while simultaneously serving as AISOCC’s Director of Development before being promoted to vice president in 2014. Laura dedicates a tremendous amount of time and resources toward furthering AISOCC’s mission in support of cold case victims and their family in the pursuit of justice.