Young sleuths learn CSI methods
By DON BOND
For the Norwich Bulletin
February 24, 2007
KILLINGLY -- The "murder victim's" body lay sprawled on the floor of the small greenhouse Friday morning at Quinebaug Valley Community College as groups of youthful sleuths attempted to determine how he died.
Under the watchful eyes of State Police Major Crime Squad detectives
who investigate serious crimes for a living, the youngsters -- students
in Joan Trivella's Crime Scene Investigation class that is part of
the college's annual Kids' Academy -- began the meticulous search for
clues.
The "victim," a mannequin, was clad in a dark-colored shirt
that showed a large blood stain on his chest. Near the body lay a knife
that appeared to have blood smeared on its blade.
"How do you think he died?" Sgt. John Szamocki of the Major Crime Squad unit at the Danielson barracks asked.
Having already spotted the blood-stained knife, Jason Barlow, 10, of Eastford said he thought the "victim" had been stabbed.
But when the students lifted the man's shirt to check the stab wound, they found what looked like a bullet wound.
"In a real crime scene, we have to confirm everything we suspect may have happened," Szamocki said.
The students then began to search for additional evidence at the scene. They found a small handgun and two spent shell casings on the floor a few feet from the body.
When Szamocki asked what the presence of the two shell casings indicated, one student suggested the killer fired both bullets into the same spot on the victim's body.
"He'd have to be an exceptional shot to do that," Szamocki said. "What else could it mean?"
The students quickly decided one shot had missed the victim.
The knife, they decided after some prompting by the detectives, might have been used by the victim in an effort to protect himself. The bloodstains and other particles found on the knife might later be matched to the killer.
Detective Keith Hoyt said the shell casings were important evidence. The mark left by the gun's firing pin and marks on the outsides of the casings made when the shot exited the gun's barrel all can be used to prove the gun is the murder weapon.
The "crime scene" investigation was only a part of the program provided Friday by the state police as the culmination of Trivella's weeklong class.
Det. David Lamoureux showed the class how to make up a composite drawing of a crime suspect using descriptions provided by witnesses, while Det. Elie Iturrino showed how police use forensic lighting and special eyeglasses to detect fluid stains or particles of cloth or fibers that later can provide blood or DNA samples or be matched to an assailant's clothing to help solve the crime.
The troopers also explained how detailed video and still photos are taken of every serious crime scene and how information is compiled in detailed reports to help in the apprehension and conviction of criminals.
Andrew St. Jean, 13, of Eastford, said he's an avid fan of the "CSI" television shows.
"This taught me that investigating serious crimes is a lot more complicated than it looks on television," he said. "There really is a lot to learn."
St. Jean said he especially was interested in learning about the forensic lighting and how it can provide evidence not visible to the naked eye.
Eddie Raheb, 9, of Danielson said he enjoyed the entire week of instruction, "especially learning about fingerprinting.
"It was fun to try to figure out how a crime happened," he said.
Barlow said he also liked the sessions on using computers that showed the different components of guns and how they are fired.
"Plus," he said, "I got to make some new friends."