Page 155 - CFDI Guide

CFDI Program Presented Case Studies

Blunt Force Death (1)
The decedent was found in her home by her husband, who returned from morning errands. She was near the entry

door, laying supine and clothed. She had been physically assaulted, with blunt force injuries to the head and face; with
extensive defense injuries to her hands. She was last seen alive, by her husband, before he left for errands; he was gone

approximately two hours.

Both the front and rear entries were locked with no indications of forced entry. The area of the assault was limited to
the front entry as it adjoined the dining area and opened to the kitchen; the living room and back entry were part of the

open floor plan. There was an upstairs, where the children were home at the time. There were indications of an ongoing
and violent struggle, including overturned furniture, kitchen knives from the block, a cordless phone with blood on it and

off the cradle was near a butcher knife on the kitchen island counter. Blood near the front entry was along the wall,
including transfers and spatter. A crockpot lid was near the decedent with blood.

Law enforcement photographed and video recorded the house and exterior. Inside a trashbin at the end of the driveway

was a black knit hat. Collected were the knife, phone, and crockpot lid. Bloodspatter was analyzed and concluded the
decedent was assaulted approximately where found, and about 3’ from the floor. Additional investigation included the

chronology the husband reported for his errands, and business security cameras.

At autopsy were found petechial hemorrhages, and hemorrhages of the neck muscles, with visible redness and

abrasions to the neck on each side. No evidence for patterned injuries was provided, including by photograph, to the
medical examiner. The manner of death was homicide due to manual strangulation, and other findings of blunt force
trauma in the autopsy report.

The husband was arrested and charged with premeditated homicide. He had several fresh scratches to his face, neck,
and chest. Hair with blood from a kitchen chair was collected. The knit cap was collected. All evidence was submitted for

examination and declined citing any family members DNA and fingerprints would be expected found. DNA was
examined from the bloodspatter and only the decedent. No evidence collection kit was used at autopsy or the scene.

Several evidence discrepancies were noted in the review and analysis. This included not collecting and testing additional

evidence observed in the photographs, disagreement with the laboratory declining to test, and not testing the hair
found on a knit cap in the trashbin. It was also determined from other reports, not disclosed in arrest affidavits, the front

door was unlocked and the backdoor was locked.

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