ECPI The Beltway Snipers Claassens Case Summary

The 7 “S’s” of Crime Scene Management

Thanks to recent television dramas, such as CSI Las Vegas and its various spin-offs, the world of a Crime Scene Analyst has become one of fascination and glamour! However, the reality of the profession is one of tedium, research, keen observation, and well—filth! The analyst (often mistakenly referred to as a CSI) is only one small piece of a much larger process known as crime scene management.

Crime scene management is a sequential process performed by an investigative team to ensure all forensic evidence is properly recovered from a crime scene. Regardless of whether it is a minor scene or a major incident, scene management activities must be handled effectively. If the evidence recovery process is carried out in an efficient and logical manner, it will ensure the least amount of evidence contamination or compromise. Additionally, this process will establish professional credibility and examination impartiality to members of the court. In general terms, the 7 “S’s” (or stages) of crime scene management are:

1. Securing the Scene
2. Separating the Witnesses
3. Scanning the Scene
4. Seeing the Scene
5. Sketching the Scene
6. Searching for Evidence
7. Securing and Collecting Evidence

This course project will require you to perform a summary analysis of a famous criminal case and examine the crime scene management techniques used throughout the case. You will also prepare a written analysis of your findings. The project is worth 20% of your overall grade (4% each). 

Project Overview

Prior to starting, you will select one of the cases below with which to begin your research:

• John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo (The Beltway Snipers)
• Dzhokhar and Tamerian Tsarnaev (The Boston Marathon Bombers)
• The Murder of Elizabeth Short (Black Dahlia)
• Phillip Markoff (The Craigslist Killer)
• The Death of Laci Peterson. Instructions