Forensic Investigators: July 26, 2011 Who Done It?… Part 1

Published August 1, 2011 | By Southside Tanya Vega

by Southside Tanya Vega, Project Exploration Blogger

A crime… (possibly two?) has been committed.

The potential list of suspects… many (excluding this writer).

Who done it? Are the crimes related or separate? How was it committed? What clues (or evidence) will help implicate the suspect(s) of this crime?

Hm… sounds like any ordinary day for hardworking CSIs (Crime Scene Investigators). However, this isn’t any ordinary “crime scene” for the characters of the popular television show. No, this “crime scene” is for a special group of CSIs – the Project Exploration Foresnic Science Investigation team. And they’ll solve this puzzling mystery.

The Forensic Science program is the latest addition to the many other educational science-related programs offered by Project Exploration. This non-profit organization, for over ten years, has been bringing the world and fields of science (such as Forensic Science Investigation, Paleontology, etc) and technology to minority inner city youth, especially young women, to change and diversify the face of science. Programs like this one have high school students interacting face to face with scientists within the related field(s), working alongside them to conduct hands-on experiments.

During the course of the week, Project Exploration’s Forensic Science Investigation team will be solving their first case using the same tools and techniques as those who work at the Illinois State Crime Lab. These investigators will be dusting for prints, taking and analyzing hair and fiber samples, processing DNA evidence, and so much more. And with actual scientists from Illinois State Crime Lab helping, this writer is totally confident they’ll bring the culprit(s) of this crime(s) to justice as the one question remains … Who done it?

It was about 1pm in the afternoon on Tuesday, July 26 when PE’s Forensic Investigative team arrived at the crime scene – the parking lot near a children’s playlot at Washington Park on the Southeast side of Chicago. The officer on the scene, Officer Rameriz from Chicago Police Department’s Investigative Services, had the area immediately sealed with yellow tape to keep onlookers and reporters away. This was done to make sure no one accidentally contaminated the evidence left in, on, or around the two abandoned cars, a green Saturn and grey Nissan. The PE Forensic Science team split into their respective crime scene groups – Firearms and Treadwear, Biology/DNA, Latent Prints, Microscopy, and Drug Chemistry for a quick briefing with the IL State Crime Lab scientists before splitting again into two working groups. This crime (or two? or three?) left plenty of evidence for the investigative team to document, sketch, mark and collect… and each one was eager to begin.

Now, in three separate teams within both groups, each team first had a chance to properly document one of the two cars (the Saturn or Nissan), writing down what they saw, sketching (if needed), and marking where they found pertinent evidence to help solve the crime(s). With the IL State Crime Lab scientists assisting these hardworking teams, PE Investigators were able to find evidence such as footprints in the muddy dirt near the two cars, bullet-shell casings on the ground, and blood evidence in both cars. One team (thoroughly searching the green Saturn) popped the hood to check for more evidence. Then, it was time for each crime scene team, from Biology/DNA to Firearms, to collect and seal their evidence and label the bags where the evidence from both cars was collected. It was truly amazing to see these investigators dilligently working at their tasks… taking the collecting part of the investigation very seriously.

Already, some were formulating theories about what could have happened before their arrival. Investigator Brianna, after looking at her long list of evidence, began to suspect it was a drug or gang related crime, due to the fact that there were baggies of drugs and bullets casings found at the grey Nissan. Is she correct? Don’t know yet. However, she wasn’t the only one formulating theories or suspects at the scene. Investigator Kendra suspected Project Exploration staff member Carl might have something to do with the crime(s). Hm …pretty strong accusations, but will all of the evidence support her theory even though he was acting a bit suspicious during the afternoon? Good question. This writer asked the scientists from IL State Crime Lab for their thoughts about how the PE Forensic Science Investigative team was doing. They all collectively agree this team was doing a good job… especially finding stuff pertinent to the crime(s).

With the evidence mounting as it was being collected, the list of suspects was growing as well. Suspect #1 (Carl) says “I never did anything,” and soon stated he won’t answer any more questions without his attorney present. Suspect #2 (Erik) invoked his Fifth Amendment right… pretty suspicious to this writer… he’s certainly hiding something about the crime(s). Suspect #3 (Twyla, a teacher visiting Chicago from Louisiana), immediately proclaimed her innocence saying, “Don’t look at me.” However, a reliable source told this writer she might have played a small role in the crime(s). Suspect #4 (Kathleen) stated she was at Yellowstone National Park last week, proving it wasn’t her. Suspect #5 (Katina) innocently quipped, “What did I do?,” while Suspect #6 (Mikki) also claimed innocence said, “No, of course not me …but I’m excited to see who did it…” Hm – another suspicious suspect to consider by this writer. Suspect #7 (Amaris) said, “Me? I don’t drive the Fossil Lab company car [the green Saturn]… my car is nicer…” And finally, Suspect #8 (Lisa, from the IL State Crime Lab) had this to say, “No… absolutely not… I have an airtight alibi…” Sure she does.

Hm… interesting as well as suspicious responses… don’t you think? Which one(s) did it? Well, this writer will have the surprising answer when this program concludes on Friday with a trial (presided over by an actual judge) after Project Exploration’s Forensic Science Investigative team has processed and analyzed all of the evidence collected.