Bodily Fluids Case Paper PDF

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Saliva on a Cigarette Butt Athena Childers Saint Leo University CRM-343 May 2, 2021 Professor Braziel

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Introduction When investigators are trying to solve a case, the evidence is the most crucial part. A suspect cannot be identified without substantial evidence, and the most effective way to connect a suspect with a crime is with trace evidence. Forensic science is, “the scientific analysis and documentation of evidence suitable for legal proceedings” (Malocco, 2014, p. 265), and it is the umbrella term for any evidence that is analyzed and documented that can be used to incarcerate a perpetrator. The main type of forensic science that is the focus of this paper is serology. Serology is defined as, “the study and examination of bodily fluids that is used in forensic science as a means of segregating fluids excreted by assailants or attackers in varying criminal acts” (Malocco, 204, p.276). More specifically, the bodily fluids that carry the most DNA (from most to least) are: blood, semen, saliva, urine, and feces. Semen, in particular, is a bodily fluid that appears more frequently during sexual violence cases. However, if a forensic scientist does not have a known sample to compare the semen sample to, then it is still unknown who the suspect could be. This paper will explain a case in which saliva from a suspect was extracted from a cigarette butt, and its DNA was compared to the semen samples, which ended in a match. Serial Rapist As mentioned before, bodily fluids are more likely to happen in sexual violence cases. The crimes of a serial rapist will be the focus of the topic. Serial rapist, as defined by John Savino and Brent Turvey, is “a rapist who has committed two or more acts against unrelated victims at different times” (2005, p. 301). This usually occurs because law enforcement is unable to catch or reprimand the suspect. This brings on the assumption that serial rapes are premeditated and the rapists themselves are too careful to leave too much evidence behind. This

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almost exact thing happened in Louisiana about 36 years ago, and the perpetrator wasn’t caught for over 15 years. From approximately 1982 until 1990, Randal Comeaux would terrorize single women in the small college town of Lafayette, Louisiana (Badge of Deceit, 2000). Earnest “Randy” Comeaux was a 20-year veteran investigator for the juvenile division at Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department. Comeaux was trusted in the community, considered to be really “squared away” as a deputy, was loved by the community and was considered a friendly face in the area. Because Comeaux was so trusted in the community (especially since a person’s first instinct is to trust law enforcement, it was easy for Comeaux to get away with the sexual batteries for a little over 15 years (Savino & Turney, 2011, p. 442). The “South Side Rapist” The journey to catch Comeaux was a long one. Deputies felt lost because they had no leads. The information that law enforcement new was that the perpetrator was a man that wore heavy woolen gloves, a bandana, and a knit cap. He carried around a flashlight and a handgun. When the suspect would find his way into the home of a victim, the suspect would first make the victims believe it was a robbery, and to guide the suspect through the house looking for valuables to take. However, the suspect was finding for ways out of the house if need be. The suspect would rape the victims at gunpoint, then afterward would make the victims shower to clean off or dilute any trace evidence. Detective Mac Gallien identified 12 rape cases that mirrored each other in the south side of Lafayette, LA. Out of all 12 collected semen samples from each crime scene, only six of the samples came back with DNA results (since the other six sample were either tainted or diluted). However, there was no known sample yet to test the samples with, but at least it was known that these cases were connected. The last victim, a 21-year-old college student was able to add some more profiling to the case. First off, the suspect would hold the

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flashlight high around his head, gripping it behind the lens. Very similar to how law enforcement officers or similar career fields hold flashlights. And then the statement the suspect not only told the 21-year-old, but the 11 other victims were, “If you go to the police, I will know about it” (Badge of Deceit, 2000). This statement was an indication that the perpetrator had a strong connection within law enforcement. Bodily Fluids as Evidence While detectives were trying to find the center point of all 12 crime scenes, the center was a neighborhood that Randy Comeaux lived in. Soon after that realization, detective Gallien got an anonymous tip that Comeaux was the “South Side Rapist”. Still unsure, detective Gallien believed that there needed to be evidence to connect it all at the end. The detective collected a cigarette butt that was recently smoked by Comeaux. That cigarette butt was sent to the lab to get the saliva extracted, dissolved everything except the epithelial cells, then compare the DNA from the saliva to the semen. It was a match. After questioning, Comeaux confessed to committing at least six sexual batteries. Randy Comeaux is currently serving six life sentences in prison after he was convicted (Badge of Deceit, 2000). The science of extracting saliva from cigarettes for DNA testing is interesting and complicated. However, it is also a very popular practice. As of the year 2016, 1.2 billion people worldwide smoke cigarettes, especially when they are nervous or stressed. For example, committing a crime would make a perpetrator stressed, so after committing a crime, the perpetrator would smoke a cigarette. Saliva as evidence and a bodily fluid to be tested in forensic science has been used to incarcerate or exonerate people from crimes. Guilty people go to prison while the falsely accused get released (Ahmad, Khan, Rahmat, & Thirunavakarasu, 2016, p. 10). Saint Leo Core Value

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After analyzing this case, the Saint Leo core value that comes to mind is the core value of “Respect”. Respect, as defined by the school’s website is, “value all individuals’ unique talents, respect their dignity, and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our community’s strength depends on the unity and diversity of our people, on the free exchange of ideas, and on learning, living, and working harmoniously” (History, Values, & Catholic Roots, 2018). To break this down more, it should be compared to different aspects of the case. After detective Gallien was still unsure after the anonymous tip and the neighborhood location of the suspected rapist, the detective still needed evidence to bring the whole case together. Detective Gallien respected a fellow law enforcement officer to still try to get DNA evidence quietly and discretely instead of going straight to the media and putting a potentially innocent person’s life and career on the line. This goes hand in hand with the first part of the definition “...respect their dignity, and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work”. The detective handled the case in a respectful, methodical, and ethical manner. Conclusion In conclusion, bodily fluids are very important in solving a case. Bodily fluids directly link a suspect to a case without an assumption or guessing. Randy Comeaux was finally caught after over approximately 15 years of raping single women in Lafayette, LA. And how? By forensic science and more importantly, serology.

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Ahmad, U. K., Khan, H. O., Rahmat, Z., & Thirunavakarasu, T. (2016). DNA Analysis of Saliva Traces on Cigarette Butts Exposed to Indoor and Outdoor Environmental Conditions. Malaysian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 7(1), 10-16. Retrieved October 30, 2018. Badge of Deceit [Television series episode]. (2000, September 12). In Forensic Files. TruTV. History, Values, & Catholic Roots. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2018, from https://www.saintleo.edu/history-values-catholic-roots Malocco, D. E. (2014). Forensic Science: Crime Scene Analysis. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Retrieved November 2, 2018. Savino, J. O., & Turvey, B. E. (2011). Case Example: Randy Comeaux- Sex Crimes Investigator and Serial Rapist. Rape Investigations Handbook, (2), 442-444. doi:10.1016/c2010-0-67771-6 Savino, J. O., & Turvey, B. E. (2005). Serial Rape: Investigative Issues. Rape Investigations Handbook, (Revised), 101. Retrieved October 31, 2018....