Tina Tompkins WE 6 - Grade: A PDF

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Ian Simms

Tina Tompkins Saint Leo University CRJ-548 Dr. Pumphrey 06/08/2020

Abstract Many types of evidence can be found at crime scenes, depending on the scenarios that occur. Some crimes scenes provide investigators with more evidence than others. This evidence can include DNA, fingerprint, hair, fiber and other evidence that can prove or disprove a suspect’s involvement in a crime. Some evidence allows for investigators to prove without a doubt that a suspect committed a crime, while other pieces of evidence may not be as substantial, and a case may become cold. Usually, a criminal investigation includes a victim’s body that provides various evidence including DNA and wounds that can be matched to a potential murder weapon. However, in some cases a victim’s body has been disposed of in a location in which investigators are unaware. The disappearance of Helen McCourt involved an investigation that took place without a body. This investigation, however, was successful and the individual responsible for her disappearance and presumable murder was identified and convicted of the crime.

Ian Simms

Introduction On February 8, 1988, Helen McCourt planned on having a date night with her boyfriend before returning home on a stormy day, however she never made it and was reported missing that night. McCourt’s mother assumed the weather was to blame for the delay of her daughter coming home, however after realizing this was not the case, she reported Helen missing later that night (Blanco, n.d.). After searching for McCourt, the police began to question potential witnesses in the area of the train stop in which McCourt was believed to have departed from. Witnesses in the area had heard a woman scream shortly after the train had left the railway stop. The scream heard by witnesses was thought to have come from the vicinity of a local pub which is located by the train stop in which McCourt was thought to have exited from (Crime and Investigation, 2019). Investigators began an investigation into the pub’s owner, Ian Simms. Evidence was found in Simms’ car that proved that McCourt was present inside of it at some point. Investigators also found evidence that McCourt was located inside of Simms’ apartment above the pub he owned (Crime and Investigation, 2019). The evidence found included blood, hair, fibers and what investigators believe was the murder weapon (Real Life Crimes, 2010). As the evidence was found, it became clear that Simms disliked the victim and had motive for the disappearance of Helen McCourt. However, the body of Helen McCourt was never located, which forced investigators to complete an investigation and obtain a murder conviction without the body of the victim. Due to the immense amount of evidence found in Simms’ car, residence as well as nearby, investigators were able to prove that he had murdered McCourt and disposed of her body. Simms was convicted of McCourt’s murder, but to this date he still refuses to disclose the location in which he disposed of her body. DNA Evidence

There were many pieces of evidence found that helped prove the guilt of Ian Simms. Helen’s blood and hair were found in his car as well as one of her earrings she was wearing upon disappearing. Fibers from her clothing and more blood stains belonging to her were also found in his residence (Real Life Crimes, 2010). The blood evidence was analyzed for a DNA profile and this DNA profile was compared to the all of the blood stain evidence found in both Simms’ car and residence. In order to compare DNA samples, the laboratory needed to have McCourt’s known biological samples available for a side-by-side comparison, however since they were unable to locate her body samples directly from her were not possible (Forensic Science Simplified, 2013). Since McCourt’s body was not available for DNA comparison, her parents provided DNA samples to determine if the blood evidence found belonged to her (Real Life Crimes, 2010). The most useful DNA samples are from close blood relatives such as the victim’s biological mother, father or siblings (National Institute of Justice, 2005). Upon comparing the DNA from the evidence to McCourt’s parents, the experts were looking for a familial match of the two types of DNA that are passed from an individual’s parents. Nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA are the two types of hereditary material passed from parents. Both parents provide nuclear DNA while only the mother provides mitochondrial DNA. Nuclear DNA is the most helpful type of DNA for identification purposes as similar mitochondrial DNA can be identified, even in instances where the individuals are not related (National Institute of Justice, 2005). Upon comparing Helen’s parent’s DNA to the blood samples found in Simms’ residence and car, it was found that the blood was 126,000 times more likely to have come from Helen than any other human being (Real Life Crimes, 2010). Hair and Fiber Evidence

Another piece of evidence that helped prove Simms’ guilt involved hair evidence. Hair was found in Simms’ car as well as in a trash bag containing what was identified as Helen’s clothing (Real Life Crimes, 2010). The hair samples found were long and dark brown, consistent with Helen’s. In the trash bag, there was also a knotted piece of electrical flex containing long dark brown hairs, leading investigators to believe she was strangled and in the process strands of her hair was pulled out (Real Life Crimes, 2010). The analysis of hair is usually done so to determine if the physical appearance of the strands of hair match the victim’s as well as if any DNA is available through the root if the hair was pulled out in a struggle. The forensic examination of human hairs in a laboratory is typically conducted through the use of light microscopy. The comparison microscope consists of two compound light microscopes connected by an optical bridge that allows for the samples to be examined side by side at the same time (Deedrick, 2000). If McCourt’s hair was pulled out while being strangled, the strands may have tissue attached which could be used for DNA analysis. Forcibly removed strands of hair are usually identified by having stretched and damaged roots (Deedrick, 2000). The hair analysis allowed investigators to prove that McCourt was inside of Simms’ car and that the clothing found in the trash bag belonged to her as well. It may also prove that the electrical flex was indeed used to strangle her, if it was tangled in hair that was proved to be forcibly removed. The final important piece of evidence analyzed in this case involved fibers thought to have shed from McCourt’s clothing. Fibers in this case were collected using the vacuum method from Simms’ car (Real Life Crimes, 2010). These fibers could be compared to the clothing that was found in a trash bag, which were identified as belonging to Helen. Fibers are generally compared under a microscope to samples where a match can be confirmed or denied (Forensic

Science Simplified, 2013). The fiber evidence found in Simms’ car could be compared to the clothing found in the trash bag along with Helen’s hair. Obtaining a match of this trace evidence would be another piece of proof that Helen was inside of Simms’ residence. Conclusion Prosecutors were able to obtain a murder conviction against Ian Simms even without being able to locate Helen McCourt’s body. Being unable to locate a victim’s body complicates an investigation because it is much more difficult to prove that the victim is deceased and did not just disappear due to personal choice. This conviction was possible due to the DNA and trace evidence that was found in Simms’ car, residence and the trash bag nearby in which McCourt’s clothing and a possible murder weapon was found. The DNA evidence that was found involved blood evidence, proving an attack had occurred in Simms’ residence. The blood evidence was compared to Helen’s parent’s DNA, which concluded that the blood evidence belonged to Helen. Hair and fiber evidence also helped investigators prove that McCourt was murdered by Simms. Without this evidence, it is likely that the disappearance of Helen McCourt would be unsolved due to the lack of a body. Though technology was not as advanced as it is in today’s world of forensics, investigators were still able to obtain DNA and hair analysis that was reliable enough to solve this case.

References Blanco, J. (n.d.). Ian Simms: Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/simms-ian.htm Crime and Investigation. (2019). Helen's Law. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/shows/when-missing-turns-tomurder/articles/helens-law Deedrick, D. (2000). Hairs, Fibers, Crime, and Evidence, Part 1, by Deedrick (Forensic Science Communications, July 2000). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-us/lab/forensic-sciencecommunications/fsc/july2000/deedric1.htm Forensic Science Simplified. (2013). DNA Evidence. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/dna/how.html Forensic Science Simplified. (2013). Trace Evidence. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/trace/how.html National Institute of Justice. (2005). Identifying Victims Using DNA: A Guide for Families. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/209493.pdf Real Life Crimes. (2010). Ian Simms a Killer's Gruesome Secret. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from http://documentsdartistes.org/artistes/simms/images/revues/Real-life-crimes.pdf...