I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.
As far as I know, no. The DNA tests of the shirt will just show a mixture of the victims, so that the analyst would only be able to say the blood could have come from these two or three people--in other words there are no alleles that definitely couldn't have come from those three. But because it is a mixture, they can't say it did come from these three exact people. And they couldn't tell, again as far as I know, which blood was deposited first.
Sorry, but I really don't know. You'd have to ask a pathologist. I imagine it might depend on how long after death the person was in the water.
If you want to be a pathologist you will have to be a doctor, and will need to go to med school. So you are looking for a pre-med program. Best of luck!
I would try oblique lighting—try laying the piece down as flat as possible and then hold a flashlight to the side so the light beam travels across the piece instead of down onto it. Adjust the light to where it’s the most helpful. With the ziploc bag you might also put a piece of dark paper inside it to increase the constraint. That’s all I can think of since I’m not an expert in questioned documents. Best of luck!
Air Traffic Controller
Yoga Instructor
Videogame Reviewer
I’m sorry but I have no idea. I’ve never worked in Toxicology.
I’m so sorry for your loss. My advice would be to use rubber gloves and take the items to a porch or some dry outside spot if it’s not going to rain for a while, or the garage or utility room if so. If you’re sensitive to smells you might use swimmers nose plugs or a bandana tied over your face. Spread the items out on a clean paper bag or newspaper (or wax paper if there’s some pieces of paper in his wallet you want to keep. Anything that can be wet, like car keys or plastic cards, dip or wash them in a container of water with some bleach in it, then let dry. Let all the stuff in the wallet dry if necessary, then keep what you want and discard the rest. Some of the smell will dissipate the longer its left to dry but if it’s something that can’t be soaked in bleach, you may never get a smell completely out, as far as I know. Best of luck.
Sure, email me at lisa-black@live.com.
-OR-
(max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)