NEW PHILADELPHIA — The importance of not disturbing a crime scene until it is properly processed for evidence was stressed Friday night by a state police forensics expert.
State police Cpl. David R. Dupree presented a program, “Aspects of Forensics During an Investigation,” to Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III and several of his deputy coroners at the Simon Kramer Institute.
Dupree, a criminal investigation unit supervisor with the Forensic Services Unit, said that since the coroner or deputy coroner is often one of the first people at a death scene, their actions once there could make or break an investigation.
The corporal said that if a death appears to be suspicious, nothing at the scene should be touched and no one should be allowed to enter the area, whether it is inside a building or outside.
“Nobody in,” Dupree said. “We have one chance at a crime scene; don’t go in just to be curious.”
He said evidence at a homicide scene can range from DNA to blood splatter and once that evidence is disturbed, it may be gone for good.
“The less people we have in there (at a crime scene) the better,” he said.
He said state troopers have one person designated at the entrance to the scene to log who enters and exits and at what time.
“We need to know who was in there and why they were in there,” he said.
Dupree said that in a criminal investigation and prosecution the chain of evidence is paramount, as is maintaining the integrity of the crime scene and evidence left behind.
He said the coroner or deputy coroner must determine if a death is a suicide, suspicious or a homicide. Should the latter two be thought, it is best to preserve the evidence and scene until forensic experts are called.
“We need to do our thing before anyone else does theirs,” Dupree said.
Regarding evidence, the corporal said for evidence to hold up in court, it has to be completely documented and able to be tracked from the time it was collected until it reaches a forensic laboratory.
“It has to be tracked from start to finish,” he said.
At a scene, Dupree said nothing should be touched until it is processed. He said fingerprints can appear at a scene left by someone other than the victim or assailant, and blood splatter evidence could be anywhere and ruined easily.
He also said cellphones are not to be used for documenting a scene. Those phones, Dupree said, could be confiscated as evidence and anything incriminating on the devices could be brought to light.
Most importantly, Dupree said, anytime there is a question a death is suspicious or a possible homicide, the Forensic Services Unit is always available either to assist or take over the investigation.
“If you’re not comfortable, if something doesn’t seem right, just call us,” he said.
Lt. Christopher Blugis is the head of the criminal investigation unit for Troop L, comprised of stations in Reading, Hamburg, Frackville and Jonestown.
Blugis said he is called to every homicide state police are summoned to and is always available to work with the coroner’s office and local authorities throughout the course of the investigation.
“If you need information or need something else, I’m the guy you look for,” he said.
The lieutenant said different investigative agencies having the ability to work together will lead to a more thorough investigation that hopefully leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
Moylan thanked Blugis and Dupree for presenting the program and for the assistance the state police has provided on numerous homicide and other serious cases in Schuylkill County.
Moylan called the Pennsylvania State Police “the best professionals in the business.”