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The Realistic CSI

Have you ever seen the show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”? Well, the real CSI is

nothing like the show. When a crime is committed, different fields of forensics come together to

crack the case; a few of these fields include forensic entomology, forensic odontology and

forensic pathology. Each of these fields help us in various ways using different methods. These

forensic sciences are crucial to our society!

Forensic entomology is very useful when looking at a criminal case. Entomology is the

study of insects used in legal investigation. Entomology is divided into three general areas. One

of these areas is medico legal. This is the forensic part of entomology. It can help create a

timeline of a cadaver’s death. The human body, after death, goes through many different stages

of decomposition. These stages are autolysis, bloat, active decay and finally skeletonization

(www.aftermath.com). Autolysis is the process of tissues and cells being broken down. The

process of bloating is when the organs accumulate gas and blood decomposes; active decay is

when soft tissues of the body decomposes. Skeletonization is the final stage of decomposition,

where the rest of the corpse decays and the skeleton is revealed. Each of these stages attract

different species of insects through odors, gases and body fluids. Entomologist then observe

these insects and their developmental stages to create valuable information on a victim’s death.

However, certain circumstances can throw off insect patterns, which makes it harder for

entomologist to create a timeline. These circumstances include time of day, weather, seasons,

and geography of land. For example, if a body is found in the winter, an entomologist is not

going to find mosquitos around the body due to the coldness. In other words, forensic

entomologist can help create a timeline of a cadaver’s death.

Many bugs are studied in cases involving entomology, some more common than others.

One very commonly used insect is a blowfly. A blowfly is in one of four categories of insects

that can be found on the dead: the necrophagous species. The other three categories include

predators and parasites, omnivorous species and other insects like spiders and springtails.

Blowflies normally can be found on a corpse within the first hour of death. Eggs are then laid,

which hatch within 24 hours. In the first three days of the larvae being born, they can grow

around one centimeter long, or ten millimeters. Then, within six to ten days, pupae are formed.

Finally, an adult blowfly is developed after 12 days. The cycle is then continued. Another insect

used in entomology is any species of beetle that shows up on the cadaver. This includes carrion

beetles, dermestid beetles, scarab beetles and many other species (ThoughtCo.). Beetles use the

cadaver after it is dried out. They use the corpse as a food source, for laying eggs, shelter, and for

other similar reasons. Both of these insects, and all other insects at a crime scene, are extremely

useful towards a forensic entomologist.

Entomology can be used in many different criminal cases, as long as insects are involved.

The Kristian Blaise Lobato case is an example of one of these cases. Kristian Blaise Lobato was

charged and convicted for the murder of Duran Bailey at 10:15 pm. The corpse of Bailey was

found stabbed to death on July 8th, 2001. Lobato became a suspect due to past events. She was a

victim to an attempted sexual assault, and in self-defense she stabbed the man attempting to

assault her. When examining Bailey’s corpse, entomologist found a lack of blowfly eggs. This

meant that Duran Bailey was murdered after sunset. Entomologists knew this due to blowflies;

blowflies are inactive at night. Lobato wasn’t with Bailey at the time, and was therefore falsely

accused, and her charges were dropped (Innocenceproject.org). Another case involving
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entomology took place un 1247. This was one of the first recorded cases using entomology. A

rice farmer was murdered with a sickle. The other rice farmers became suspects, and to find the

murderer, they all laid down their sickles. Only one of the sickles attracted blowflies; this is

because the sickle had blood and tissue residue leftover on it. The murderer then confessed to his

crime (“The use of Insects in Forensic Investigations: An Overview on the Scope of Forensic

Entomology”). This is how forensic entomology is used.

Forensic odontology helps to identify an unknown victim (“Forensic Science”). Teeth are

one of the main ways to identify victims. Odontologist use post-mortem and ante-mortem

records to compare and match unknown cadavers. Post-mortem records are records from before

death, and ante-mortem records are records from after death. Teeth also help us to identify

victims because they are not easily destroyed. Teeth will survive fires, water, dry or humid

conditions, aging and more. Teeth can even outlast bones; this is because they contain enamel.

Enamel is coated on the outside of each tooth and made up of many minerals. This makes your

teeth the hardest substance in your body (Colgate.com). Forensic odontologist can then study

these teeth on a disfigured corpse to discover their identify. This is how forensic odontologist

identify unidentified victims.

Forensic odontology can provide forensics with important and useful information.

Odontology can tell us the gender, age, and even the race of someone. This is very important for

identifying victims and finding suspects. Forensic odontologist can also tell whether a bitemark

was used as assault, self-defense, or if it was an accident. Forensic odontologist methods have

been frequently questioned, though. This is due to lack of sufficient scientific research into the

analysis of bitemarks (“Forensics for Dummies”). Either way, bite marks can still give us crucial

information. This can give us a better understanding of what happened during criminal activity.

Forensic odontology can provide us with crucial information.

Forensic odontology has been used in many different criminal cases. One of these cases

was in the well-known Ted Bundy case. When Bundy murdered Lisa Levy, he had bitten her

hard enough that there was an imprint of his teeth. Forensics matched Ted Bundy’s bite mark to

his ante-mortem records, and sure enough, the records matched. Bundy was then convicted for

the murder of Lisa Levy. Another case that involved forensic odontology was the Tia Sharp case.

Tia Sharp was murdered. Her corpse was missing until investigators found it in Tia’s

grandmother’s loft. Forensics weren’t entirely positive that the corpse belonged to Sharp, so

odontologist observed Tia’s dental records. The records matched, and Stuart Hazelle (Tia’s

grandmother’s boyfriend) was convicted of murder about five years after Tia went missing.

(birminghammail.co.uk) These are examples of how forensic odontology is used in criminal

cases.

Forensic pathology determines the death of a victim. To do this, they use autopsies

(“Forensics for Dummies”). An autopsy is a surgical procedure performed by pathologists that

involves a thorough examination of a cadaver. They are documented with photographs, reports

and diagrams. Tools that are used in an autopsy include scalpel, bone saws, forceps and many

other similar tools. (Bridget, Personal Interview). Many samples are collected during an autopsy.

This includes urine, bile, blood, mucus, pus, saliva, sweat and other bodily fluids. Discovering

the manner of death is important to forensics. Natural death- due to aging or illness, accident-

due to hostile environment or unpredictable actions, suicide- self-destructive actions, homicide-

death caused by another human, a pending death- when the manner of death is undecided, and

finally, undetermined- when the manner of death is unknown. Forensic pathologists can also tell

whether a death was accidental or intentional. They do this by observing the body and looking at

anything on a corpse that might’ve led to death. These scientists may specialize or get additional
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training in ballistics (firearms), DNA technology, toxicology (toxin analysis), trace evidence and

serology (blood analysis). Forensic pathology can help identify the death of a victim.

Pathologist don’t only work with the dead. They work with the living, too. Pathologist

may be asked to testify in court; they will make a statement based off the information gathered in

an autopsy. Pathologist also work with families of victims. They provide any necessary support,

help, and comfort towards the victim’s family. At other times, pathologist can be called to a

crime scene (“It’s not About the Dead Body: ‘Forensic Pathologist on ‘Working Stiff’- Crime

Watch Daily”). Going to a crime scene can give these scientists a better understanding of how

someone was killed or assaulted. The last reason why pathologist work with the living is that

normally, when a criminal case occurs that involves abuse or sexual assault, forensic pathologist

examines living patients. Therefore, forensic pathologists not only deal with the dead, but also

with the living.

Not every cadaver is examined by pathologists. About 1% of the population dies each

year. Around 25% of these deaths are brought to medical examiners (“Forensics for Dummies”).

The cadavers that are examined are those that had died in a suspicious manner or unexpectedly

(homicide, unknown illness, etc.). Any of these deaths must be reported to medical examiners.

Corpses that are not examined by the pathologist are those that had died expectedly (old age,

fatal illness, etc.). These are the corpses that are examined by pathologist, and which corpses

aren’t.

Forensic sciences are very important to our society. They bring justice to victims and

their family. When a crime occurs, fields of forensic sciences like forensic entomology, forensic

odontology, and forensic pathology work together to solve the case. These fields of forensics are

very useful and essential to our society. Without these forensic scientists, how low do you think
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our conviction rates would be? Do you think that each of these fields of forensics is important to

humans?
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Works Cited

Aftermath Services. “The Stages of Human Decomposition-Aftermath Services”. Aftermath.com,

2017. Aftermath.com/content/human-decomposition/. February 2020.

Bridget. Personal Interview. 16 February 2020

Buckland, Lucy. “The Harrowing Story of how Tia Sharp was Murdered by her Grandmother’s

Lover Five Years Later”. BirminghamLive.co.uk, 2020.

Birmingham.co.uk/news/uk- news/harrowing-story-how-tia-sharp-13574607. February

2020.

Callison, Tina. “What is Tooth Enamel?” Colgate-Palmolive Company, 2020. Colgate.com/en-

us/oral-health/basics/mouth-and-teeth-anatomy/what-is-tooth-enamel-0113.

February 2020.

Et al. Joseph, Issac. “The use of Insects in Forensic Investigations: An Overview on the Scope

of Forensic Entomology.” Rockville Pike, 2011.

Et al., Tilstone J. William. “Forensic Science”. Santa Barbara, 2006.

MD, D.P. Lyle. “Forensics for Dummies” Hoboken, 2016.

Hank Green. [SciShow]. (2014, March 10). “CSI Special Insects Unit: Forensic Entomology”.

Retrieved from youtube.com/watch?v=2vv4RW2AFxM.

Hadley, Debbie. "Beetles That Eat Bodies." ThoughtCo., January 2020.

thoughtco.com/beetles- that-eat-bodies-1968326. Feb. 11, 2020.

Melinek, Judy. [University of California Television (VCTV)]. (2014, July 7). “The Real CSI:

Forensic Pathology and Death Investigation.” YouTube. YouTube.com.

Oakland County Crime Lab. February 19, 2020. Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland

County, MI.