The Compilation: Short Stories, Cases and Anecdotes

By Charles Meyers

In our business, we are taught early in the game to be as specific as possible and explain our conclusions as clearly as possible. Is there an experienced crime laboratory analyst who has not asked an attorney to define a term used? So, if we use the word objective and we really mean numerical data or mathematical probability statement, lets say so. If we mean photomicrographs, charts, or standards of comparison, lets specify it. If we use the word intuitive to mean knowledge from experience, lets spell it out. If we use the word subjective to mean human interpretation based on education, training, and experience, lets say so. In other words, lets try to say what we mean.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499048261

Charles Meyers

Charles Meyers has served the Criminal Justice system for more than 60 years and practiced in the discipline of Firearms and Tool Mark Identification (Forensic Ballistics) for over 50 years. His career includes 25 years with the Michigan State Police, 12 years with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and 5 years teaching. Since 1989 he has been an independent consultant. Charles has a BS degree from Michigan State University in Police Administration with a year of Police Science and a minor in Natural Science. He has been active in professional groups; is an Emeritus member and Past-President of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE), a Retired Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), a Member of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists (SAFS), and a Kentucky Colonel. He is a Navy veteran of World War II and Korea. Since 2004, he has published three books, a memoir entitled Chasing Tail Lights to Forensic Ballistics, and two concerning case histories from Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) and Crime Laboratory Analysis (CLA) written as short stories; the first, Silent Evidence received the High Country Writers award for non-fiction book of the year, with a follow-up Wherever He Steps, Whatever He Touches… The Compilation brings together numerous anecdotes, many from the previous books, plus additional short stories based on actual homicide investigations, and appendices concerned with Firearms and Tool Mark Identification.

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Copyright © 2014 by Charles Meyers.

ISBN:          Softcover          978-1-4990-4829-2

                   eBook               978-1-4990-4826-1

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Rev. date: 08/04/2014

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Contents

Dedication

Prologue

1.   The Teen Age Sniper

2.   The Unsolved Family Murders

3.   The Ex-Cop Killer

4.   Trooper and the Shovel

5.   The Grave Digger

6.   The Kidnapper and the Brooch

7.   The Thrill Killer and Circumstantial Evidence

8.   Facts Aren’t Always Factual: The Trilogy

9.   Striations and the Dying Shark

10. Murder and Wildflowers

11. The Wallsink Cowboys

12. Once a Cop…

13. Merry Christmas from the Synagogue Killer

14. The Nurse and the Nylon 66

15. The Child and the Garbage Bag

16. Fats and the Hit Man

17. The All Around Expert

18. The Dirty Revolver

19. The Island Murder

20. The Steak Knife Rape Case

21. He’s Too Heavy

22. The Coroner’s Verdict

23. Suicide or Murder

24. Only the Glass Knows

25. Was the Killer a Burglar or a Golfer

26. The Mutilated .22

27. A One-Way Trip to Sicily

28. The Pistol with the Funny Name

29. The Rapist/Killer and the Flower Bed

30. The Burglars’ Tool Mark Connections

31. The Naked Rider

32. The Kalashnikov Deflection

33. The Hangfire Shooting

34. The Airman Pimp Case

35. The Tourmaline Murder

36. Archie the Mummy

37. The Serial Killer

38. The General

39. The Barrel Switch

40. The Plaster Cast

41. The Patent Leather Shoe

42. The Co-ed’s Button

43. The Prostitute Murders

44. The Kentucky Troopers Case

45. The Dentist Murder

46. The Accidental Murder

47. The CAFO Murder Case

48. The Drunk Driver Shooting

49. Hot Dogs Again

50. My Last Case

Some Judges I Have Known

Appendix I A Primer on Firearms & Tool Mark Identification

Appendix II The Objective v. Subjective Boondoggle

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Dedication

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T his book is lovingly dedicated to my family; my beloved wife of 55 years, Nancy Smith Meyers; my children, Robin, Kathy, Kim, Jim, Christine, Kurt, Kelly and Mike; my grand children, Michael, Joseph, Heather, Thomas, Nicole, Chelsea and Lindsey; and my great grand children, Ashlyn, Conner, Dane, and Haley.

Invocation

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Were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first.

Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 1798

Justice and Forensic Science

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How long shall we continue to blunder without the aid of unpartisan and authoritative scientific assistance in the administration of justice, no one knows, but all fair persons not conventionalized by provincial legal habits of mind ought, I should think, unite to effect some such change.

Justice Learned Hand

Park, Davis & Co. v. H. K. Mulford Co., 1911

Justice

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… and I will make justice the measuring line …

Isaiah 28:17

Physical Evidence and the Court

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Wherever he (the criminal) steps, whatever he touches—even unconsciously -will serve as silent evidence against him. Not only his fingerprints and his shoeprints, but also his hair, the fiber from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool marks he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen that he deposits or collects- all these and more—bear mute evidence against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be totally absent. Only in its interpretation can there be error.

(Harris v. United States, 331US145, 1947)

Physical Evidence and the President

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We better know there is a fire whence we see much smoke rising than we could know it by one or two witnesses swearing to it. The witnesses can commit perjury, but the smoke cannot.

Abraham Lincoln, 1864

Keyword Definitions

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Criminalist: One who by virtue of his/her education and training is considered to be competent to practice Criminalistics.

Criminalistics: The application of the instruments and methods of natural and physical science to the detection and solution of crime.

Firearms and Tool Mark Identification: That discipline of the Forensic Sciences directed to the examination and comparative analysis of firearms and ammunition components, and other tools and their markings.

Forensic Science: Scientific knowledge applied to the purposes of the law and courts.

Forensic Ballistics: A term often applied to Firearms Identification by lawyers and writers.

Identification: Individualization: causal identity (i.e., questioned and known markings resulting from the same source, e.g., fatal and test bullet fired through the same barrel).

The Scientist: Their business is not with the possible but the actual…with a world that is. They have but one desire—to know the truth. They have but one fear—to believe a lie.

John Tyndall

Fig%201a.tifFig%201b.tif

(Fig. 1) Top: bullet comparison microscope, circa 30s.

Bottom: forensic comparison microscope, circa 80s.

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(Fig. 2) Textbook bullet match through 30s microscope; fatal bullet to left of divider, test bullet from firearm to right.

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(Fig. 3) Textbook tool mark match thru 80s microscope; markings on damaged lock to left of divider, test markings from suspect screwdriver to the right.

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(Fig. 4) Bullet/rifling class characteristics (courtesy of A. Biasotti)

Prologue

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T he short stories and anecdotes depicted herein are the result of fifty years personal experience in the co-existing disciplines of crime scene investigation and firearms and tool mark identification. They depict actual events, crimes, and solutions or attempts thereof. Of course they involve a very small number of such occurrences as they are limited by the meager memory of an old man and/or those cases, among the thousands worked, that are too terrible to speak of.

Over a space of nine years the author attempted to present such stories in print by writing three books, Silent Evidence, Chasing Tail Lights to Forensic Ballistics, a memoir, and Wherever He Steps, Whatever He Touches… Many of the cases and anecdotes included herein can be found in one of the three printings. This is an attempt to bring them together, with new additions, for interested students or readers.

In recent history, some courts have struggled with the forensic history and scientific foundations of much of the forensic sciences. Their search has, in some cases, been influenced by discovery of a few forensic analysts who have embarrassed and maddened others in the field by their poor and/or unethical practices of analysis and testimony.

I profess to represent the vast majority of forensic analysts with actual crime laboratory experience who work diligently in their respective disciplines, who continually strive to expand their knowledge, who carry out their comparisons and provide testimony in their fields with honesty and integrity, and with due regard for the other side.

It is hoped that this compilation may provide students and casual readers alike with a look inside at least one discipline of the forensic sciences.

All the cases and anecdotes depicted herein are actual events, only the names have been changed in many instances to protect the innocent.

The Compilation

1.

The Teen Age Sniper

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I t was early winter in Southern Michigan and evening traffic was extremely light throughout the suburban residential district. As the late afternoon light faded, a faint crack was heard in the neighborhood. An experienced shooter or small game hunter may have recognized the sound as that of a small caliber firearm. In the center of one block a noticeable hole, surrounded by radiating fractures, appeared in the picture window of the beautiful home. The occupants, halving heard the strange sound, discovered the hole and damage to a buffet across the room. Nearby they found a misshapen hunk of lead displaying a surface with minute embedded slivers and white powdered glass. At this point, the owners called the Township Police.

A patrol officer responded, checked the damage, prepared a report, and took charge of the metal object. Within a few days, the evidence was turned over to the Identification Officer from the Sheriff’s Office, who had some experience with firearms and crime scenes. After a brief examination of the object, the Deputy confirmed that it was a badly mutilated .22 caliber bullet. A check of the neighborhood revealed no one had seen anything amiss. This shooting, in a real sense, was not a major crime. Vandalism or malicious destruction of property is all too common, even in nice neighborhoods.

About a week later, a similar incident was reported in the same community and only a few blocks away from the first. In a matter of days officers were investigating a third such report, again where a window was severely damaged and .22 caliber bullet fragments were discovered. By now the community was alarmed and the Township Police recognized an apparent pattern that was no coincidence. The local newspaper was now showing more than a passing interest in the incidents.

An extensive neighborhood search for witnesses and/or evidence was conducted. Again, no one reported seeing anything unusual or anyone related to the incident. There was a light snowfall prior to the latest shooting and officers discovered partial shoe prints in the nearby alley, alongside a fired .22 caliber cartridge case. The prints were of a small size sneaker or tennis shoe. The investigators speculated that a teen age boy might have fired the latest shot from this location.

The local newspaper carried the story and passed it on to the neighboring large city press. There may have been a news shortage at the time as the Detroit papers carried the story on the front pages as the Teen Age Sniper Shootings.

During the next few weeks there were two more such incidents, possibly related. The press reported each case as Teen Age Sniper Strikes Again. By now, the entire Township was well aware of the situation and it was the prime topic for conversation. The police were primarily concerned that should the problem continue, someone may get hurt.

One cold Sunday, snow had fallen much of the day. Late in the afternoon, what the officers feared came to pass. In the McPherson home, the family members were gathered in the lower level family room. Scott, the 16 year old son, finished a game of chess with his father and took leave to go up to his room to work on a school project. Nancy, the 14 year old daughter excused herself to gather schoolbooks for homework. Betty, the mother announced she was going up to the kitchen to prepare lunch and fresh coffee. Neil, the father, retrieved a partly finished book and started to read where he had left off.

After about 30 minutes with no call from Betty to come and get it, Neil decided to see how she was coming along. As he entered the kitchen, he was surprised to note water running in the sink and shocked to see Betty lying unconscious on the floor. After a hasty attempt to revive her, paramedics were called to the house. Betty was paced on a stretcher and rushed to the nearby hospital. Shortly thereafter she was pronounced DOA (dead on arrival).

Neil first learned that early diagnosis indicated sudden incapacitation and death, possibly from a brain aneurysm. Later, x-rays showed a small very dense object inside her cranial cavity, with an associated snowstorm of dense particulate. The hospital Radiologist had seen similar radiographs and recognized the damage from a small caliber bullet.

The Coroner and Pathologist agreed to an immediate autopsy and one was conducted that night. As expected, the cause of death was a severely damaged .22 caliber lead bullet. Upon removal, the bullet was partly cleaned and in addition to human tissue, traces of a foreign material were found embedded in the bullet’s sides. The debris was identified as microscopic particles of crushed glass.

Initially no bullet entry wound was observed. But now the Pathologist could trace the bullet’s pathway from entrance in the corner of Betty’s eye, at about the tear duct, through the eye orbit and upwards into the brain.

It was time for police investigators to determine what happened. At the McPherson home they quickly discovered a hole through the kitchen window’s storm glass and with a larger, more irregular hole through the inner pane, this effect largely due to the bullet mushrooming as it entered. Soft lead and hollow-point bullets tend to expand back onto their sides when they strike hard objects, thereby creating a mushroom effect. The window was covered with sheer curtains, which also demonstrated bullet perforation. The coffee pot was still lying in the bottom of the sink. It appeared that Mrs. McPherson was attempting to fill the pot with water when the fatal bullet crashed through the window.

Investigators checked out-of-doors and in nearby fresh snow for evidence of the shooter. Alongside a garage across the street, they found several small sneaker prints in the snow. They attempted to visually line up the center of the window bullet holes, the hole through the curtain, and the possible shooter position next to the garage. The line-up seemed to be in agreement. They then placed an officer in the kitchen, approximately in alignment with the likely bullet pathway. This was done in late afternoon with approximately the same light condition. A second officer, placed at the likely shooter position, could not see the officer in the kitchen. Apparently the sniper had made a tragic mistake. That’s how the press reported it.

The following day, Wally VanStratt, my superior officer, and myself were testifying on another case in Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan. Even at that time, Pontiac had its share of major felony cases and trials. As we left the courthouse we were approached by a good friend, who worked as an Identification Officer with the Township and the Sheriff’s Department. His name was Don McLaughlin—we called him Mac. He asked if we were aware of the sniper case and told us about the death. He stated further that he was not totally satisfied with the investigation at this point and asked if we could accompany him to the scene of the crime. We readily agreed and followed.

A careful examination of the bullet holes indicated that Mac’s suspicions were correct. The outer hole was somewhat irregular and missing some glass from the margins. The inner hole was slightly enlarged and missing glass from part of the margins. However, we were able to find a portion of he original outline of the holes and create a more accurate flight path. This path indicated entry at a significant angle rather than nearly parallel to the ground as originally thought.

In some cases, it is necessary to determine the direction of the bullet’s flight where shots are fired through a hard smooth surface such as plastic, glass or bone. There are several basic factors that assist in this regard. On the entry side, the surface is smooth in appearance and feel up to the margins of the hole. If not readily visible, this can be felt with the fingertips. On the exit side the material is cratered, rough and irregular. Again this feature can be visualized or felt. However, it must be remembered that the material can be fragmented and broken away from the original margins or outline and thus create confusion in regard to the bullet’s actual path. Investigators’ must find at the entrance hole at least a portion of the original symmetrical outline and smooth surface. It appeared that misalignment of the bullet’s flight path caused confusion at the very outset.

Correct alignment produced a completely different picture. A backwards projection from the window followed a path angling downwards along an imaginary line that ended in the center of the victim’s yard! This meant the barrel of the firearm was held along this line when the fatal shot was fired. (see Figs. 5 - 8).

The yard was covered with snow and there were no footwear prints or impressions to be seen. The only cleared area was on the sidewalk directly in front of the kitchen window. The shooter should have seen the victim standing within a few feet of the window. When a firearm is discharged the products of combustion are forced out of the barrel along with the projectile. Much of this debris consists of burned or partially burned gunpowder particles. These small particles are light in weight and have very poor ballistic properties. Therefore they only fly a very short distance before they are deposited on an object or fall spent to the ground.

Examination of the outer window glass disclosed small specks which appeared similar to black pepper clinging to the glass and many more seen on the sill below. Laboratory examination confirmed that these particles were in fact granules of smokeless gunpowder. It was now very clear this was not a random act of vandalism. This was murder!

After a brief investigation, the crime was solved. The motive and solution were as bizarre as the crime itself. Detectives zeroed in on the murdered woman’s son. They determined that Scott had a companion who had been in trouble with the law. They picked up his buddy for a friendly discussion and found the boys had broken into a small business where Scott stole a .22 caliber pistol. The officers also learned that Scott held a grudge against his mother, a strict disciplinarian, and claimed he felt smothered.

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(Fig. 5) Projected bullet pathways

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(Fig. 6) Kitchen window bullet passed through

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(Fig. 7) Proper angle of bullet entrance.

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(Fig. 8) Bullet path extended along line ending in front yard. (C. Meyers holding down his end)

It was past time for an interview with Scott. To the officers’ surprise the boy readily admitted that he was the sniper. But they were even more surprised as Scott not only admitted killing his mother, but stated he shot out the windows as part of a plot to kill her when the timing was right. He hoped the murder might be passed off as a senseless tragedy, caused by the unknown teen age sniper!

2.

The Unsolved Family Murders

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You be the jury

In over fifty years of experience in assisting with the investigation of murder and the resulting courtroom proofs, this case was the most heinous, mystifying and mind-boggling of the author’s career.

I t was summer, a beautiful day, and school was out. In the Northern part of the State (God’s Country), many of the cottages and lodges were occupied by busy families. In this secluded area near the sandy shore of the mighty lake, gentle breezes stirred the tops of the tall oaks and pines. But this idyllic day was being spoiled by a brisk breeze and the horrible message it carried. One lodge happened to be downwind in the wrong location at the time.

The wind borne message was delivered to the Stewart family, who had been in and out during the day. There had been prior hints of the same problem for some time. But now, a very disagreeable odor was even more powerful, suggesting the possible death and decay of some sort of animal. The smell seemed to emanate from a distant neighbor’s lodge. The Stewarts theorized some animal may have crawled under the porch of the neighbor and died there.

The Stewarts knew their neighbors, the Richard Gooden family had planned on leaving for an extended trip, nearly a month before. They had mentioned visiting several states, including Kentucky and Tennessee. They observed two Gooden family cars were still parked in the driveway of the beautiful stone and log lodge. They knew their neighbors planned on flying out and assumed they had obtained a ride to the local airport. Richard had a Cessna aircraft and had mentioned another pilot friend, a Mr. Richards who allegedly owned a Lear Jet. However, it was time to attend to the nasty odor problem and they called Eino Maki, caretaker who lived nearby.

As Eino and his helper, Charlie the Indian checked the Gooden home they could find no dead animal but couldn’t help but notice the powerful and disagreeable smell that seemed to come from inside. As the two men circled