Bloodstain Patterns
Many violent crimes create bloodstain patterns, the subject of this chapter. Individual stains can be categorized by type, measured, and used to estimate where the blood came from in space, how far it fell, and from what angle. Combining information from many stains can assist in understanding what took place at the scene and in what order. We will go over the basic characteristics of human blood, types of stains, how height and angle of origin can be estimated, and how stain patterns can be combined for interpretative purposes.
Learning Objectives
4.1 Recognize basic stain types and categories
4.2 Interpret simple drop stains for angle of impact and height of origin
4.3 Calculate angle of impact of a stain
4.4 Describe the strengths and limitations of BPA
