TheLegacy
01-30-2006, 02:21 PM
Do you watch TV shows like “CSI” or “Bones”?
Turns out, a lot of criminals do, too.
Authorities in the U.S. say they’re seeing increasing signs that programs based on forensic sciences are impacting their investigations into serious crimes like murder, rape and assault.
Many are discovering the kind of trace evidence they relied on for clues is being destroyed by the perpetrators. Their theory: the crooks are learning how to cover their tracks by watching the crime shows.
"They're actually educating these potential killers even more," complains L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Dept. head Capt. Ray Peavy. "Sometimes I believe it may even encourage them when they see how simple it is to get away with on television."
The accused, a 25-year-old named Jermaine “Maniac” McKinney, is alleged to have used bleach to remove his victims' blood from his hands, spread a blanket in his car to avoid transferring evidence to the seats, burned the bodies and his clothing, and even removed cigarette butts from the scene to hide any DNA trail.
He was supposedly foiled when a crowbar he allegedly used to bludgeon one of the women wouldn’t sink in a nearby lake because it was covered with ice. He remains in custody and could get the death penalty if convicted.
"People are getting more sophisticated with making sure they're not leaving trace evidence at crime scenes," worries local prosecutor Chuck Morrow.
http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20060130-008/page.asp
Turns out, a lot of criminals do, too.
Authorities in the U.S. say they’re seeing increasing signs that programs based on forensic sciences are impacting their investigations into serious crimes like murder, rape and assault.
Many are discovering the kind of trace evidence they relied on for clues is being destroyed by the perpetrators. Their theory: the crooks are learning how to cover their tracks by watching the crime shows.
"They're actually educating these potential killers even more," complains L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Dept. head Capt. Ray Peavy. "Sometimes I believe it may even encourage them when they see how simple it is to get away with on television."
The accused, a 25-year-old named Jermaine “Maniac” McKinney, is alleged to have used bleach to remove his victims' blood from his hands, spread a blanket in his car to avoid transferring evidence to the seats, burned the bodies and his clothing, and even removed cigarette butts from the scene to hide any DNA trail.
He was supposedly foiled when a crowbar he allegedly used to bludgeon one of the women wouldn’t sink in a nearby lake because it was covered with ice. He remains in custody and could get the death penalty if convicted.
"People are getting more sophisticated with making sure they're not leaving trace evidence at crime scenes," worries local prosecutor Chuck Morrow.
http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20060130-008/page.asp