Joe stopped for a beer at the Turn-a-Round Lounge in Small Town on his way home from work. He ran into his ex-girlfriend, Michelle, and her new boyfriend, Sam. Joe and Sam got involved in a heated confrontation, and bottles and fists started to fly. Sam pulled out a knife and stabbed Joe in the chest, nicking his aorta. Despite the bartender’s attempts at CPR and putting pressure on the wound, Joe bled to death before the EMTs arrived.
When the fight began, there were 20 or so patrons in the lounge. When EMTs and police arrived on the scene, only two of the patrons and the bartender remained. Michelle and Sam were gone. The EMTs attempted CPR, but Joe was already dead. Two patrol officers secured the scene and detained the three remaining witnesses.
Upon examining the scene, police find three bloody footprints by the door where Michelle and Sam exited and tire tracks in the dirt parking lot where they made a hasty exit. Police obtain latent prints on a number of different surfaces using alternative light sources.
Police execute a search warrant at Michelle’s residence and Joe’s apartment. They find several threatening letters at Michelle’s home that she claims were written by Joe.
Define physical evidence. Using the library, Internet, or any other available materials, research the types of physical evidence that can be obtained by criminalists at the crime scene at the Turn-a-Round Lounge and identify the section(s) of a forensic science laboratory that might examine this evidence. Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.
