Crime Scene Investigation

Scenario

Sexual Assault It's October 5th in the city of Torrancetown. You are working the third shift at the Torrancetown police department. It's 2 a.m. and you are dispatched to the Torrancetown General Hospital, where a victim is waiting to speak with you. The emergency room doctor tells you that paramedics responded to a case at 2 West Main St. in front of the T-Town Pub, a local college bar. They found the victim, under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The victim appeared incoherent, so they transported them to the hospital. After several hours, the victim, now coherent, tells the doctor that they were sexually assaulted. The victim explains that they had been communicating over a dating website with a person whom they only know by their first name. Tonight, they agreed to meet for the first time at the T-Town Pub. The suspect ordered a round of drinks for them. The victim thought they saw something being put in their drink, but they were not positive. After the victim consumed about half of the drink, they claimed they didn't feel well. The victim remembers the perpetrator walking them outside to get some fresh air. The victim reports that they blacked out, and when they woke up, they were sexually assaulted in the backseat of a vehicle that was parked in front of the bar. They began to scream which made the perpetrator flee from the vehicle. The victim also reports that their underwear is missing. The bar is still open. The bar is a popular hangout for the local college. Due to a recent fight at the bar, management recently met with the police department and agreed to install security cameras. While you are speaking to the victim, a radio call from a foot patrol officer near the pub says that there is a suspicious vehicle parked in front of the T-Town Pub. Both doors to the vehicle are open. The foot patrol unit reports that there appears to be a pair of underwear and a drinking glass on the floor of the backseat of the car.

1. Briefly describe the scene that you are investigating.

2. Outline recommended steps for the first responder to follow upon arriving at the scene.

3. Present the actions you would take as the lead crime scene investigator of the crime scene.

4. Explain what evidence you would gather and search for. How would handle the evidence collection? Where you would collect the evidence from (especially regarding touch DNA, blood, and fingerprint).

5. In conclusion, why do you think your investigative plan would lend itself to a successful prosecution/case resolution?