The Utilization of Forensic Evidence in IED Incidents

Recognition of Forensic evidence and laboratory analysis of physical evidence can be helpful in investigation of IED incidents. Not all types of physical evidence will be directly linked to or can identify a suspect. In fact, most common use of physical evidence found at IED incident scenes is to identify the substance or chemical present in the question sample. However, physical evidence could provide indirect investigative information or leads to identify the suspect and the solution of the crime. This is the most important and significant use of physical evidence collected from IED incident scenes. Not every crime scene will have an eyewitness, but the scene will hold forensic evidence that can provide help to the investigating officers. For example,, a seven-layer paint chip from the pipe bomb can be used to narrow down the number and kinds of location it came from. The size of a shoeprint found at the scene can help the investigator to eliminate or include a suspect, the DNA profiles from the debris can lead to a potential suspect, the locations of the blood spatters and the fingerprint impressions could yield information about a possible sequence of events at the scene, and the condition of the pattern evidence could also help identify the activity of the scene. Following are the objectives of utilization of forensic evidence found at a crime scene in any investigations; 1. Information on the corpus delicti; 2. Information on the modus operandi; 3. Linkage of persons to other persons, objects, or scenes; 4. Linkage of evidence to persons, objects or locations; 5. Determining or eliminating the events and actions that occurred; 6. Disproving or supporting witness statements or testimony; 7. Identification or Elimination of a suspect; 8. Identification of unknown substance; 9. Reconstruction of a crime; 10. Providing investigative leads. Case examples will be used to illustrate the applications of forensic evidence in criminal cases.