[Last Name] 1 Case Study: External Briefing Report
Instructions
As a medico-legal death investigator, you will work with many agencies and members of the
public while performing your duties. An important consideration to keep in mind as you progress
in your criminal justice career is the respect and understanding due to victims, family members,
and next of kin. The interactions you have with these parties will shape the public's opinion and
support of forensics and law enforcement.
For this assignment, you will be given a case study to review. You will write an external briefing
to be attached to the case report and the autopsy report. The briefing will go to the family of the
deceased. Include the following:
• All aspects of the death scene, including location, conditions, and pertinent information • All aspects of the property of the deceased that either was on the decedent when he or she was taken to the medical examiner's office or was taken from the scene for evidence, and the
disposition of any other property, such as residence
• Condition of the body as regarding the possibility of a funeral and options available to the family regarding funeral contacts, services, and methods
• Information you still need from the family and how would you like to get that information
• Explain and describe the investigative procedures which may have been or were used during the investigation (based on information discussed and learned in class) [Last Name] 2
In writing this report, be mindful of your audience. What do you think a family member would
need to know or want to know, and how should the information be presented? Be mindful of
ethical disclosure, legal implications, and level of discretion when writing your report.
The report should be organized in a logical manner and written with professional language with
the following requirements:
• Between 3 and 5 pages in length. • Business letter or memorandum format. • Double spaced, 1” margins Case Notes:
At 2:18am (0218) on July 18, 2014 John Michael Phillips was discovered by Duane NMN
Johnson and Anthony Alonzo Capri. The body founders are self-reported to be friends of the
deceased. The deceased was discovered with a needle in his arm and multiple contusions and
lacerations to his face and scalp. The police are treating this death as suspicious. The discovery
occurred at 64 Church Street, Virtual, MD, which is located next to the Westview housing
project. This housing project has had multiple police calls and requested police presence over
the past 12 months. In addition, the Narcotics Task Force has conducted multiple drug stings and
other drug enforcement operations in the Westview Housing Project in the past 12 months. The
police stated that there are two John Michael Phillips listed in their records. The record for each
lists multiple charges of drug possession. Neither of the men who reported the body claims to
know the birthday of their friend. The Phillips with a DOB of 07181991 is currently incarcerated
in the Virtual Jail. Based on the booking photo of the other Phillips (DOB 01201992) the
detectives made a preliminary ID. However, the multiple lacerations to the face are making a
positive ID difficult. [Last Name] 3
The reason the police are treating the death as suspicious, despite the indications it is a drug
overdose death, are the lacerations to the face, the contusions to the skull and the fact that the
back of the victim's skull is caved in. As the ground where the body was discovered is rocky, it
is possible that the victim hit his head after overdosing. However, there was a lack of blood in
the area the victim was discovered which made the detectives suspicious.
The victim was discovered wearing blue jean shorts, Levi's, size 34, a white cotton t-shirt, size
large, Calvin Kline briefs, medium, Sketchers athletic shoes, size 10, white with blue stripes and
no socks. The victim also wore a gold-colored Citizens watch, multiple fabric (yarn) type
bracelets, one beaded necklace and one silver colored ring on his right ring finger. The victim
did not have a wallet or any type of identification on his person. The victim was carrying $117
in cash (5 $20 bills, 1 $10 bill and 7 $1 bills). The victim also had $1.45 in change (4 quarters, 3
dimes and 3 nickels). Except for the clothing, all other property was removed by the death
investigator sent to the scene by the medical examiner's office and turned over to the police.
Has to be at least 4 pages and References. [Last Name] 4
Course information for the week
Module 4: Cold Case Investigations
In this section, you will assess your understanding of the concepts covered in this
module. After you finish reading the commentary and your reading assignment in the text,
answer the questions below. This assessment is not part of your course grade.
1. Which of the following would decrease the solvability of a cold case? (Select all that
apply.) a. an eyewitness to the crime b. a recovered murder weapon c. a lack of physical
evidence d. a potential suspect's old fingerprints c Please select an answer. 2. Prioritize the following cases for reinvestigation. Use 1 for the highest priority, 5 for the
lowest.
Priority Description 3 Case A: Unidentified victim, suspect developed, physical
evidence still intact. 1 Case B: Known victim, known suspect, arrest warrant was
issued but in the wrong jurisdiction. 4 Case C: No known witnesses, no known suspects, stored
blood from crime scene intact. 2 Case D: Two eyewitnesses, suspect not known, physical
evidence available. 5 Case E: No known witnesses, no known suspects, no
evidence retained from crime scene. 3. Please select an answer. [Last Name] 5
4. Which cases would most benefit from mtDNA testing? (Select all that apply.) a. an
unidentified victim with no prints in the AFIS system b. a sample from a known suspect,
to be linked to blood at the scene c. a reference sample from a dead suspectd. a very small
sample of semen on a cytology slide at the ME office a c d Please select an answer. 5. Some investigators choose work through a cold case file in reverse chronological order,
addressing the most recent investigative information first. a. true b. false aPlease select an
answer. 6. Podcasts regarding cold case investigations have not been utilized due to lack of interest
from the public. a. true b. false b Please select an answer. 7. List five reasons for conducting an exhumation.
o to obtain a DNA sample to identify the deceased o to obtain an mtDNA sample to identify a relative of the deceased o to examine injuries for consistency with statements or reports o to perform a second autopsy o to obtain samples for toxicological testing Please input your answer. 8. Financial resources such as personnel and budgets rarely play into the factors involving a
case becoming cold. a. true b. false b Please select an answer. [Last Name] 6
9. Cases that are deemed "cold cases" may actually be mislabeled solved cases. a. trueb.
false a Please select an answer. 10. In the past, adhesive tape was not believed to be a source of fingerprints. a. true b.
false b Incorrect. The nonadhesive side of tape has always been a source of
fingerprints. Correct. The no adhesive side of tape has always been a source of
fingerprints. Please select an answer. 11. It is possible to get usable DNA from cremated remains through the mtDNA process. A.
true b. false b Please select an answer.
Rubric Please follow for good grade
Death Scene Section Excellent
5 points Description of the Death Scene Satisfactory
4 points Unsatisfactory
0 points A complete and thorCan earn 1-4 points: A A description of the
ough description of the
description of the death death scene is not prodeath scene is proscene is provided.
vided.
vided.
5 points 4 points 0 points Description of the Case A complete and thor- Can earn 1-4 points: A
ough description of the description of the case
case is provided.
is provided. A description of
the case is not provided. Information from Officers & Witnesses 5 points 4 points 0 points A complete and thorough description of the
information obtained
from officers and witnesses is provided. Can earn 1-4 points: A
description of the information obtained from
officers and witnesses is
provided. A description of the information obtained
from officers and witnesses is not provided. [Last Name] 7 5 points Release of Law Enforcement Sensitive info ME Office Inventory Section Items collected There are zero instances of the release
of law enforcement
sensitive information
in this briefing.
Excellent Location of items for next of kin Location of body Can earn 1-4 points:
There are few instances
of the release of law enforcement sensitive information in this briefing.
Satisfactory 0 points There are many instances of the release
of law enforcement
sensitive information
in this briefing.
Unsatisfactory 5 points 4 points 0 points A complete and thorough description of all
items collected from
the crime scene is provided. Can earn 1-4 points: A
description of most of
the items collected from
the crime scene is provided. A description of a few
or none of the items
collected from the
crime scene is provided. 5 points Testing completed & results listed 4 points 4 points
0 points A complete and thorough description of the
testing completed and
the results are included
in the briefing. Can earn 1-4 points: A
description of most of
the testing completed
and/or most of the results are included in the
briefing. 5 points 4 points A complete and thorough description of all
items available for the
next of kin as well as a
description of where
those items are located
are included in the
briefing. Can earn 1-4 points: A
description of most
items available for the
next of kin as well as a
description of where
those items are located
are included in the briefing. A description of items
available for the next
of kin as well as a description of where
those items are located
are not included in the
briefing. 5 points 4 points 0 points A complete and thorough description of the
deceased body as well
as a description of A description of the deceased body as well as a
description of where it
is located are included A description of the
deceased body as well
as a description of it is
located are not in- A description of the
testing completed and
the results are not included in the briefing. 0 points [Last Name] 8 where it is located are
included in the briefing.
Death Investigation Section Excellent in the briefing. Satisfactory
9 points 10 points Additional information needed from
next of kin Formatting and Audience 9 points 0 points A complete and thorough description of all
of the information supplied to the next of kin
is included in the briefing. Can earn 1-9 points: A
description of most of
the information supplied
to the next of kin is included in the briefing. A description of all of
the information supplied to the next of kin
is not included in the
briefing. Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory 4 points Can earn 1-4 points: In
In the report, the report
the report, the report
header, page headers
header, page headers
and page numbers are
and page numbers are
all present.
mostly present.
5 points Appropriate Audience Tone 0 points Few or none of
the pertinent questions
that should be asked of
the next of kin are included in the briefing. 5 points Appropriate Information Included Unsatisfactory Can earn 1-9 points:
Most pertinent questions that should be
asked of the next of kin
are included in the briefing. All pertinent questions
that should be asked of
the next of kin are included in the briefing. 10 points Additional information supplied to
next of kin cluded in the briefing. The writing tone of the
paper is appropriate to
the audience of the
next of kin. No slang,
casual language or texting language is used
in the report. 0 points In the report, the report
header, page headers
and page numbers are
not present. 4 points 0 points Can earn 1-4 points:
The writing tone of the
paper is mostly appropriate to the audience of
the next of kin. Little
slang, casual language
or texting language is
used in the report. The writing tone of the
paper is not appropriate to the audience of
the next of kin. Substantial slang, casual
language and/or texting language is used
in the report. [Last Name] 9
Terminology Excellent Satisfactory
4 points 5 points Appropriate Use of Terms Writing Style Terms, terms of art and
definitions used within
the report are not correct and/or are not consistent with course materials. 4 points 0 points The writing tone of the
paper is professional
and factual. No slang,
casual language or texting language is used
in the report. Can earn 1-4 points:
The writing tone of the
paper is mostly professional and factual. Some
slang, casual language
and/or texting language
is used in the report. The writing tone of the
paper is not professional and/or not factual. Slang, casual language and/or texting
language is used in the
report. Excellent Satisfactory Unsatisfactory 5 points Organized Grammar 4 points Can earn 1-4 points:
The paper is organized
The paper is organized
and presented in a logiand presented in a
cal fashion.
mostly logical fashion. 0 points The paper is not organized and not presented in a logical
fashion. 4 points 0 points The report is logically
presented with smooth
transitions between all
paragraphs and sections. Can earn 1-4 points:
The report is mostly
logically presented with
smooth transitions between most paragraphs
and sections. The report is not logically presented and it
does not have smooth
transitions between
paragraphs and sections. 10 points 9 points 0 points The report has zero or
very few grammar or
spelling issues. Can earn 1-9 points:
The report has many
The report has some
grammar or spelling isgrammar or spelling is- sues, making reading 5 points Smooth Transitions 0 points Can earn 1-4 points:
Most to some terms,
terms of art and definitions used within the report are correct and consistent with course materials. All terms, terms of art
and definitions used
within the report are
correct and consistent
with course materials. 5 points Professional Writing Tone Unsatisfactory [Last Name] 10 sues.
Overall Score A Grade
90 or more the report difficult.
B Grade
80 or more C Grade
70 or more

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• 1506607205-Case study 2.docx