You are here:
Use of aerial photography in crime scene analysis
Citation:
Williams, D. AND M. Murphy. Use of aerial photography in crime scene analysis. Briefing to the US DOJ U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, Durham, North Carolina, November 29, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Aerial photography is a powerful tool for crime scene investigators and can provide a unique dimension for visualizing a site and the surrounding landscape. Historical airphotos can be used to go back in time to investigate changes to a site, discover disturbances to the earth that may indicate burials or other clandestine activities, and can help guide investigators for on-scene forensic testing. Rigorous orthorectification of imagery allows for accurate measurements of crime scene evidence that may not be possible with ground observations.
Description:
This is a case study detailing the forensic analysis of aerial photography to aid in a homicide investigation of Charlene Johnson in NW DC on October, 1993. Responding officers found a blood trail that started approximately 20 or so feet away from where Ms. Johnson’s body was found, extending down an alley and onto a sidewalk of a major street. There is a question as to the accuracy of the distance measurements of the blood trail. Historical aerial photography and photogrammetric analysis was used to visualize the crime scene at the time of the murder, measure with high confidence the locations of the blood evidence, and map possible routes the defendent took to leave the crime scene in order to confirm or negate possible alibis.