Forensic Anthropology: The Multidisciplinary Approach to Death Investigation

Module 02: Forensic Anthropology: The Multidisciplinary Approach to Death Investigation

OBJECTIVES:

To highlight the contribution of forensic anthropology and its sister discipline, Forensic Odontology, in a criminal death investigation
To emphasize the holistic approach applied in any criminal death investigation through interdisciplinary, interagency cooperation to reconstruct the events that led up to the crime and what occurred at the scene of discovery
To observe the entire investigative process from the initial report that a crime has occurred, through the investigation and forensic science analyses, to the presentation of evidence in court
To illustrate the integration of forensic science, law enforcement and the legal system

LESSON PLAN:

Introduce video, Tooth 18 (The Learning Channel; Series: Scene of the Crime); 49 minutes

This is a presentation of a high profile Minnesota case involving the abduction and murder of Kathlyn Poirier
The presentation highlights the contribution of forensic anthropology in a criminal death investigation

While watching, make notes on

The contribution of forensic anthropology in this case
What the forensic anthropological consultation involved
What agencies were involved in the case; what branch of the criminal justice system were represented
The investigative process (outline this)
How forensic science, law enforcement and the legal system were integrated

EXERCISE:

Summarize the above in a reflective essay to be turned in next class period; your reflective essay will provide a foundation for our discussion of the contributions of forensic anthropology to criminal cases requiring a death investigation.

VIDEO: Tooth 18 (The Learning Channel; Series: Scene of the Crime); 49 minutes