Clinical History:

The body of a young woman is found in her bedroom. Investigation reveals that the victim's roommate came home to find the apartment door open with the furniture overturned and broken. There were blood stains throughout the dwelling. The victim had recently broken up with her boyfriend after a stormy on again/off again relationship. A knife covered in blood was found in a dumpster behind the apartment building. Analysis of this weapon confirmed that two different types of human blood were present. Fingerprints were also present on the weapon, but they could not be classified because of smudging.

Image 6.1:

Body at the scene, with blood everywhere.

Image 6.2:

Multiple stab wounds of torso, more than 50.

Image 6.3:

Wrist with incised wound. This is a typical "defense" wound.

Image 6.4:

Hand with incised wound. Another example of a "defense" wound.

Image 6.5:

Stab wound on chest. Note the red mark adjacent to the stab wound. This has features consistent with a single-edged knife. The red mark is consistent with a hilt mark.

Questions:

1. What does the number and the distribution of the wounds indicate? (What is the manner of death and the nature of this situation?)

The number and distribution suggest an "overkill" phenomenon in which the assailant is displaying anger with a sexual motivation (from injuries to the breast area). The extreme violence and bloody scene depict a homicide.

2. What is the significance of the injuries of the wrist and hand? (How did these injuries occur?)

These "defense" wounds occur when the victim tries to fend off the attacker by raised arms or by grabbing the weapon.

3. What can you tell about the weapon from the stab wounds?

The toolmark pattern suggests a single-edged knife with a hilt.

4. Why were two types of blood found on the weapon? What further analysis could be performed to help solve this case?

One type of blood was the victim. The other is probably the assailant. DNA fingerprinting could be done to match with possible suspects.