if i knew the answer im not telling might need it sometime.
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if i knew the answer im not telling might need it sometime.
I could write for hours about the things that get crooks caught, whether it is a homicide or a catalytic converter theft.
A lot of it boils down to planning, or more correctly a failure to do so or to plan completely. This becomes obvious fairly early in an investigation. A lot of crimes aren't planned at all, or only up to a point where the intended act is completed. After that, they are winging it--and it REALLY shows.
I've been retired for 16 years now. There isn't much that I miss about cop work, especially now that media propagandists are doing their best to cast us in the most negative possible light to boost ad rates. One thing I do miss--hunting armed predators. That was the best.
9.3X62AL
I worked case one time, the perpetrator had stolen a transmission out of a parked car, as he was crawling out his wallet and ID came out of his pocket.
There is a lot more forensic evidence in cartridge cases than bullets, making a revolver a better murder weapon.
And jails are chock full of *Brilliant* criminals. Two words: Digital Fingerprint.
In a double homicide case the victims were shot with a .45ACP, the ammunition was some cheap commercial lead bullet rounds. Five rounds were fired the bullets were pretty well deformed. Three cases were found at the scene, a weapon was never found so the bullets were of no evidentiary value, however the crime scene cases were compared with other empty cases at the suspects residence and were confirmed to have been fired in the same gun.
The greatest disservice done by these CSI-centered TV shows is to create the impression in the minds of viewers that forensic examinations are some kind of Deus ex machina--that these Miracles Of Modern Science can conclusively point the finger of guilt at a given perpetrator, and can stand alone and unsupported by surrounding circumstances to direct justice. That just isn't reality.
Firearms forensics is NOT new science. Parts of it have been amended by scientific advances, but a lot of the foundation elements are close to 100 years old.
GOOD convictions are a holistic amalgam--science, witness statements, suspect admissions, physical evidence processed with that science, and dogged confirmation of every possible detail of all the elements listed above.
Most homicides would go unsolved if the perp simply disposed of the weapon (in a thoughtful manor) and kept their mouth shut!
This thread is very interesting. I have read about many crimes and most often, as has been said several times, the criminal cannot keep his mouth shut, especially to their ex-partners.
So far I've learned the weapon should be a revolver, the bullets salvaged and riding in a sabot, the powder and cases should be from various sources and the weapon should be disposed of, i.e., melted into slag and buried. Then have your, ears and eyes poked out, your tongue removed as well as your hands so you cannot listen, talk, write or sign language.
Perhaps even better is not to do anything that might raise concerns about forensic evidence.
That’s the absolute best and easiest solution, and while I think the people we have here will agree and are more interested in the science than actually having any intention of doing anything, it’s still an interesting discussion. And let’s not forget that criminals aren’t exactly known for being geniuses.
The genius thing is not always correct, I worked a homicide one time, the defendant in the case had a 150+ IQ.
John,
That’s surprising to me, but then again, I’m kinda spoiled because most of the criminals I deal with are average at best, and some I don’t think know how to spell “average”, so I’ll count my blessings and leave the smart ones to you. Thank you for picking up my slack.
In my 35 years in the business that was the most "intelligent" criminal, I dealt with, he had some mental issues. It isn't always the case that intelligence and smart share the same "room"..
I was in the the Canadian Legion in Prince Rupert, I was there to testify on a homicide case I managed to get involved in on the wrong side of the Alaska/Canada border., I was chatting with the resident RCMP superintendent, we were talking about "intelligent v smart" constables. The RCMP at one time had a requirement that their constables had to have a degree prior to being hired. The term the superintendent used was that these were the best educated intelligent dumb b------s he had ever dealt with.
A bit far afield from paper patched bullets.
I’ve only got 12 years in, and the only paper patched bullets I’ve dealt with were ones I fired into a bullet trap and gelatin to give the forensics guys something different to play with.
No matter how intelligent one person is, or worse, how intelligent they believe themselves to be, they still don't know everything. And if they are angery, even the smartest will make mistakes. I've read several stories about MDs that committed murder, it takes a pretty sharp mind to be a doctor, but they still made stupid mistakes that got them caught.
Back to paper.. When you shoot .38 spls. in your .357 you always get a ring in the cylinder, not so much with gas checks and none with paper patched bullets.
I have recovered some paper patched bullets, shot into deep snow, they had no identifiable marks on them.
Have two targets, manage to get them hating one another enough to do one another in.
Three44s
Shoot a lot of black powder in a .45-70 Sharps or .38-55 Winchester High Wall but have never paper patched, also shoot a lot of cap & ball using paper cartages i.e. Sharps, Naviy 51's & Army 60's. With the C&B very seldom is there any paper to be found so my questions are how much paper is found with the use of a paper patch bullet if fired outside? Will the patch stay intact size wise or is it reduced to very small pieces that the wind can blow away? How many people working in forensics would even notice a paper patch paper when working an outdoor area where the shooter was?