Name: _________________________________
Due Date: ____________
Objective: For this project, you will create a short presentation, of a real-life criminal investigation. You will
fully research a case study of your choosing and present to the class the case details, evidence and forensic
techniques that have helped solve or best understand the case. Please refer to the rubrics and guides for
grading information. Follow the steps below to finish this assignment:
Choose a case study: You will be provided with a list of possible case studies at It is important to pick a case
that not only interests you but one that you are also comfortable with researching and presenting in front
of the class.
The case may be recent or older, solved or unsolved, and a crime of any nature. All
of these details; however, should be indicated in the report sheet, as well as described
during the presentation.
The case must include aspects of forensic science in attempting to solve the crime.
This includes evidence such as fingerprints, hair, blood, DNA, fibers and testimony.
Research your case: You may use the Internet, newspapers, textbooks, and Mrs. Custer’s personal forensic
books to research your case. As a class, we will spend two days with the laptop carts. Remember, all work
must be your own. Please, do not plagiarize and remember to cite your sources, using APA citations.
To help you organize your research, I will provide you with a report frame included in the packet. The frame
should be turned in at the completion of the project before the start of the presentations. If you do not
turn in your report frame, you will not be permitted to present.
Design your presentation: You must create a PowerPoint and email it to by 12 pm on March 6th at
mrscusterphs@gmail.com
Presenters:. You will be given 3 timed minutes to present your case.
Audience: As a member of the classroom, you are expected to give your classmates your full attention and
respect. With each presentation, you should be taking notes. There will be an assessment that will contain
2-3 questions about each case.
Possible Case Studies
Odontology
Ted Bundy
Carmine Calabro
Crime Scene
Jon Benet Ramsey
Enrique Camarena
Anthropology
John Wayne Gacy
Richard Crafts
Physical Evidence
Green River Killer
Gerald Wallace Murder
Center City Rapist
Wayne Bertram Williams
Document Analysis
Unabomber
Anthrax Attacks
Fingerprints
Night Stalker – Richard
Ramirez
Stella Nickell
Mayfield Affair
Hamm Kidnapping
Toxicology
Tylenol Deaths in 1982
Joann Curley
Georgi Markov
Pablo Escobar
Jascalevich Trial
Marie LaFarge
Eva Rablen
Microscope Use
Lindbergh Baby
Serology
Sam Sheppard
Ludwig Tessnow
DNA
OJ Simpson
Colin Pitchfork
Elizabeth Smart
West Memphis 3
Hair/Fibers
Jeffrey MacDonald
Central Park Jogger
Wayne Williams
Ennis Cosby
Laci Peterson
Autopsy
Casey Anthony Trial
Mary Pinchot Meyer
Ballistics
St. Valentines Day Massacre
Sacco and Vanzetti
Guideline/Scoring Rubric
Research Report Sheet
Creative Title
Victim (s)
Suspect (s)
Case Outcome
3 pieces of evidence
Class or Evidence
Specialist who examined
evidence
Analytical technique used
3 pictures
APA citations
Presentation
4
All sections
complete
3
1 sections
incomplete
Present – 2 points
Present – 2 points
Present – 2 points
Explained in full
Explained but
detail
some details
missing
3 discussed
3 pieces are
identified
Present – 2 points
Present – 2 points
3 pictures
3 citations
2
2 sections
incomplete
1
3 sections
incomplete
0
4 or more
sections
incomplete
Absent – 0 points
Absent – 0 points
Absent – 0 points
Many details
Not
missing, not
explained
sure of
outcome
2 discussed
1 discussed No evidence
discussed
2 pieces are
1 piece are No evidence
identified
identified
is identified
Absent – 0 points
Absent – 0 points
2 pictures
1 picture
No pictures
2 citations
1 citation
No
citations
Colorful,Visually
Colorful,Visually Colorful,Visually Not appealing (black &
appealing and
appealing and
appealing but
white)
neatly organized
neatly
not organized
Not organized
organized
No obvious spelling
OR
AND
or punctuation
OR
7+ spelling or
errors
7+ spelling or punctuation
3-4 obvious
punctuation
errors
spelling or
errors
punctuation
errors
Name: __________________________________
Research Report Sheet
Title of Case: ____________________________________________________________
Who was involved in the case?
Victim(s):
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Suspect (s)/ Accused:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Case Details: Summarize in at a minimum of 5 sentences
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence available (be specific – don’t just say “fingerprints, hair, gun powder residue” – describe what
makes the evidence unique to the case) PLEASE state is it INDIVIDUAL or CLASS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
One Specialists AND Analytical technique highlighted in the case (ex: DNA fingerprinting, dusting powders
for fingerprints, microscopic analysis – techniques involve learning more about the evidence than meets
the eye or finding evidence in a special way)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Outcome/Result of the Case (what piece of evidence “sealed the deal”?)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Notes/Other Relevant Facts
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Research – APA Citations used (wikipedia does not count as a source)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Content
Research Report Sheet
4 – Above & Beyond
3 – Well done,
needs minor
improvements
All content is accurate.
There are no factual errors
All content is
accurate; however
may not be
relevant
All content requested on
framework sheet is present
Missing 2 items or
less on report
sheet
Research Presented







Title
Victims
Suspects
Case outcome
2 pieces of
evidence
1 technique
1 picture
Presentation
Professionalism


Clarity
Speaking Voice
All content is described
during the presentation
All content is accurate


Visually eye
catching
Spelling/
punctuation
Content is
mostly
accurate, with
few minor
discrepancies
Missing 3-4
items on report
sheet
1 – Minimal Effort
Content is mostly
inaccurate or
irrelevant
Missing 5 or more
items on report
sheet
2-3 items not
described
during
presentation
4 of more items are
not described
OR
2 or more pieces of
information are
inaccurate
OR
OR
1 piece of
information
described is
inaccurate
Items described in clear
(understandable manner)
Very knowledgeable about
case
Loud and controlled
speaking voice
Presentation
1-2 items are note
described during
the presentation
2 – Lacking in
obvious ways
Most items
described in a
clear
(understandable
manner)
Few um’s, like’s
but other wise
controlled
speaking voice
2 pieces of
information are
inaccurate
Items not
described in
clear cohesive
manner
Many um’s,
pauses
Unprofessional
speaking voice
Seems
unknowledgeable
about topic,
unfamiliar with
case
Inaudible
speaking voice
Knowledgeable
about the case
Seems
unfamiliar with
case
Colorful and neatly
organized
Colorful and
neatly organized
Visually
appealing but
not organized
No obvious spelling or
punctuation errors
OR
Not appealing and
not organized
AND
OR
3-4 obvious
spelling or
punctuation
errors
7+ spelling or
punctuation
errors
7+ spelling or
punctuation errors