(Founded in March 1973)
7-11 June 2010 20-24 September 2010
HERBERT LEON MACDONELL, DIRECTOR
T. PAULETTE SUTTON, ASSOCIATE
____________________________________________________________________________________
Post Office Box 1111 Phone: (607) 962-6581
Corning, New York 14830 Call to set up Fax: (607) 936-6936
Website: NO LONGER AVAILABLE: E-Mail: forensiclab@stny.rr.com
GENERAL INFORMATION: During five days of intensive study students attend lectures and conduct laboratory exercises which allow them to observe physical characteristics and behavior of human blood. Correlations between cause-effect relationships from experiments are based upon their own firsthand knowledge. Students produce bloodstain patterns under known conditions which they can preserve and retain as their own reference standards. These may later be used by making comparisons between their standards and bloodstain patterns they find at crime scenes.
The primary objective of the Institute is to demonstrate practical techniques for the students.
While there is no minimum educational requirement to be accepted into the class, each student should have knowledge of how to use a calculator to perform basic mathematical functions. A scientific calculator having a sin-1 or arc sin capability will be provided to each student.
Students who complete the five-day Institute will acquire a better understanding of, and greater appreciation for, bloodstain pattern evidence. In many instances such evidence allows reconstruction of prior events that not only could have, but must have, occurred to emphasize the value of evidence of this type. Almost everyone in law enforcement is aware of many cases that have been solved using reconstruction, and how a story told by the defendant was proven to be impossible.
The Bloodstain Evidence Institute does not make “instant experts” of those in attendance. To be accepted in a court as an expert additional study and research are required. The Bloodstain
Evidence Institute is a course of study in pattern recognition. It is concerned with the geometric shape of bloodstain patterns. It is not a course in serology.
*The Bloodstain Evidence Institute is the oldest educational program of its type in the world.
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INSTRUCTORS: The Bloodstain Evidence Institute will be conducted by Herbert Leon
MacDonell who has a Bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and both a Master’s and a
Doctorate degree from the University of Rhode Island. Professor MacDonell developed the
Institute in March 1973 and to date he has conducted it seventy-three times in twelve states, the
District of Columbia, Australia, Sweden, England, Holland and Italy. Over eighteen hundred students from forty-seven states and thirty foreign countries have attended the Bloodstain
Institute. Professor MacDonell has also directed over eighty seminars of from one to four days duration on bloodstain evidence and has presented over six hundred lectures on the physical significance of bloodstain patterns in Australia, England, Germany, Italy, Hungary, New
Zealand, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Switzerland, and at many meetings throughout the United States and Canada. Professor MacDonell testified on the subject of bloodstain pattern interpretation in thirty-four states, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and Germany. He is considered the foremost educator in this discipline. Identification Officers should know him as the inventor of the
MAGNA Brush™ and subject of the book, The Evidence Never Lies . Professor MacDonell has authored numerous articles, chapters, and books on the subject of bloodstain pattern interpretation. His book, Bloodstain Patterns , is recognized as the standard reference in this discipline.
Professor T. Paulette Sutton has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a
Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. She was Assistant Director of Forensic
Services at the Regional Forensic Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Professor Sutton has been consulted on numerous criminal cases and has considerable experience in interpreting bloodstain patterns. She has been an expert witness in many cases and will discuss some of these during the
Institute. She will also present theory and supervise some of the laboratory experiments.
Professor Sutton is Associate Professor of Clinical Laboratory Services at the University of
Tennessee, a frequent lecturer at Forensic meetings, and has been a faculty member at the
Bloodstain Evidence Institute since 2002 assisting in fourteen Institutes.
Phyllis A. MacDonell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science from the State
University of New York at Geneseo and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Speech from
Milton College in Wisconsin. She has been a participant during twenty-eight previous Institutes and is an expert on the Mary Johnson homicide case.
Laura Pettler has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Geneva College in Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Forensics from Youngstown
State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Laura is a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst by the
International Association for Identification. She expects to complete her doctorate in 2010. She is an Associate of the Laboratory of Forensic Science and a private forensic consultant in
Waxhaw, North Carolina. Laura is the Forensic Investigator for Prosecutorial District Twenty A of North Carolina. She is a graduate of the Bloodstain Evidence Institute and currently lectures and assists students with their laboratory experiments during the Institute. Laura has been an assistant during nine prior Institutes
Anita Zannin has a Bachelor of Science degree in both Criminal Justice and Forensic Chemistry from Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York. She is an Associate of the Laboratory of
Forensic Science and a private forensic consultant in Liverpool, New York. Anita is a graduate
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of the Bloodstain Evidence Institute and presents lectures and assists students with their laboratory experiments. Anita has assisted Dr. MacDonell with nine prior Institutes.
CLASS SIZE: Each class is restricted to twenty-five to thirty students to allow as much individual participation in laboratory exercises as possible. If you wish to enroll in the Institute it is suggested that you register as early as possible to have a place reserved for you in the class.
Tuition payment with your registration insures your acceptance as long as the class has not already been filled to capacity.
COURSE OUTLINE: Lecture and/or laboratory exercises cover the following topics.
• INTRODUCTION
• THE HISTORY OF BLOODSTAIN PATTERN INTERPRETATION
• CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUID BLOOD
•
TARGET SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AND SPATTER
•
BLOODSTAIN CHARACTERISTICS: SHAPE OF SPOT
• BLOODSTAIN CHARACTERISTICS: SIZE OF SPOT
• IMPACT ANGLE CONSIDERATIONS: VERTICAL DROP/ ANGULAR TARGET
•
IMPACT ANGLE CONSIDERATIONS: ANGULAR DROP/ HORIZONTAL TARGET
•
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORIGIN OF SPATTER IN SPACE
• DRIPPED AND SPLASHED BLOOD
• STAIN PATTERNS RESULTING FROM PROJECTED BLOOD
• BLOOD SPATTERED FROM MEDIUM VELOCITY IMPACT
• BLOOD SPATTERED FROM HIGH VELOCITY IMPACT
•
CAST-OFF BLOODSTAIN PATTERNS
•
EXPIRATED BLOODSTAIN PATTERNS
• TRANSFER BLOODSTAIN PATTERNS
• BLOODSTAINS AS A CHRONOMETER
•
SEQUENCE OF BLOODSTAINS
•
RECOVERING AND DOCUMENTING BLOODSTAIN PATTERN EVIDENCE
• PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
BLOOD: Human blood used during the laboratory exercises does not pose a biological hazard risk. Blood obtained from the American Red Cross is thoroughly tested before it is released.
Although we have a certificate from them to that effect we still are very careful. Also, gloves are provided for every student.
CAMERAS: Students are encouraged to bring still and/or video cameras to record both the bloodstain patterns they prepare as well as the experiments they conduct to produce them. Any good 35mm with a macro lens, or a digital camera, should give excellent results. Students can also take their patterns with them for future reference.
LOCATION: The Bloodstain Institute is conducted in a lecture and laboratory setting. A twohour laboratory period is held following a morning and afternoon lecture Tuesday through
Thursday afternoon.
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TUITION: Tuition for attending the Institute is seven hundred and ninety-five dollars ($795).
This provides each student with a copy of Professor MacDonell’s latest textbook, laboratory manual, the History of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation, a protractor, a scientific calculator, handouts, coffee before class each morning and throughout the day, noon meals and a graduation luncheon on Friday noon. Attendance at this luncheon is required but if airline reservations present a problem with this schedule we can discuss it.
PAYMENT: Payment should accompany registration. However, it may be delayed until six weeks before the first day of class if absolutely necessary. In the past, we have had agencies that were months late in payment of a student’s tuition and in one case, over a year. This is unacceptable and, as a result, we cannot accept students if we have not received their tuition by the first day of the Institute. It is the student’s responsibility to insure we receive their tuition payment at least six weeks before the first day of class. Vouchers will be accepted provided payment is received by the deadline. If we have not received a student’s tuition by the deadline, he or she could be replaced by someone on the waiting list. We regret that we are unable to accept tuition payment by credit card. Insufficient registration, or any other valid reason, may cause an Institute to be canceled. In this unlikely event, full refund is made to all who have registered. The Institute, like any program, cannot open without sufficient student registration and tuition payment well in advance of the Institute if it is to be held.
Full tuition refund is made when a cancellation is received four weeks before the first day of an Institute. One-half tuition is refunded if we receive notification two weeks before the first day of an Institute, and normally no refund is made after that.
DRESS: It is recommended that students bring jump suits, aprons, or laboratory coats since their clothing could become slightly bloodstained if they participate in the laboratory exercises.
For those who do not have such protective wear it will be provided but if your department issues it to you please bring it.
LODGING: We recommend the Holiday Inn Staybridge Suites or the Comfort Inn which are less expensive than the Radisson Inn. They are only a five-minute drive or fifteen-minute walk to class. A car pool with a student who has a car is always available. Both provide a hot breakfast but the Radisson does not. If you would like to share a room or a suite please advise us when you register and we will explore the possibility of finding someone with whom you could share expenses. The best deal for two is to share a room at the Comfort Inn where the rent for two is $70.00, the same as for one and for $10.00 more a roll-away bed can be put in the room for a third person. The rate for a studio (single) suite at the Staybridge is $75.00 at the government rate. The rate for a double room at the Staybridge is $130.00 and a pullout queen bed is in the room. They also have two bedroom suites at $150.00 that have two complete and private bathrooms, and a common living room and a pullout queen bed. All of the Staybridge
Suites have all the pots, pans, and dishes you need as well as popcorn for the microwave, several televisions and high-speed Internet connections. These suites are ideal for three people with two sharing one bedroom and the third having complete privacy. The Staybridge Inn number is (607)
936-7800, the Comfort Inn number is (607) 962-1515, and the Radisson number is (607) 962-
5000. Each student is responsible for making his or her own reservation. Request the government rate or mention that you are attending the Bloodstain Institute or just “Blood” when registering.
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TRANSPORTATION: It is convenient to fly into the Elmira/Corning regional airport, (ELM).
There are several direct flights from Philadelphia daily on USAirways and from Detroit on
Northwest. If you will let us know your flight number and arrival time, at least a week before the Institute, we will meet your flight and bring you to the motel. Staying over Saturday night may reduce your airfare considerably. Besides, there is much to see in Corning on that Saturday.
The Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art are known worldwide.
You should take advantage of being in Corning and try to visit both of them. You may want to consider flying into Rochester, NY (ROC) and renting a car, to save some money; it is only 90 mile drive.
CERTIFICATES: Certificates will be awarded to students who successfully complete the course requirements of the Institute.
SAVE MONEY: Keep in mind that if you remain over Saturday night you may be able to get a much lower air fare so you may want to arrive early or stay later.
PRIOR STUDENTS: We have had students from 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, 8 of the 10 Canadian Provinces, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, France,
Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, New
Zealand, Norway, Panama, The Republic of China, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and Wales.
PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS TAKE NOTICE: This course has been approved for eight
(8.00) hours of continuing education by The Coroners Education Board under the provision of
Act 22 of 1988.
COMMENTS: This is a hands-on learning experience. Several former students have felt that the Bloodstain Evidence Institute is the most practical school they have ever attended. Some of the typical comments we have received are:
I did my first BPA course in 1999 with Herb. MacDonell and since then have found it to be an invaluable aid in crime scene work and the selection of stains for analysis. I am the Irish contact person for the IABPA. Dr. Martina McBride, Forensic Science Lab,Garda Hq. Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8, Ireland.
“This officer and several other officers believe that without your seminar [sic] on blood spatter that Jones would have walked away a free man. You and your knowledge of blood and how it reacts is a vital part of law enforcement. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us in New
Orleans.” Det. Sgt. Mike Downs, Longview Police Department, Longview, TX.
“I learned more during the first day of your Institute than I did the entire week in the first
Bloodstain Workshop I took last year. I thank you very much for your excellent instruction, especially how you explained science in an understandable manner.” Inspector Bengt G.
Aspergern, Swedish National Police College, Solna, Sweden.
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“It was a great experience which I shall always remember. It was also the best school that I ever attended and probably ever will attend.” Anthony Mangione, Hamilton Township Police,
NJ.
“In a conversation with……he commented about courses he had previously taken……He said neither of them come close to yours. How about that unsolicited remark?” John Balshy,
Pennsylvania State Police (retired) Lebanon, PA.
“I would like to commend you on your excellent school, and your teaching ability. I have been assigned to our I.D. Bureau for eleven years and have never attended any school as informative and well presented as yours. It is certainly a “must” for any full time homicide/I.D. investigator, and has already proven immensely helpful.” Harold Scott, San Buenaventura Police
Department, CA.
“The Institute had a profound influence on my forensic thinking. If you will have an advanced institute in the near future I would sigh up for it. If you have an understudy program, I will apply. I really hope I have a chance to learn more from you.” Dr. Erwin P. Erfe, Public
Attorney’s Office, Quezon City, Philippines.
“I have many certificates from various schools and feel that I have benefited some from each one, but your course was the most beneficial individual course I have ever attended.” Captain
Charles D. Grant, Excambria County Sheriff’s Department, Pensacola, FL.
“I have learned more from your course about reconstruction of a crime scene by blood stains than any other course I have attended.” Mike Phillips, Appelton Police Department, Appleton,
WI.
“In twenty years of Police work, it was without a doubt, one of the best Law Enforcement courses I have ever taken. I told my Deputy Chief that the class was one of the best, and I recommended that we attempt to send two or three more Crime Scene Officers to the next
Bloodstain Institute.” Sgt/Tech. Keith R. Johnson, United States Secret Service.
“I thank you once again for the best course I have even taken, and trust me, being an educator I have taken plenty of courses!” Lynne Barber, Supervisor, M.F. McHugh Education Centre,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
“Your class was the fourth week-long BPA class that I’ve attended since 1995 and I feel confident in saying that it was the best one I’ve attended.” Det. Jeff Houde, Rockford, IL Police
Department.
“Prior to attending your class I investigated a homicide and tried to document the spatter on the defendant’s pants. After attending your class I came to understand the method I used to document the spatter was not adequate. I reexamined the pants, marking the spatter with white paper rings, and photographed the spatter with the aid of a microscope. I believe the proper/better documentation of this spatter helped make the case stronger, and helped the defendant to plead guilty.” Det. Paul Huff, Lafayette, IN Police Department.
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“Your class was the most informative week I have spent in my life.” Douglas J. Hagmann,
President, Hagmann Investigative Services, Inc., Erie, PA.
“I don't know if you remember me but I took your course back in May of 1999. I thoroughly enjoyed it and as a forensic chemist have used your teachings extensively in many of my 200 homicide crime scene investigations. I have prepared numerous courtroom presentations over the last ten years. It was your unique delivery of the subject matter which peaked my curiosity in this field and for that I am grateful. You're one of a kind and I hope to see you another time.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to instruct those of us in the law enforcement world with your acquired knowledge.” Terry McGinn, Syracuse Police Department.
Anonymous comments made on the student’s appraisal forms at the end of the week:
“Instructor MacDonell’s knowledge of this topic is obviously extensive. His experiences are endless. Instructor MacDonell’s unique ability of explanations is remarkable. Paulette and
Laura were also very helpful with clarification. This class was outstanding,
One of the best I’ve attended in 16 years in law enforcement.”
“I am very glad I had the privilege to work with such wonderful people. I’m grateful to all those who helped me this week – I learned an enormous amount.”
“All instructors were very enthusiastic and brought much insight and experience to the course. I had learned the basics of the subject previously, and this course helped bring the knowledge to real life. It is quite an honor to be here.”
“I would tell anyone who has the opportunity to attend one of your institutes that to pass up the opportunity should be considered a sin for investigators. Normally the rule of thumb is those who can’t do teach. What made the BSI absolutely wonderful was to be instructed by such a well rounded staff who all seem to be quit humble considering their obvious ability to DO everything they teach. Switching off instructors every hour like you did was also a great teaching method.
Listening to the same voice for hours on end can put you to sleep no matter how interesting the subject matted being presented may be. I found myself literally engrossed in each topic and didn’t want a single day of the institute to end .”
“Best course I have ever taken. I have been in Law Enforcement almost 20 years.”
Trial Attorneys have made the following remarks:
“Thank you for your assistance in preparing and presenting some of the most meaningful testimony I was able to bring into the Bishop case. I can think of no other evidence which weighed more heavily toward conviction than that which you presented.” Robert D. Wason,
District Attorney, Tillamook County, OR.
“I strongly feel that no conviction would been obtained but for your bloodstain evidence testimony.” William Ridout, Emmet County District Attorney, Estherville, IA.
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“Please be advised that your testimony was a crucial element in the successful prosecution of the above captioned defendant.” Peter J. Anderson, Deputy District Attorney, Dauphin County, PA.
"I am not really sure if you were aware of this or not but this was only the second time in the history of the state of Oregon [that the] prosecution had been successful in a homicide case without a body.
You can feel proud that you played an intricate part in the prosecution." Marty Sells, District
Attorney, Columbia County, OR.
"The accused was convicted of second degree murder after the jury deliberated ten hours. Your testimony [on bloodstain evidence] was most important and helped the trial of the matter." James
Stewart, Assistant Crown Attorney, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
"Thank you for your assistance in preparing and presenting some of the most meaningful testimony
I was able to bring into the Bishop case. I can think of no other evidence which weighed more heavily toward conviction than that which you presented." Robert D. Was-son, District Attorney,
Tillamook County, Oregon.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the expert assistance that you provided to the government’s case. I spoke briefly with several of the jury members since the trial and they indicated that they put great stock in your testimony. I have no doubt that your testimony provided a vital link in obtaining a conviction in this case.” Captain James L.
Chapman, Trial Counsel, Department of the Army, Fort Carson, CO.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP
Students who successfully complete the curriculum of the Bloodstain Evidence Institute qualify for membership in the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, the only professional association in the world organized exclusively for practitioners of this forensic discipline. Founded by Professor MacDonell in November 1983, this association has a membership of over 900 with representatives from almost every state, several Canadian
Provinces, and over two dozen other foreign countries.
For additional information on the Institute you can telephone, fax, or e-mail
Professor Herbert Leon MacDonell, ScD
Post Office Box 1111
Corning, New York 14830
24-hour phone: (607) 962- 6581
Fax by appointment: (607) 936-6936
E-mail: forensiclab@stny.rr.com
You might like to read chapter two in DEAD RECKONING by Dr. Michael Baden and Marion
Roach. This chapter describes the Institute and several of the experiments in considerable detail.
It is very good reading. Besides, the other chapters are really quite good as well!
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Sponsored by the
7-11 June 2010 20-24 September 2010
If there is insufficient registration on the Monday two weeks prior to the first day of class, the Institute could be canceled. It is most undesirable to cancel an Institute, however, without sufficient registration it could happen and did once in the past thirty-four years. Therefore, do not delay sending in your registration form and your tuition to prevent it from happening again.
Post Office Box 1111 24-hour phone: (607) 962-6581
Corning, New York, 14830 Call to set up Fax: (607) 936-6936
E-Mail: forensiclab@stny.rr.com
To register cut along the dotted line and return the form below (or fax it if you prefer):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLOODSTAIN INSTITUTE REGISTRATION APPLICATION
Circle the class you wish to attend: June 2010_____________ September 2010 ________________
Name______________________________________________________________________________
Department Affiliation________________________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________State_______________________Zip__________________
Day telephone____________________________ Fax number________________________________
E-mail____________________________________________________________________________
I will be staying at the: Staybridge_________Comfort_________Radisson_________Other________
If not enclosed, how will payment be made?______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
(Payment should be made to: Bloodstain Institute)
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