Synopsis
A brief, but complete reference for those interested in how the medical detectives Use the tools of science to uncover evidence.
The authors, one a very skilled forensic pathologist and the other a brilliant lawyer, discuss how criminal acts are brought to light and to successful prosecution.
The gunshot wound matching ballistic markers.
The evidences of sexual abuse.
How, and why, genetic evidence is a powerful tool for justice.
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About the Author
About The Authors
Kenneth Alonso is a physician who has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of cancer and of AIDS. He has served as the Director of the Community Clinical Oncology Program at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta where he is a Clinical Professor and was an Associate Director and Director of the Clinical Trials Program of the Drew Meharry Morehouse Cancer Consortium funded by the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Alonso is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Florida College of Medicine. He served as a surgeon during the VietNam War and was instrumental in creating the first drug rehabilitation center in the Theater of Operations. Dr. Alonso completed training in pathology and in nuclear medicine at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff School.
Dr. Alonso has broad experience in both clinical and laboratory medicine. As Chief Operating Officer of a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Upjohn Company he personally led the effort to adapt and validate the estrogen receptor assay which enabled the test to become widely used to predict breast cancer response and to guide breast cancer therapy. Dr. Alonso was elected a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Physicians during this period.
Dr. Alonso holds world- wide patents on the creation of humanhuman hybridomas and their use to generate monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor surface antigens for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The process entails creation of a fourth, new human cell, from three different human donors and maintaining the life of that fourth cell indefinitely as it is manipulated to produce protein products for human use.
Dr. Alonso has published extensively on the use of cellular products and of heat to alter human immunologic responses. Long term favorable cellular changes in patients with cancer and with AIDS have been shown with these approaches.
Dr. Alonso has also served as Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Georgia at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and is the author of a textbook on forensic pathology.
Presently Dr. Alonso is engaged in an apostolate involving patients with cancer and AIDS, directing public education efforts, clinical trials, and providing free second opinions to assist others in obtaining optimal care. The effort is world-wide; staffed entirely by volunteers; and funded through private donations.
Carmen Alonso reposed in glory in 1998. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tampa psychology] and graduated with honors from the University of Florida Law] where she was Order of the Coif. Mrs. Alonso also was an honor student of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.
Mrs. Alonso was an accomplished musician and dancer. As a young teenager while a student of Merle Holloway, she won the gold medal at the Paderewski piano competition. As a young teenager while a student of Alpheus Koon of the Ballet Russe, she also danced the lead in Giselle with Andre Eglevsky for the professional ballet company in Tampa. Mr. Alonso also held a teaching certificate in piano from Sherwood.
Mrs. Alonso donated her services as president of The Institute for Advanced Studies in Medicine, a non profit foundation devoted to medical research and public education. She also donated her services as general counsel for a number of arts and music organizations.
A gastronome, Mrs. Alonso also held a diploma from the International Wine and Food Society.
Mrs. Alonso practiced law in Atlanta. With her husband, Dr. Kenneth Alonso, she presented one of the most popular continuing education courses for attorneys, Forensic Evidence. Forensic Pathology is an outgrowth of that course and is a complete revision of that textbook.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
FOREWORD: Forensic pathology plays a major role in the investigation and solution of questions of law. Causes of death, identity of the living and of the dead, results of injuries, effects of violent crimes, and the nature of toxic agents are questions with which forensic pathology deals. The application of known analytic methods to physical evidence yields results that explain mechanisms and patterns of action and facilitate reconstruction of the events leading to specific injury.
Physical evidence may establish key elements of a crime. Torn clothing, fresh bruises, and the presence of sperm in the vagina may establish non-consensual sexual intercourse necessary to the proof of rape.
The finding of gasoline on drapes recovered from an office fire may establish the intent necessary to the proof of arson. The recovery of an intact human first cervical vertebral body may establish that death has occurred as the isolated presence of that bone is not arguable compatible with survival of the victim. Physical evidence may place the suspect in contact with the victim or the crime scene. The recovery of a fingerprint on the throat of a victim of strangulation may establish the contact of the suspect with the victim.
The identification of handwriting on a forged check may establish the involvement of the suspect with the crime.
The recovery of hair and fibers may establish the presence of the victim in the environment of the suspect.
Physical Evidence may establish the identity of persons associated with the act. The demonstration of common inheritable traits in a mother, child, and putative father may establish paternity.
The examination of skeletal remains may provide the sex, race, age, height, and weight of the victim to facilitate comparison with known persons missing.
Physical evidence may exonerate the innocent. The demonstration that cyanide found in postmortem blood sample resulted from the presence of specific bacteria in quantities sufficient to produce cyanogen may exonerate one suspected of poisoning.
The botanical identification of material as oregano may exonerate one suspected of possession of marijuana.
Physical evidence may corroborate testimony. The finding of glass fused to a filament in a sealed beam headlight may establish that the light was on at the time an accident occurred and corroborate the drivers statement about the vehicle.
The crime scene or the scene of the accident is the place from which much physical evidence is obtained. The autopsy is a continuation of the crime scene examination. A thorough understanding of the scene is necessary for the full interpretation of the physical evidence recovered. Physical evidence does not lie.
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