Insect Evidence: Basic Collection Procedures at the Death Scene

"Back cover summary of book



Investigators recover a decomposing body in a wooded area that has fly and insect activity on and surrounding the body. Investigators what to know -not only who the deceased was but how long he/she has been dead. To help answer these questions we must turn to the insects for answers.

Law enforcement agencies are learning that insect evidence is an important tool in our forensic tool box. Just what can insects tell us about a crime scene? Knowing how to collect, photograph, document and preserve this evidence is critical for any successful outcome.

This book is intended for crime scene technicians, death investigators,medical examiners and other forensic personnal to become aquainted with our often overlooked and forgotten evidence at the death scene-INSECTS.
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Melvin R. Bishop Retired Master Police Officer/Forensic Technician -23 years with Charlottesville, Virginia Police Department. Graduate of the 49 session of the Virginia Forensic Science Academyin Richmond, Virginia. Masters Degree in Entomology from the University of Nebraska/Lincoln. I instruct crime scene technicians,graduate students and various law enforcement agencies throughout the East Coast on entomological collection procedures.and I have lectured on forensic topics at various colleges and universities for the past fifteen years . I have been involved with the collection and study of forensic insects for over eight years and I have worked/assisted on over sixty-five criminal and civil cases involving insect evidence. I 'am a member of the Entomological Society of America, Florida Division of International Association of Identification and the North American Forensic Entomology Association.