Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys (2 page)

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Authors: John H. Trestrail

BOOK: Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys
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1.2.5. Cordelia Botkin, “The Scorned Poisoner” ............................................. 10

1.2.6. Johann Otto Hoch, “The Stockyards Bluebeard” ................................. 11

1.2.7. Hawley Harvey Crippen, MD,

“The Mild Mannered Murderer” ............................................................ 11

1.2.8. Fredericki Seddon, “The Poisoning Miser” ........................................... 13

1.2.9. Henri Girard, “The First Scientific Murderer” ..................................... 13

1.2.10. Arthur Warren Waite, DDS, “The Playboy Poisoner” ........................... 14

1.2.11. Murderers of Mike Malloy,

“The Case of the Man Who Wouldn’t Die” ........................................... 14

1.2.12. Rev. Frank Elias Sipple, “The Poisoning Pastor” ................................. 15

1.2.13. Sadamichi Hirasawa, “The Poisoning Bank Robber” .......................... 16

1.2.14. Christa Ambros Lehmann, “The Poisonous Neighbor” ..................... 17

1.2.15. Arthur Kendrick Ford, “The Accidental Poisoner for Sex” ............... 17

1.2.16. Nannie (“Arsenic Annie”) Doss, “The Poisonous Romantic” ........... 18

ix

1.2.17. Graham Frederick Young, “The Toxicomaniac” .................................. 18

1.2.18. Ronald Clark O’Bryan, “The Halloween Killer” .................................. 19

1.2.19. Rev. James Warren Jones, “The Minister Who Went Mad” ............... 20

1.2.20. Murder of Georgi Markov, “The Umbrella Assassination” ............... 21

1.2.21. Unknown Offender “The Tylenol® Tamperer” ..................................... 21

1.2.22. Stella Maudine Nickell, “The Camouflaged Poisoner” ....................... 22

1.2.23. Donald Harvey, “The Angel of Death” .................................................. 23

1.2.24. George Trepal, “The Eccentric Genius” ................................................. 23

1.2.25. Michael James Swango, MD,

“Double-O-Swago—License to Kill” ...................................................... 24

1.2.26. Harold Frederick Shipman, MD, “Dr. Death” ........................................ 24

1.2.27. Ryan Thomas Furlough, “The Prisoner for Love” ............................... 25

1.3. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 25

1.4. References ......................................................................................................... 26

1.5. Suggested Readings ........................................................................................ 27

Chapter 2—Types of Poisons .............................................................. 29

2.1. Definitions ........................................................................................................ 29

2.2. Characteristics of “Ideal” Poisons ............................................................... 31

2.3. Contrasts Between Poisons and More Traditional Weapons ................ 33

2.4. How Do Poisons Kill? .................................................................................... 35

2.4.1. Central Nervous System (CNS) Effects .................................................. 35

2.4.2. The “Molecular Firepower” of Poisons .................................................. 38

2.5. Elements of Poisoning Investigations ........................................................ 39

2.5.1. Access ........................................................................................................... 40

2.5.2. Knowledge ................................................................................................... 40

2.5.3. Sources .......................................................................................................... 42

2.6. References ......................................................................................................... 45

2.7. Suggested Readings ........................................................................................ 46

Chapter 3—Poisoners ......................................................................... 47

3.1. Types ................................................................................................................... 47

3.1.1. Type S (where a specific victim is targeted) .......................................... 47

3.1.2. Type R (where a random victim is targeted) ........................................ 48

3.2. Misconceptions About Poisoners ................................................................ 50

3.3. Poisoner Schematic ......................................................................................... 50

3.4. Poisoner‘s Thought Process .......................................................................... 52

3.5. “Psychological Profile” of Poisoners .......................................................... 53

3.6. Public Perceptions of Poisoners .................................................................. 54

3.7. The Toxicomaniac ............................................................................................ 54

3.8. The Medical Murderer ................................................................................... 54

3.9. The Juvenile Tamperer as Poisoner ............................................................ 55

3.10. The Terrorist as Poisoner ............................................................................. 56

3.11. Statistical Analysis of Homicidal Poisonings ........................................ 56

3.11.1. Most Common Poison Used ..................................................................... 57

3.11.2. Poisoner’s Background .............................................................................. 57

3.11.3. Poisoner’s Gender ...................................................................................... 57

3.11.4. Number of Victims ..................................................................................... 57

3.11.5. Poisoner’s Motive ....................................................................................... 58

3.11.6. Offender’s Conviction Status ................................................................... 59

3.11.7. Multiple Offenders on Victim(s) ............................................................. 60

3.11.8. Gender of the Offender vs Number of Victims .................................... 60

3.12. References ....................................................................................................... 61

3.13. Suggested Reading ........................................................................................ 62

Chapter 4—Victims............................................................................. 63

4.1. Who Gets Poisoned? ....................................................................................... 63

4.2. Investigative Considerations ........................................................................ 65

4.3. Distinctive Pathological Findings ............................................................... 65

4.4. Classic Symptoms of Poisoning ................................................................... 65

4.5. References ......................................................................................................... 67

4.6. Suggested Readings ........................................................................................ 67

Chapter 5—Crime Scene Investigation .............................................. 69

5.1. Physical Evidence ............................................................................................ 71

5.2. Investigative Considerations ........................................................................ 71

5.3. Search Warrants ............................................................................................... 72

5.4. Poisoning Deaths Compared with Other Types of Violent Deaths .... 72

5.5. Investigating a Criminal Poisoning ............................................................ 73

5.6. Physical Evidence ............................................................................................ 74

5.6.1. Product Tampering .................................................................................... 75

5.6.2. Analytical Toxicology ................................................................................ 75

5.6.3. Analysis of Cremated Remains ................................................................ 77

5.6.4. When Should the Criminal Investigator‘s

Suspicion Be Aroused? .............................................................................. 78

5.7. How Did the Poison Get in the Patient? .................................................... 79

5.8. References ......................................................................................................... 80

5.9. Suggested Readings ........................................................................................ 81

Chapter 6—The Forensic Autopsy ...................................................... 83

6.1. The Autopsy ...................................................................................................... 83

6.2. Postmortem Redistribution—“NecroKinetics” ....................................... 83

6.3. Analytical Guidelines ..................................................................................... 85

6.4. References ......................................................................................................... 86

6.5. Suggested Readings ........................................................................................ 86

Chapter 7—Proving Poisoning ............................................................ 87

7.1. Key Elements to Be Proven ........................................................................... 88

7.2. Statistical Analysis of Poisonings in the United States ......................... 89

7.3. References ......................................................................................................... 90

7.5. Suggested Reading .......................................................................................... 90

Chapter 8—Poisoners in Court ........................................................... 91

8.1. Battery by Poison ............................................................................................. 91

8.2. Standard Defense Arguments ...................................................................... 92

8.2.1. Poisoning Not the Cause of Death .......................................................... 92

8.2.2. Poisoning Not Homicidal ......................................................................... 93

8.2.3. No Homicidal Intent .................................................................................. 93

8.2.4. Substance Not a Poison ............................................................................. 93

8.2.5. Accused Had a Reason to Have the Poison

in His/Her Possession ............................................................................... 93

8.3. Problems Proving Intentional Poisoning .................................................. 94

8.4. References ......................................................................................................... 95

8.6. Suggested Reading .......................................................................................... 95

Chapter 9—Poisoning in Fiction ......................................................... 97

9.1. Poisons That Have Been Used in Books and Films ................................. 97

9.2. Suggested Reading .......................................................................................... 97

Chapter 10—Conclusion .................................................................. 103

Appendix—Common Homicidal Poisons.......................................... 111

Antifreeze (Methanol [CH3-OH], or Ethylene Glycol) ................................. 111

Arsenic ..................................................................................................................... 114

Botulinus Toxin ..................................................................................................... 116

Cyanide ................................................................................................................... 118

Sodium Fluoroacetate .......................................................................................... 120

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