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Spatter: Results From a Preliminary Evaluation of a New Tool That Can Demonstrate Impact Spatter From a Beating Mechanism

NCJ Number
216743
Journal
Evidence Technology Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2006 Pages: 30-33
Author(s)
Todd A. Thorne; Stuart H. James
Date Published
September 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents the results from a preliminary evaluation of the Spatter Head model providing a realistic target for the production of impact spatter.
Abstract
The Spatter Head model provides a realistic target for the production of impact spatter. It serves as an excellent tool for both demonstrations and teaching purposes. The model head is easy to set up and only requires a quick rinsing and replacement of the blood-containing shell for repetitive use. Due to the potential of larger spatter stains occurring due to a large volume of blood contained within the shell, the exploration of possibly reducing the volume of blood in the shell, or the possibility of adding a matrix within the shell is recommended. The findings show that the use of the Spatter Head model for the replication of case-specific issues has good potential and will be the subject of future experimentations. Over the years, bloodstain pattern analysts have employed various methods in attempts to reproduce the kind of impact spatter created by blunt-force beating events. The Bludgeon Head model, also referred to as the Spatter Head model was specifically designed by Andre Anyon for training bloodstain-pattern analysts and crime scene reenactments. It demonstrates impact spatter from a beating mechanism. Two experiments were performed to evaluate the Spatter Head model. The two experiments varied in the position of the Spatter Head, located varied inches above the floor surface and struck six times with a fish bat weapon. This article presents the results from this evaluation.