Forensic Science

This class is a full introduction to forensic science.  The first session will be a discussion of what we mean by the term "forensic science" and how evidence is collected and used in legal cases.  Then, the remaining sessions will focus on specific areas of forensic science or types of evidence as follows:

1. Fingerprints
2. Blood and DNA
3. Handwriting and questioned documents
4. Fire analysis
5. Forensic Glass Analysis
6. Forensic Toxicology

We will cover a variety of cases which may focus on one type of evidence or on multiple types.  The cases we cover include:
1. Jack the Ripper (the letters and potential handwriting match to a notorious American criminal)
2. Black Dahlia (no details of the murder are discussed--only discussions of an early use of Luminol for the detection of a small amount of blood under floor boards and handwriting analysis of a postcard from a suspect).
3. Jon Benet Ramsey (case overview, analysis of the ransom note, and discussion of observations by a previous Outschool student who figured out a key component of the timeline).
4.  The Zodiac (this is our big case).  I am an expert in this case, having discovered many previously unknown clues, and solving the complete body of the Zodiac's hidden messages.  I will include a discussion of the recent solution to one of the Zodiac's long ciphers, along with an explanation of how that solution was woefully incomplete.
5.  A variety of other cases which will be very briefly discussed in terms of specific evidence issues.

All case materials have been stringently vetted and are age appropriate.