Crime Scene Reconstruction Services
- Crime Scene Reconstruction
- Firearms and Bloodspatter Patterns
- Death Investigations
- Forensic Accident Investigations
- Domestic Violence Photography
Crime scene examination and subsequent reconstruction depends on locating valuable information. This may be on the deceased or injured person or persons, blood, bullets, firearms, bloodspatter patterns, shoe impressions or clothing. No single school on crime scene investigation will prepare a person for this type of investigation. It also requires experience. The combination of education in scientific method, inductive reasoning and experience is invaluable in an examination of a scene. For example, an area of a crime scene may be tested with a reagent such as Luminol to locate blood. A positive area was swabbed and later tested by DNA to be that of your client. Luminol is a screening test, it does not confirm the presence of blood and the test may be positive with non-blood, non-human substances. The source of the DNA found could be semen, saliva or sweat. Do not assume that someone tested for those items.
Firearms and Bloodspatter Patterns
Shooting scene reconstruction involves knowledge of firearms, ballistics and Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation. James Pex is a member of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners and also the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. Both organizations require proficiency in these areas before you may be a member. It is common for us to employ 2D and 3D graphics to demonstrate a reconstruction.
Jim Pex has been performing bloodstain pattern analysis to crime scenes since the late 70’s. He ahs authored a number of articles in international journals and lectured on the topic at several professional meetings. He has taught numerous classes on the subject to law enforcement officers and forensic scientists in several western states. He has co-authored a workbook on the subject and has testified in several high profile cases on this topic. Bloodstain pattern analysis can tell you how, when and by whom a crime was committed.
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The reconstruction of events surrounding a crime scene requires one additional component to those listed above, ethics. Information derived from a scene represents pieces of picture puzzle. That final picture is represented in reports and expert witness testimony and must be within the limits of the physical evidence. Pex Forensic Consulting operates within the Code of Ethics and Conduct established by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, The American Academy of Crime Laboratory Directors and the American Board of Criminalistics.
During his tenure with the Oregon State Police and subsequent private business, he has examined death scenes involving suicides, drownings, automobile accidents, homicide and accidental deaths. Death Investigations can offer unusual circumstances. All death scenes should be considered dynamic and not static. Although deductive reasoning would lead an examiner to a probable outcome, it is better science to employ inductive reasoning. This is to accumulate a large amount of data, consider all possible scenarios, and arrive at a probable solution by elimination of all other possibilities. Although Jim Pex has considerable experience in this area, it is good scientific practice to collect data by consultation with other experts that collaborate informally to insure diversity of forethought and accuracy of opinion. This inner circle includes pathologists, forensic nurses and other criminalists.
Forensic Accident Investigations
Local vehicle crash investigators travel to a scene of an accident to determine cause. Our forensic laboratory may assist by collection of physical evidence such as blood and hair. We may also do headlamp examination to determine if the lights were on at the time of the crash. Occasionally we may be called upon to examine paints for layers and chemical composition. These tests are referred to another reputable forensic laboratory.
James Pex, as part of his duties with the Oregon State Police, developed standardized methods of photography for victims of domestic violence. These techniques have been applied to men, women and children, both as suspects and victims of violent crime. The techniques include UV, Visible and IR photography. James Pex has trained hundreds of people on these techniques and has personally interviewed and photographed over 500 victims of violent crime. He served on the board of the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Oregon State Attorney General’s Task Force on Sexual Assault.
The reconstruction of events surrounding a crime scene requires one additional component to those listed above, ethics. Information derived from a scene represents pieces of picture puzzle. That final picture is represented in reports and expert witness testimony and must be within the limits of the physical evidence. Pex Forensic Consulting operates within the Code of Ethics and Conduct established by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, The American Academy of Crime Laboratory Directors and the American Board of Criminalistics.
Mr. James Pex was hired by the Oregon State Police in 1978. He attended the police academy and was transferred into the Crime Laboratory as a State Trooper/ Criminalist. He had primary responsibility for Crime Scene Investigation and attended numerous crime scenes. He was promoted to Sergeant and Lieutenant within twelve years and was the director of two different accredited crime laboratories. The laboratories were accredited by the American Academy of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD). James Pex retired in 2002 and now has his own forensic laboratory.