A Day In The Life Of A Cat

Forensics Lesson

Most of you know that I'm a forensics nut. I was interested in this stuff long before the CSI shows came out and it became a popular topic.

People wonder what it is about it that I like so much. Well, there are many reasons I guess, but mostly I love to ask "why?". And I have to tell you, the answers you get when asking questions about dead people are very interesting.

Now the lesson: Serial Killers and Forensics

In the fall of 1885 in White Chapel London, the most famous serial killer began his killing spree. He is Jack The Ripper. Jack murdered 5 prostitutes and was never caught. An interesting fact about why he was never caught is, White Chapel was a poor section of London and the streets were made of cobble stone. It's theorized that he was able to get away because he could hear the hard leather soles of the policemen's boots as they were running to the scene. As a result, the police began tying rubber around their leather boots so they could "sneak" up on him. This is origin of the word sneakers. See....interesting stuff.

So what does this have to do with forensics? The Jack the Ripper murders transformed the way murder cases were handled. The first division of "homicide" detectives was formed to work on this case. This was also the time when the first doctor was designated to work only on murder cases ~ the forensic pathologist was born. Jack the Ripper changed the world of crime investigation and forensics.

Another interesting fact about Jack was the way he killed. Without telling you too much and making you squirm in your seats, it was thought that perhaps he himself was a doctor....a curious one. The women were not simply stabbed and left to die. Their organs were removed as if an autopsy was being performed. The Queen's doctor was soon a suspect. No one was ever charged and the identity of the killer will be a mystery forever. This is not true of serial killers today. They might not be caught right away, but we are human and we make mistakes. If a shoe print is left behind, they are in trouble. Yes, a simple shoe print can cause a killer big headaches! Leave any body fluids behind, and they are as good as convicted and sitting on death row. This means if they send a letter to the police to taunt them about their killing spree like Jack did, and you lick the envelope to seal it, you are toast.

That's it kids. Take notes, there will be a quiz. ;)