Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess the material evidence found at homicide and suicide cases to identify similarities and differences between the scenes of these two manners of death. Differences in the physical evidence found at these scenes may provide law enforcement and medical examiners with additional, statistically sound evidence to aide them in the determination of the manner of death. This study uses statistical analysis to analyze quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate physical evidence found on homicide and suicide scenes; it utilizes a sample that includes redacted reports of osteological examination submitted by Dr. Walsh-Haney to jurisdictions across Florida and final determination of manner of death by the medical examiner. Reports were assessed documenting characteristics of the scene of death such as mode of lethal action, location of scene, trace evidence (blood, DNA, semen, and hair) and material evidence (weapons, instruments that may cause lethal damage, and clothing) to compare between scenes of homicide and scenes of suicide. Inferential statistics (Phi and Cramer’s V and binomial logistic regression analysis) were used to analyze the material evidence from crime scenes documented in suicide reports and homicide reports to identify commonalities and differences among and between suicide and homicide cases. Findings indicate a statistically significant difference between the physical evidence found at scenes determined to be homicides compared to those determined to be suicides.