There is always a lot of talk about buoyancy and in PSD work having good control is even more important.
Being a LEO team any unattended death is initially looked at as being a homicide until proven otherwise. In or out of the water its treated the same.
If someone reports a location of, or a diver comes across a body, which happens from time to time around here, we respond in an investigative mode.
We hit the water and do an assessment of the scene, video the area and victim and look for clues and through as we can, depending on conditions.
Quite a few years ago and about half a mile from last weeks canoe accident, a jogger reported seeing something unusual in the lake just off the roadway shoulder.
We respond and I take a look. Yup, Its a body at about 10 deep. I suit up with another member and we start the investigation underwater while the Dicks work topside.
We floated a couple of feet above the victims mostly nude body for quite a while looking for anything unusual.
I spotted something and I didnt know what it was. So ever so slowly Don and I back out and have a chat. He saw the same type of object but in a different area. So we grab two film canisters and go back.
Ever so gently we retrieve and secure the objects. Nothing else was noticed so we recovered her body.
A couple of days later we learn that she was severely beaten and thrown into the lake, most likely unconscious where she drowned.
Ex-boyfriend was contacted and had an alibi. But the trouble with the alibi was the tire tracks from his truck were at the scene. A couple of witnesses also placed his truck there but didnt see the occupants. Still not enough evidence to get a conviction.
What sewed up the case was us taking our time and looking without disturbing anything. Those objects we found. Nothing more than his fingernail fragments. Confronted with that and the fact a nail fragment was stuck in her flesh, he confessed.
He will leave prison in a pine box, as he has no possibility of parole.
Without that little bit of evidence he would have gotten away with murder.
So take your time and look at the scene. Some murderer could be just hoping you miss the evidence that will let them remain free.
Even in a rescue dont get tunnel vision. Look at the entire scene as your grabbing the victim.
Gary D.
Being a LEO team any unattended death is initially looked at as being a homicide until proven otherwise. In or out of the water its treated the same.
If someone reports a location of, or a diver comes across a body, which happens from time to time around here, we respond in an investigative mode.
We hit the water and do an assessment of the scene, video the area and victim and look for clues and through as we can, depending on conditions.
Quite a few years ago and about half a mile from last weeks canoe accident, a jogger reported seeing something unusual in the lake just off the roadway shoulder.
We respond and I take a look. Yup, Its a body at about 10 deep. I suit up with another member and we start the investigation underwater while the Dicks work topside.
We floated a couple of feet above the victims mostly nude body for quite a while looking for anything unusual.
I spotted something and I didnt know what it was. So ever so slowly Don and I back out and have a chat. He saw the same type of object but in a different area. So we grab two film canisters and go back.
Ever so gently we retrieve and secure the objects. Nothing else was noticed so we recovered her body.
A couple of days later we learn that she was severely beaten and thrown into the lake, most likely unconscious where she drowned.
Ex-boyfriend was contacted and had an alibi. But the trouble with the alibi was the tire tracks from his truck were at the scene. A couple of witnesses also placed his truck there but didnt see the occupants. Still not enough evidence to get a conviction.
What sewed up the case was us taking our time and looking without disturbing anything. Those objects we found. Nothing more than his fingernail fragments. Confronted with that and the fact a nail fragment was stuck in her flesh, he confessed.
He will leave prison in a pine box, as he has no possibility of parole.
Without that little bit of evidence he would have gotten away with murder.
So take your time and look at the scene. Some murderer could be just hoping you miss the evidence that will let them remain free.
Even in a rescue dont get tunnel vision. Look at the entire scene as your grabbing the victim.
Gary D.