Enrique+Camerena+Case+Study+LD

Liz Deason January 24, 2008

1. During early march when MFJP officers went into the Bravo ranch causing a shoot out and killing SA Camarena and Captain Zavala as well as all the other gang members, the two bodies named were the only ones not to be buried on the ranch, but left on the side of the road by paid off Mexican police officers in order to destroy evidence and end the case. By the time the FBI and DEA got to the Bravo ranch to investigate the site had been completely uncontrolled and contaminated by police and onlookers. In April of 1985 the MJFB told the DEA of their suspicions of the residence in which SA Carmena and Captian Zavala had been held, the FBI was not allowed to immediately check the crime scene and by the time they were allowed to search the inside of the house had been completely repainted and cleaned.

2. Fibers or materials found from each object as well as the evidence, or DNA that was extracted from each. Any signs of destruction or tampering with the evidence or crime scene surroundings. Condition of the body. Reasoning for the overturned chair. Suspected entrance and exit strategy for the victim and suspect.

3. If an investigator notes signs of a prolonged struggle between victim and suspect they would take evidence from the injuries and wounds from the victims body. They would collect all DNA and fingerprint traces on the victim, not belonging to the victim to see exactly what happened, as well as take samples from around the crime scene to indicate how long the struggle was going on. The investigator would also use evidence from the autopsy in order to see how long the victim had been dead and the exact cause of death.

5. 	a. Forensic crime lab technician b. Forensic anthropologists c. Forensic anthropologists, Forensic artist

1. Some of the main challenges were the time lapses in which the crimes were committed and the FBI and forensic teams were allowed to investigate the crime scenes. The placement and bagging of the two bodies by the Mexican police officers of the victims, by the time the bodies were found they were decomposed and only dental records and fingerprints could identify the victims. The crime scenes were not detained and closed immediately after the crimes were committed allowing for police and onlookers to destroy and tamper with evidence. The repainting and cleaning of the ranch before investigators entered the scene.

2. Investigators used known head hair from Enrique Carmina and hair found in the guest house that was associated with Lope De Vega and compared the two to see if they matched or resembled one another in the lab. They also took samples from the mercury found and compared them to the head hair of Enrique Carmena.

3. The investigators took soil evidence from the cars, guest house, bed rooms, tennis courts, burial places, clothing and suspected weapons and matched them to the DNA of Carmena. They found blood, blood tissue, DNA on clothing, murder weapons such as rope, blindfolds and tape. They also took samples of fabrics and fibers to match them to victims and suspects and take DNA.