The Week 86 Forensic Science Geek of the Week is Announced

The Forensic Science Geek of the Week

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The week 86 “www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com Forensic Science Geek of the Week” honors goes to: George Schiro

According to our Geek, the following is offered:

George Schiro, MS, F-ABC is a consulting Forensic Scientist operating a consulting company called “Forensic Science Resources” located in Cade, LA. He received a Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry-Forensic Science which included five hours of credit in Forensic DNA Analysis of Biological Materials and accompanying lab course, three hours of credit in Quality Assurance and Bioinformatics, three hours of credit in Biochemistry, two hours of credit in Forensic Analysis of DNA Data, and three hours of credit in Experimental Statistics University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. He received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology including three hours of credit in Genetics from the Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. He holds a certificate of Professional Competency in Criminalistics, and is Fellow of the American Board of Criminalistics, Specialty Area: Molecular Biology.

George Schiro is a forensic scientist with over 25 years experience. He has been court qualified as an expert in crime scene investigation/reconstruction, DNA analysis, shoeprint identification, blood spatter interpretation, latent fingerprint development, serology, forensic science, trajectory reconstruction, fracture match analysis, and hair comparison. He has qualified over 160 times in 30 Louisiana parish courts, two Louisiana city courts, federal court, and county courts in Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Texas and West Virginia. He has also consulted on cases in 24 states, for the United States Army and Air Force, and the United Kingdom. Throughout his career he has worked approximately 3200 cases.

His work has been featured on TV shows and in books. He regularly consults with TVs and movies.

The CV of our Geek of the Week can be found here.

Congratulations to our Forensic Science Geek of the Week winner!

OFFICIAL QUESTION:

1. What is reported in this picture?

2. Are there known issues with the method of testing, if so what, if not, why not?

Our Geek of the Week answered:

1. This is a diagram demonstrating the results of a “positive” paraffin test showing the presence of nitrates. Given the date and description, it is most likely from the right hand of Lee Harvey Oswald.

2. In 1933, Teodoro Gonzalez of the Criminal Identification Laboratory in the Mexico City introduced this test into the United States. The test was conducted by applying melted paraffin to an individual’s hand(s), allowing it to cool, then removing the solidified paraffin casts. The casts were then treated with diphenylamine and diphenylbenzidine. Nitrates would then show up as blue or violet dots in the cast. At one time, this was thought to be conclusive for the presence of nitrates and nitrites originating from gunpowder; however, it has since been shown that nitrates and nitrites are quite ubiquitous. The diphenylamine and diphenylbenzidine react with many common oxidizing reagents, soil, fertilizer, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, urine, cosmetics, and many other compounds. The paraffin test is non-specific and is of no use in detecting gun shot residues. To the best of my knowledge, it is no longer used by crime labs.

[BLOGGER’S NOTE: There are still some local crime laboratories that use this form of testing. Otherwise, we cannot possibly add to this entry. It was perfect! Well done. Check out next week’s contest soon.]

The Hall of Fame for the www.TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com Forensic Science Geek of the Week:

Week 1: Chuck Ramsay, Esquire

Week 2: Rick McIndoe, PhD

Week 3: Christine Funk, Esquire

Week 4: Stephen Daniels

Week 5: Stephen Daniels

Week 6: Richard Middlebrook, Esquire

Week 7: Christine Funk, Esquire

Week 8: Ron Moore, B.S., J.D.

Week 9: Ron Moore, B.S., J.D.

Week 10: Kelly Case, Esquire and Michael Dye, Esquire

Week 11: Brian Manchester, Esquire