Forensic Files Name ______Answer Key

Episode Title: ______The Wilson Murder

1. What was the crime?

Type of Crime: ______Homicide Location: ______Hunstville, Alabama

Time/Year: ______May 22, 1992 - evening Victim(s): ______Jack Wilson Suspect(s): ______Betty Wilson, Peggy Lowe, James White

2. Use the chart to keep track of the evidence. You should have AT LEAST 10

Evidence What did it tell investigators about the crime? Bat Possible murder weapon Body Victim Blood Matched victim Injuries How the victim likely died Ski Mask someone else was in the house Empty gun case May point to who is responsible Nothing stolen likely planned, not a robbery gone wrong Confession James killed Jack Blood on shoes Match Jack's type Revolver Linked Betty to James Library Book Linked Betty to James Ex lover testimony May not have been a happy marriage Autposy How the victim died James' Testimony Sister's hired him to kill Jack Forensic Pathologist Testimony Death may have occured differently than autopsy and James described *may be a few more

More on back 

T. Tomm 2014 http://sciencespot.net/ 3. Which pieces of evidence were most important? Why?

Answers will vary

4. What was the outcome of the case?

Betty and James sent to prison, Peggy found not guilty

5. What is your opinion of the outcome of this case?

Answers will vary

6. List one piece of evidence that falls into each type of evidence category.

Direct Circumstantial

Confession Everything else

Physical Non-physical

Blood, bat, body, gun, book, etc. confession, testimony

Real Demonstrative

Everything else Ex lover testimony, comparative head wounds shown by forensic pathologist Known Unknown

Blood from body, book Blood on shoes and bat

Class Individual

Blood on shoes - type only Book, gun, confession, testimony

T. Tomm 2014 http://sciencespot.net/