Soils and Soil AnalysisSoils and Soil Analysis

What Is Soil?What Is Soil?

Mixture of organic and inorganic materialMixture of organic and inorganic material May range from 100% inorganic (sand) to May range from 100% inorganic (sand) to

nearly 100% organic (peat)nearly 100% organic (peat) Inorganic part is mineralsInorganic part is minerals Organic part is decayed plant and animal Organic part is decayed plant and animal

material and is sometimes called material and is sometimes called humashumas

Forensic Significance of SoilForensic Significance of Soil

Soil is class evidence - cannot be Soil is class evidence - cannot be individualized to a particular locationindividualized to a particular location There is no classification system for soilsThere is no classification system for soils Soils can be easily transportedSoils can be easily transported Soils within a few meters horizontally or vertically Soils within a few meters horizontally or vertically

differ differ

Forensic Analysis of SoilsForensic Analysis of Soils

Bulk analysisBulk analysis Density gradientDensity gradient Particle size distribution (sieving)Particle size distribution (sieving)

Inorganic componentsInorganic components Color (dissolve in water)Color (dissolve in water) Petrography - mineral analysis; Requires a good Petrography - mineral analysis; Requires a good

deal of skill and practicedeal of skill and practice

Forensic Analysis of SoilsForensic Analysis of Soils

Organic componentsOrganic components Liquid chromatographyLiquid chromatography Oxygen availabilityOxygen availability Bacterial DNA? - Future possibilityBacterial DNA? - Future possibility

Some Interesting? Cases Where Some Interesting? Cases Where Geological Evidence Has Been ImportantGeological Evidence Has Been Important

Florida v. William Kennedy SmithFlorida v. William Kennedy Smith

South Dakota v. Donald Eugene MoellerSouth Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller

Colorado v. Walter OsborneColorado v. Walter Osborne

The Death of a DEA agent – Enrico CamarenaThe Death of a DEA agent – Enrico Camarena

Florida v. William Kennedy Florida v. William Kennedy SmithSmith

WKS accused of rape of Patricia BowmanWKS accused of rape of Patricia Bowman Alleged attack on grass lawn behind Kennedy estate Alleged attack on grass lawn behind Kennedy estate

in W. Palm Beach, Flin W. Palm Beach, Fl WKS alleged consensual sex on the beach near estateWKS alleged consensual sex on the beach near estate Jay Siegel used PLM to compare samples from Jay Siegel used PLM to compare samples from

clothing of victim to lawn and beach areasclothing of victim to lawn and beach areas Samples consistent with beach, not lawnSamples consistent with beach, not lawn WKS acquitted of rapeWKS acquitted of rape

South Dakota v. Donald Eugene South Dakota v. Donald Eugene MoellerMoeller

Capital murder case of 9-year old Becky O’Connell Capital murder case of 9-year old Becky O’Connell on May 8, 1990.on May 8, 1990.

Testimony by soil expert refutes defendant alibiTestimony by soil expert refutes defendant alibi Victim snatched off street, raped, killed, body Victim snatched off street, raped, killed, body

dumped in woods. dumped in woods. Suspicion fell on Defendant because of prior sex Suspicion fell on Defendant because of prior sex

crime involvement.crime involvement. Found guilty and sentenced to death. Appeal resulted Found guilty and sentenced to death. Appeal resulted

in reversal owing to admission of evidence of prior in reversal owing to admission of evidence of prior bad acts.bad acts.

South Dakota v. Donald Eugene South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont.)Moeller (cont.)

SD Supreme Court reversed and reinstated convictionSD Supreme Court reversed and reinstated conviction State geologist analyzed soil found in wheel wells of State geologist analyzed soil found in wheel wells of

defendant pickup truck. Issue was whether soil came from defendant pickup truck. Issue was whether soil came from crime scene South of Sioux Falls or from a road North of crime scene South of Sioux Falls or from a road North of Sioux Falls where defendant claimed he was at time of crimeSioux Falls where defendant claimed he was at time of crime

Geologist testified that soil Geologist testified that soil could have come from crime could have come from crime scene. scene.

Opinion based on:Opinion based on: Colors and general characteristicsColors and general characteristics Soil was much lighter or could not have come from other roads in Soil was much lighter or could not have come from other roads in

areaarea ““Sharp, clean” hornblende crystals much more likely to have come Sharp, clean” hornblende crystals much more likely to have come

from crime scene areafrom crime scene area

South Dakota v. Donald Eugene South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont)Moeller (cont)

Part of appeal called for striking geologist’s Part of appeal called for striking geologist’s testimony as being too speculative as to testimony as being too speculative as to conclusionsconclusions

At 2At 2ndnd trial, geologist came into more evidence trial, geologist came into more evidence from scene and wheel well: dark green to from scene and wheel well: dark green to black black gahnitegahnite found at scene and in evidence found at scene and in evidence from truck. This mineral extremely rare.from truck. This mineral extremely rare.

South Dakota v. Donald Eugene South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont)Moeller (cont)

Defense argued that geologist erred in identifying Defense argued that geologist erred in identifying gahnite only by visual inspection. Claimed that PLM gahnite only by visual inspection. Claimed that PLM should have been used (to confirm that gahnite is should have been used (to confirm that gahnite is isotropic) and that x-ray diffraction should have been isotropic) and that x-ray diffraction should have been used to confirm. Appeals court rejected appealused to confirm. Appeals court rejected appeal

There was no discussion at trial whether the finding There was no discussion at trial whether the finding of both hornblende and gahnite near Sioux Falls was of both hornblende and gahnite near Sioux Falls was a rarity or could be due to processing after mining a rarity or could be due to processing after mining elsewhere. Bedrock of Sioux Falls contains neither elsewhere. Bedrock of Sioux Falls contains neither hornblende nor gahnite.hornblende nor gahnite.

Colorado v. Walter OsborneColorado v. Walter Osborne

Osborne botches kidnapping of Adolph Coors Osborne botches kidnapping of Adolph Coors from his ranch near Morrison and kills Coorsfrom his ranch near Morrison and kills Coors

Ranch is near “Dakota Hogback” which is Ranch is near “Dakota Hogback” which is made of Dakota sandstone underlain by gray, made of Dakota sandstone underlain by gray, green and maroon clay stones, shales, more green and maroon clay stones, shales, more sandstone and limestone. Dirt road near ranch sandstone and limestone. Dirt road near ranch was essentially eroded, pulverized components was essentially eroded, pulverized components of hogback.of hogback.

Colorado v. Walter Osborne Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)(cont)

During kidnapping, a fight broke out and During kidnapping, a fight broke out and Osborne shot Coors. Fled in Osborne’s yellow Osborne shot Coors. Fled in Osborne’s yellow Mercury with body. Fled south onto an Mercury with body. Fled south onto an unpaved road in next county. Then went west unpaved road in next county. Then went west and climbed. Road made of muddled dust; and climbed. Road made of muddled dust; pink-feldspar. Dust was granite, but compared pink-feldspar. Dust was granite, but compared to bedrock was deficient in iron and to bedrock was deficient in iron and magnesium. magnesium.

As he climbed further, came into Pike’s Peak As he climbed further, came into Pike’s Peak granite – very distinctive.granite – very distinctive.

Colorado v. Walter Osborne Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)(cont)

At 7200 ft, Osborne dumped body in dump At 7200 ft, Osborne dumped body in dump used by an Ashram. Body would not be found used by an Ashram. Body would not be found for 7 months. for 7 months.

Osborne went east and went on an unpaved Osborne went east and went on an unpaved road of black slags and drifted sands on a New road of black slags and drifted sands on a New Jersey barrier island. He hid car and torched it Jersey barrier island. He hid car and torched it with gasoline.with gasoline.

Colorado v. Walter Osborne Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)(cont)

FBI investigation turned up Osborne in New JerseyFBI investigation turned up Osborne in New Jersey Although Osborne (discovered to be Joseph Corbett, Jr) Although Osborne (discovered to be Joseph Corbett, Jr)

covered his tracks well but was writing his itinerary on the covered his tracks well but was writing his itinerary on the bottom of his car. bottom of his car.

4 depositional strata found:4 depositional strata found: 44thth contained material from around New Jersey dump where he contained material from around New Jersey dump where he

burned carburned car 33rdrd contained pink feldspars of Pike’s Peak granite – near where contained pink feldspars of Pike’s Peak granite – near where

body was foundbody was found 2nd had materials from Morrison hogback formation – around 2nd had materials from Morrison hogback formation – around

Coor’s rangchCoor’s rangch 11stst had pink feldspars of other Front Range granites – generally had pink feldspars of other Front Range granites – generally

related to Rocky Mountain Front Rangerelated to Rocky Mountain Front Range

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico CamarenaCamarena

Story of how FBI geologist, Ron Rawalt was Story of how FBI geologist, Ron Rawalt was able to determine, with certainty, where able to determine, with certainty, where Camarena body was buried, thus showing that Camarena body was buried, thus showing that Mexican govt. lied about how he was killed.Mexican govt. lied about how he was killed.

He noticed a TV report of the killings. The He noticed a TV report of the killings. The body was shown with soil clinging to it. The body was shown with soil clinging to it. The soil was obviously of a different color than the soil was obviously of a different color than the soil from the alleged burial site.soil from the alleged burial site.

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

He told the govt. that he could prove, with soil He told the govt. that he could prove, with soil analysis alone, that Mexican govt. was lying analysis alone, that Mexican govt. was lying about the murder.about the murder.

He went to Mexico and collected a spoonful of He went to Mexico and collected a spoonful of soil from Camarena body. He compared that soil from Camarena body. He compared that to the soil from the alleged burial site and to the soil from the alleged burial site and found them to be entirely different.found them to be entirely different.

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

Soil from bodySoil from body Spoke of mountainsSpoke of mountains 98% rhyolite ash (clean, high in silica, angular, vesicular) – 98% rhyolite ash (clean, high in silica, angular, vesicular) –

could be described as “airfall pumice”could be described as “airfall pumice” Bixbyite – blacker than coalBixbyite – blacker than coal Pink glass of exceptional depth and richness of color, he Pink glass of exceptional depth and richness of color, he

had never seen anything like it, except in candyhad never seen anything like it, except in candy 2 kinds of cristobalite: opalized and clear, elongate and 2 kinds of cristobalite: opalized and clear, elongate and

faceted, clear polygonal columns (octehedrons). faceted, clear polygonal columns (octehedrons). Resembled branch coral. Very rare to find both types Resembled branch coral. Very rare to find both types together.together.

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

Pinpointing locationPinpointing location Research with Geological Survey and Smithsonian Research with Geological Survey and Smithsonian

minerologists located specific location – A Jalisco minerologists located specific location – A Jalisco state park called Bosques de la Primvera. state park called Bosques de la Primvera. Cristabolite was the result of a third-event calderea Cristabolite was the result of a third-event calderea formation.formation.

Location is on upslope of mountain in park or park Location is on upslope of mountain in park or park itselfitself

Rawalt flew to Mexico as “DEA agent” (FBI Rawalt flew to Mexico as “DEA agent” (FBI agents were not allowed in to investigateagents were not allowed in to investigate

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

While Rawalt was in Mexico searching for the While Rawalt was in Mexico searching for the area of burial, FBI was approached about a area of burial, FBI was approached about a French consultant, Loic Le Ribault. He was French consultant, Loic Le Ribault. He was the head petrologist for the French national oil the head petrologist for the French national oil company and was said to be able to do things company and was said to be able to do things geologically speaking, that other people geologically speaking, that other people couldn’t do. Show him a few grains of sand couldn’t do. Show him a few grains of sand and he could tell you where they came fromand he could tell you where they came from

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

Le RibaultLe Ribault FBI tested him by giving him 3 samples:FBI tested him by giving him 3 samples:

Ash from Mt. St. HelensAsh from Mt. St. Helens Alluvium from river delta in S. Carolina related to recent murderAlluvium from river delta in S. Carolina related to recent murder Dirt from girders taken from bomb site in Beirut, LebanonDirt from girders taken from bomb site in Beirut, Lebanon

Ribault’s results:Ribault’s results: Got location of ash from Mt. St. Helens within a few miles of Got location of ash from Mt. St. Helens within a few miles of

sourcesource River basin in American SouthestRiver basin in American Southest Bekaa valley in Lebanon – soil had been subjected to explosionBekaa valley in Lebanon – soil had been subjected to explosion

Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Death of a DEA Agent: Enrico Camarena (cont)Camarena (cont)

Le Ribault’s contribution to Camarena caseLe Ribault’s contribution to Camarena case Was showed samples from park and body. He said Was showed samples from park and body. He said

“you are there, but not there”. Right elevation, but “you are there, but not there”. Right elevation, but these are samples (from park) from an area these are samples (from park) from an area washing north. The site is an area washing south. washing north. The site is an area washing south.

Sand deposited by water 4-5 ft. deep in a draw. Sand deposited by water 4-5 ft. deep in a draw. Slope of draw <10 degrees. Shade predominates.Slope of draw <10 degrees. Shade predominates.

Rawalt found exact location from this data.Rawalt found exact location from this data.