-
1201
13th Century China
In the Washing Away of Wrongs, the first documented forensic entomology case was reported. This case was basically a stabbing that took place in a Chinese village. By testing different blades on an animal carcass, it was determined that the wound was caused by a sickle. Each peasant in the village had a sickle so it was concluded that a peasant had committed the crime. -
William Herschel
Sir William James Herschel was a British ICS officer in India who used fingerprints for identification on contracts. -
Alphonse Bertillon
Alphonse Bertillon aka the "Father of Criminal Identification" was a police officer and bio metrics researcher who applied the anthropological technique to law enforcement. Bertillon had a hand in creating an identification system based on physical measurements. This was the first scientific system used by police to identify criminals -
Henry Faulds
Henry used fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect. -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published his first Sherlock Holmes story; Considered the first "CSI", featured in four novels and 56 short stories, popularized scientific crime-detection methods. -
Francis Galton
Published "Finger Prints". Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classifications. Gave proof of their uniqueness. -
Hans Gross
Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. Published criminal Investigation. -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups, later received the Nobel Prize. -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab; became the founder and director of the institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, France. -
Albert S. Osborn
Published "Questioned Documents". Developed the fundamental principles of document examination. -
Mathieu Orfila
Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila is know as the "Father of Toxicology." Orfila was the first to examine body fluids in relations to crimes Orfila had a hand in developing tests and routines to test bodily fluids. He was first people to use a microscope to assess blood and semen stains. In addition, Orfila worked to improve public health systems and medical training. -
Leone Lattes
Developed a method for determining blood type from dried blood. -
August Vollmer
Established the First Crime Lab in the United States, located in Los Angeles. -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope; first used to compare bullets to see if they were fired form the same weapon.
