Lecture Notes: Forensic Science and the Kathy Woodhouse Case

Key Themes

• Use of hosiery in criminal investigations
• Importance of forensic evidence
• Eyewitness reliability vs forensic evidence

Introduction to the Case

• Location: Heron, Illinois
• Uncommon murder in the area; police initially thought the 9-1-1 call was a prank
• Call traced to a payphone near a dry cleaning store

Crime Scene Details

• Victim: Kathy Woodhouse, a 40-year-old mother of three
• Found beaten to death with a mop ringer; signs of sexual assault
• Pantyhose found at the scene, possibly used as a disguise by the killer

Investigation Developments

• Eyewitness reports: a Caucasian man, 6 feet tall, seen in the store
• A check found at the scene linked to a customer who had visited that day
• Eyewitness described a man who was not the initial suspect, leading to composite sketches

Forensic Evidence Collection

• Autopsy Results: Death by blunt force trauma, sexual assault
• Non-secretor: Biological materials collected could not identify blood type due to the suspect being a non-secretor (20% of population)
• Fingerprint analysis: Payphone used for the 911 call was processed with super glue fuming and dye techniques

Leads and Suspects

• Initial suspect was a construction worker who made an obscene phone call to Kathy the day before her murder; had an alibi
• Anonymous tip led to investigation of Paul Taylor, a recently released convict with a background in sexual assault
• Evidence gathered included a pair of women’s pantyhose found in Taylor's home

Forensic Comparison of Evidence

• Forensic microscopist compared fibers from the pantyhose found at the crime scene and in Taylor's home
• Similarities found in knitting patterns and chemical properties (titanium dioxide)
• Taylor's fingerprint matched the print found at the payphone

Arrest and Confession

• Paul Taylor arrested after leaving a concert; displayed nonchalance about being followed
• Initially denied involvement; later confessed to murder and robbery, but denied sexual assault
• Confession revealed Taylor was a non-secretor, consistent with biological evidence from the crime scene

Legal Outcomes

• Convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison without parole
• Family's reaction to the verdict and impact of the crime on their lives

Conclusion

• Highlights the critical role of forensic science in solving crimes when eyewitness accounts are unreliable
• Collaboration among various law enforcement agencies was pivotal
• Reflection on the broader implications of forensic evidence in criminal justice

Final Thoughts

• Importance of forensic evidence in achieving justice
• Recognition of the emotional impact on victims' families from violent crimes.