Articles: Staged Crime Scenes

By Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S.

• Former Commander, Bronx Homicide, NYPD
• Published in LAW and ORDER Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 2, February 1996
• Purpose: Alert investigators to the phenomena of The Staged Crime Scene.

Definition and Importance of Staging

• Staging: Conscious criminal action to mislead authorities and/or redirect an investigation.
• Should not be confused with reactions of surviving family members in traumatic situations.
• Initial "gut" feelings in investigations are subconscious alerts to potential staging.

Equivocal Death Investigations

• Open to interpretation, may present as either homicide or suicide.
• Can appear as accidents or natural deaths, requiring further investigation.

Types of Crime Scene Staging

1. Suicide or Accident Staging: Perpetrator alters the scene to look like a suicide/accident instead of murder.
2. Sex-related Homicide Staging: Scene manipulated to appear as a sex-related crime.

Examples of Staged Crime Scenes

Case History 1

• Incident: Wrongful death suit against an insurance company claiming suicide.
• Evidence: Crime scene indicated a staged suicide; issues with police investigation.
• Key Points:
  • Deceased had future plans inconsistent with suicidal behavior.
  • Missing property and money post-death.
  • Police failed to conduct thorough investigation.
  • Conclusion: Crime scene staged to mislead investigators.

Case History 2

• Incident: Accidental shooting reported but inconsistencies found.
• Evidence: Gun fired from distance, negative GSR test, scene staged.
• Key Points:
  • Initial classification discouraged overtime, affecting investigation.
  • Inconsistency in witness statements revealed the truth.
  • Conclusion: Staging led to initial misclassification; resulted in charges of murder.

Case History 3

• Incident: Suicide reported by husband, but evidence suggested homicide.
• Evidence: Bruising and petechial hemorrhages indicated strangulation.
• Key Points:
  • Husband staged drowning scene.
  • Quick identification of homicide due to investigator's observations.
  • Conclusion: Scene staged to buy time; husband confessed.

Case History 4

• Incident: Reported knife attack misleading to sex-related homicide.
• Evidence: Scene inconsistencies and superficial injuries pointed to husband.
• Key Points:
  • Discrepancies in burglary and sexual assault claims.
  • Conclusion: Husband charged with murder based on investigation.

Case History 5

• Incident: Staged burglary scene with evidence of interpersonal dispute.
• Evidence: Hairbrush insertion, no forced entry, staged ransack.
• Key Points:
  • Ex-husband suspected due to broken alibi.
  • Conclusion: Scene staged to mislead; ex-husband found guilty.

Conclusion

• Death investigators must be aware of potential staging.
• Increasing prevalence as public awareness of death investigation grows.
• Importance of thorough investigation and skepticism of initial appearances.