Notes from Lecture on Crime Investigation and Forensic Science

Case Overview

• Incident: Young woman, Judy Blake Moylan, killed on last day of hunting season while walking her dogs.
• Location: Upper Peninsula of Michigan, sparsely populated woodland area.
• Initial Assumption: Accidental shooting by a hunter.

Investigation Details

Initial Findings

• Judy found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest; bullet initially not recovered.
• Witnesses heard a rifle shot around 2 pm.
• Bullet trajectory suspected after a mark found on a nearby tree.

Suspicions Around Bruce Moylan

• **Relationship and Behavior: ** Judy’s husband, Bruce, had suspicious behavior post incident.
  • Provided a list of 28 alibis for the day of the incident.
  • Made unusual statements and inappropriate advances towards women shortly after Judy's death.
  • Gave away Judy’s clothing, which included a suspicious letter allegedly from Judy.

Handwriting Analysis

• Letter Analysis: Judged a forgery by forensic document examiners.
  • Handwriting was slow and deliberate; inconsistent with Judy’s writing style.
  • Electrostatic analysis revealed practice writing of the letter.

Unexplained Events from the Past

• Judy had prior near-fatal incidents:
  • Head injury from a chimney block accident.
  • House fire while she was alone.

Forensic Evidence and Experimentation

Bullet and Trajectory Analysis

• Search for Bullet: Initially unsuccessful, bullet later found using a slingshot experiment.
  • Slingshot used to determine bullet trajectory; found bullet 80-85 feet from the tree.
  • Bullet contained fibers matching Judy’s clothing and jacket.

Gun and Financial Evidence

• Identified possible rifle types that could match the bullet.
• Bruce had an undisclosed rifle listed as collateral in financial records.

Motive and Confession

Financial Motive

• Judy had $300,000 life insurance.
• Bruce aimed to gain financially and avoid divorce settlements.

Confession and Trial

• Bruce confessed after forensic evidence and emotional pressure.
• Trial found Bruce guilty of premeditated murder.
• Sentenced to life in prison.

Conclusion

• Impact of Forensic Science: Central to solving the case and convicting Bruce.

• Importance of Investigative Techniques: Innovative bullet trajectory recreation and document examination pivotal in the investigation.

• Lessons Learned: Forensic evidence can uncover hidden truths and bring justice even in seemingly accidental situations.