Dr. William Rodriguez (Forensic Anthropologist with Dept of Defense Armed Forces)
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wenwe4
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Sat. 6/18/11
JB w/Dr. William Rodriguez III, here as an unpaid consultant.....give occupation...forensic anthropologist...dept. of Defense ME office in Wash. DC, US Armed Forces ME office for 23 yrs, forensic anthro. for Onandaga Syracuse NY before that....Doctorate 1985 professional Caddo Parrish Coroner office served 2/3 State of Louisiana....co=founder of the Body Farm....started that with Wm. Bass (Vass) from U of Tenn....talking about time since death in early 80's discussing how to get better understand of human decomp....Dr. Bass said only way was to research experiments - recruited first decomp facility....put up first fences, laid concrete, brought bodies in....he was Sr. author on first publications.....extensive experience in 3 yrs in Caddo Parrish - subtropical climate...decomp evident due to heat/humid/insects....upstate NY similar types of bodies...during 23 yrs. w/Govt....traveled whole world seen various bodies in various stages of decay......Taphonomy - study of breakdown of organism after death and recycled by nature....how many publications....2 from body farm, one chapter in Med/Legal invest. by Spitz & Fisher, numerous papers to Nat. Acadm of Forensic Science.....forensic entomology began roots in Europe....time of decomp research @decay facility @ U of Tenn that the forensic entomology movement got started....Dr. Lee Golf (?) from Hawaii very interested in this reserach...look @ insect activity...helped them found the board of American Entomology....insects and decomp.....lectured on entomology, taphonomy, and forensic anthropology.....lectured 100 or more times.....Dr. Rodriguiz admitted as expert? how many times qualified in entomology? not .....JA objects to this...agrees to taphonomy and forensic anthro but not the entomology.....JB argues that entomology began from.....Sidebar!
mombomb
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8:42
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR. BILL RODRIGUEZ BY JB:
He is here as an unpaid consultant.
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
He is a forensic anthropologist at the Department of Defense, Armed Forces, Medical examiner's office for 23 years. Here as an unpaid consultant.
BA and MA and PhD from University of Tennessee in 1985.
Co-founder of Body Farm. Dr. Vass was his chief mentor professor at UT. Dr. Vass recruited him into the project to actually build the facility and start the research. He was the senior author on the first publications.
He's had extensive experience with human decomp in his experience with the M.E.'s offices he has worked at and his Armed Services.
Taphonomy is the study of the breakdown of the organism after death and he has extensive research in that are. 2 publications on this from the Body Farm and a chapter in Smitz and Fischer book, also numerous papers on a yearly basis.
Body Farm was the starting of forensic entomology in U.S.
Helped found the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
Has been a witness in Court around 100 times.
Witness tendered as expert in taphonomy, entomology and forensic anthropology.
VOIR DIRE BY JA
He has not been qualified as an expert in the specific field of entomology.
JA has no objection to taphonomy and forensic anthropology - not entomology.
JB - he has helped establish the American Board of Entomology.
Sidebar #1 8:56
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR. BILL RODRIGUEZ BY JB:
He is here as an unpaid consultant.
OBJECTION - SUSTAINED
He is a forensic anthropologist at the Department of Defense, Armed Forces, Medical examiner's office for 23 years. Here as an unpaid consultant.
BA and MA and PhD from University of Tennessee in 1985.
Co-founder of Body Farm. Dr. Vass was his chief mentor professor at UT. Dr. Vass recruited him into the project to actually build the facility and start the research. He was the senior author on the first publications.
He's had extensive experience with human decomp in his experience with the M.E.'s offices he has worked at and his Armed Services.
Taphonomy is the study of the breakdown of the organism after death and he has extensive research in that are. 2 publications on this from the Body Farm and a chapter in Smitz and Fischer book, also numerous papers on a yearly basis.
Body Farm was the starting of forensic entomology in U.S.
Helped found the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
Has been a witness in Court around 100 times.
Witness tendered as expert in taphonomy, entomology and forensic anthropology.
VOIR DIRE BY JA
He has not been qualified as an expert in the specific field of entomology.
JA has no objection to taphonomy and forensic anthropology - not entomology.
JB - he has helped establish the American Board of Entomology.
Sidebar #1 8:56
mombomb
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Sidebar over (8:56-9:00)
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR BILL RODRIGUEZ BY JB - continued
Early in decomp research at Body Farm, his primary area of study was looking at and documenting the insects that inhabit the body. Throughout his career he has done extensive work in this area.
He has consulted with LE hundreds of times.
JB tenders witness as expert.
JA does not want him to testify in the broader area.
HHJBP - witness is accepted.
He was given the documents and records pertaining to the ME report and findings and examinations of the deceased, the forensic anthropology report, the entomological report of Dr. Haskel, and photos of the recovery and the scene and the remains at the ME's office.
He also examined photos of the ME taken of the skull.
Evidence collection of remains appeared to be thorough. Difficult in a wooded environment. He did notice that he did not see trying to determine the exact location of where the body may have initially been placed - something he normally does on a regular basis due to being outdoors. This is important because that area is where, as the body decomposes, they will find various types of trace evidence, teeth, fibers. Gives better idea of where the body may have been initially placed.
In looking for those areas, if you have a skeleton is disbursed....
OBJECTION BY JA - wants to VOIR DIRE
SIDEBAR #2 (9:06)
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR BILL RODRIGUEZ BY JB - continued
Early in decomp research at Body Farm, his primary area of study was looking at and documenting the insects that inhabit the body. Throughout his career he has done extensive work in this area.
He has consulted with LE hundreds of times.
JB tenders witness as expert.
JA does not want him to testify in the broader area.
HHJBP - witness is accepted.
He was given the documents and records pertaining to the ME report and findings and examinations of the deceased, the forensic anthropology report, the entomological report of Dr. Haskel, and photos of the recovery and the scene and the remains at the ME's office.
He also examined photos of the ME taken of the skull.
Evidence collection of remains appeared to be thorough. Difficult in a wooded environment. He did notice that he did not see trying to determine the exact location of where the body may have initially been placed - something he normally does on a regular basis due to being outdoors. This is important because that area is where, as the body decomposes, they will find various types of trace evidence, teeth, fibers. Gives better idea of where the body may have been initially placed.
In looking for those areas, if you have a skeleton is disbursed....
OBJECTION BY JA - wants to VOIR DIRE
SIDEBAR #2 (9:06)
mombomb
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SIDEBAR #2 over (9:06-9:07)
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR. RODRIGUEZ BY JB - continued
To determine the initial site, they would look for evidence of decomp fluid leakage. They would also see insect evidence.
He's looked at numerous cases where the body has been bound with duct tape.
SIDEBAR #3 (9:11-9:17)
DIRECT EXAMINATION OF DR. RODRIGUEZ BY JB - continued
To determine the initial site, they would look for evidence of decomp fluid leakage. They would also see insect evidence.
He's looked at numerous cases where the body has been bound with duct tape.
SIDEBAR #3 (9:11-9:17)
wenwe4
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CM wants HHBP to say something to the jury about change of faces on the witness stand....HHBP said what do you want me to tell them the truth? Let cm tell them and Mr. Ashton gets to say something after that...cm wants last word...HHBP will say something...
bring jurors in....going to take another witness ...dr. rodriguiz will be back on Monday but accomodate another witness from out of town...
Dr. Werner Spitz....w/CM tothe stand
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