Week 11: Crime Scene Management – Ontario Major Case Management

Lecture Topics

  • Homicide Investigations

  • Ontario Major Case Management (MCM)

  • History and Background

  • Types of Cases Covered by MCM

  • Roles in Major Case Management

  • Policy and Procedures

  • ViClas (Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System)

Introduction to Crime Scene Management

  • A notable incident highlighted in a Fox News headline: "Naked woman, 28, drives golf cart into Florida standoff scene with armed suspect" (September 8, 2021).

Insights from Law Enforcement
Homicides

  • A detective once remarked: "Homicides? Think of them as a break and enter with violence; they go on for days." Meaning:

    • Homicides require the same skill sets as break and enter investigations.

    • They are more severe offences and progress from an initial sprint into an extended marathon of investigation.

Status of Homicide Investigations

  • Homicides are viewed with high status within the policing realm.

  • It is a prestigious area indicative of trust, experience, and ability; considered the pinnacle of a policing career for both homicide units and crime scene units.

Pressure and Expectations

  • Investigators feel significant expectations from their agencies, putting immense self-pressure.

  • Public, media, and inter-agency scrutiny leads to heightened interest.

  • Most homicides (relative to the total) are solved relatively quickly (in less than 30 days), although some cases require prolonged investigations, either at the scene or during follow-up.

Case Examples
High Profile Cases

  • Paul Bernardo:

    • From July 2009 until February 2010, he commanded the Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Canada’s largest military airbase.

    • Involved in two murders, two sexual assaults, and an estimated 85 break and enters.

Additional High-Profile Cases

  • Toronto Missing Men:

    • Between 2010 and 2017, eight men from Toronto's gay village went missing and were later murdered.

    • Bruce McArthur: Arrested in January 2018, following issues with handling missing person reports, leading to the creation of a dedicated missing persons unit.

  • Tess Richey: Missing in November 2017; her mother discovered her body nearby, with police initially claiming the death was an accident, leading to public outcry and scrutiny.

  • Robert Pickton: Confessed to killing 49 women from 1983 to 2002, resulting in over 200,000 exhibits collected. The investigation and trial costs exceeded $100 million, highlighting complexity in homicide investigations.

Skills and Techniques in Homicide Investigation

  • Photography and Video: Capturing scenes, exhibits, and aerial views.

  • Detailed Notes: Comprehensive documentation is essential.

  • Autopsy Procedures: Adherence to homicide protocol.

  • Exhibits: Collection of multiple exhibits, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.

  • Sketches and Drawings: Detailed observations of every room at the scene.

Specialized Skills/Units

  1. Bloodstain pattern analysis

  2. Scene processing for DNA, fingerprints, footwear, and trace evidence

  3. Lab submissions to the Centre of Forensic Sciences

  4. Disclosure: Keeping investigations full, complete, and ready to present in court, as court appearances may take multiple days, including preliminary hearings, trials, appeals, and potential retrials.

Homicide Investigation Standards in Ontario

  • Most homicides are apparent, but suspicious deaths follow specific protocols until autopsies confirm or disprove homicide.

  • Investigations must comply with the Major Case Management (MCM) system, which is a comprehensive approach emphasizing accountability and multi-disciplinary engagement.

Overview of Ontario Major Case Management (MCM)

  • Definition: The Major Case Management (MCM) System is a case management methodology prioritizing accountability and collaboration across policing entities involved in significant case investigations.

  • Components of MCM:

    • Centralized coordinating body

    • Investigative standards covering all procedural areas

    • Standardized training for investigators

    • Common technology for case management to suit all Ontario police services during investigations.

    • Ensures coordination of law enforcement agencies in multi-jurisdictional cases.

Objectives and Benefits of MCM

  • Enhanced tracking, sorting, and analysis of vast information networks related to crimes (names, locations, vehicles, phone numbers, etc.).

  • Streamlined investigations to identify connections between cases, thereby minimizing the chances of serial offenders evading capture.

  • Aims to prevent crime by reducing potential victim counts through timely apprehension of offenders.

Historical Context of MCM

  • Established post-investigation issues surrounding Paul Bernardo’s case (convicted in 1995).

  • The Campbell Inquiry (1996) uncovered issues such as:

    • Lack of cooperation among agencies

    • Poor communication protocols

    • Need for shared automated case management software.

The Bernardo Investigation

  • Green Ribbon Task Force: Comprised police from Halton, Niagara, and Toronto.

    • Initially worked independently despite direct connections between incidents.

  • Key Events:

    • May 1987: First of 14 sexual assaults attributed to Bernardo as the “Scarborough Rapist.”

    • November 1990: Bernardo was interrogated by Toronto Police and provided DNA samples.

    • December 1992: Delay in DNA testing of samples by the Centre for Forensic Sciences led to further complications in investigation efforts.

Related Incidents

Peel Region Incident Timeline

  • May 29, 1988: Young woman sexually assaulted in Mississauga, initially unconnected to ongoing investigations, DNA later linked them.

Niagara Region Incidents

  • December 1990: Tammy Homolka dies after being drugged and sexually assaulted; her death initially ruled an accident.

    • April 6, 1991: Another sexual assault incident on Henley Island.

    • June 1991: Leslie Mahaffy, a 14-year-old, abducted and later found deceased, leading to the formation of the Green Ribbon Task Force for investigation.

  • Kristen French's Abduction: Following Mahaffy’s case, she was abducted on April 16, 1992, and discovered deceased, escalating the urgency for improved investigative strategies.

Investigative Failures and Recommendations

  • The investigation revealed failures in search strategy, leading to missed evidence and potential opportunities to capture suspects sooner.

  • Recommendation: Major searches should utilize officers with combined experience from different specialties to enhance effectiveness.

Roles within Major Case Management (MCM)

  • Major Case Manager:

    • Overall responsibility for the investigation, determining strategies and ensuring compliance with the MCM manual.

  • Primary Investigator:

    • Reports to the Major Case Manager, responsible for resource identification and task assignment.

  • Scene Investigator:

    • Selected by the Primary Investigator, oversees the control and assessment of the crime scene and development of investigation plans.

  • Forensic Identification Officer:

    • Handles all forensic functions, collaborates closely with Scene Investigators, and manages exhibit evidence.

Policies and Procedures in MCM
Initial Crime Scene Functions

  • Best practices to ensure health and safety while preserving evidence throughout the investigation stages.

  • A comprehensive continuity register must be maintained until scene release, preventing contamination of evidence especially when suspects are involved.

Evidence Management

  • Officers must be trained to minimize cross-contamination when gathering evidence across multiple crime scenes.

  • Use of protective clothing is advised to prevent evidence transfer.

ViClas: Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System

  • Development: Initiated by the RCMP in the early 1990’s, creating a national database for coordinated crime analysis.

  • Functionality: Designed to link and compare violent crimes through victimology, suspect profiles, methods, and forensic data to identify serial offenses.

  • Requirements: Effective February 15, 1997, the Police Services Act of Ontario mandates that all investigative officers complete ViCLAS reports corresponding to similar criteria as MCM cases, aligned with Campbell Inquiry recommendations.

Future Lectures

  • Next Week (Week 12): Death Investigations

  • Week 13: Final lecture discussing the past, present, and future trajectory of Crime Scene Investigations, including inquests, reports, and novel techniques. Final exam discussion and preparation.