Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was found dead in 1994 aged 27, with his death ruled a suicide. But forensic specialist Jennifer Shen has raised questions about blood spatter evidence that she says doesn’t fit the official narrative
The death of Kurt Cobain is back in the spotlight following a fresh forensic review.
The Nirvana frontman was discovered dead on 5 April 1994, aged 27, from a gunshot wound in the garage of his Seattle home. At the time, investigators from the King County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as suicide by a Remington Model 11 20-gauge shotgun.
However, the case has recently hit the headlines again after an independent team of forensic scientists revisited the case and its evidence, including autopsy reports and crime scene items, claiming they found inconsistencies.
A forensic specialist has now shared her views on what she identifies as two particularly dubious aspects she uncovered whilst examining the case – both relating to the blood evidence details.
“It is a really fascinating case, and I can see why it has been discussed for years,” says Jennifer Shen, Crime Laboratory Manager for the Chula Vista Police Department, reports the Mirror US.
“It is true forensics and investigations have advanced dramatically over the past 30 years, and not all agencies had blood spatter experts of any note to assist in this type of investigation at that time.”
She does not purport to have reached any definitive conclusions, but states there are specific forensic layers that cannot be overlooked.
“There are several things to look for when determining if a suicide has been staged. I am not well versed in the mechanics of the weapon used, but it is not easy to accomplish what the suicide conclusion purported the victim did.”
Shen, who previously headed the San Diego Police Department Crime Lab, points out that toxicology findings add another layer of complexity to the case: “The large dose of heroin would make the suicide even more difficult, as the drug would be incapacitating.”
However, the most compelling element of her assessment, Shen explains, centres on examining the blood evidence: “The most interesting issue to me was the blood spatter interpretations, or lack thereof at the crime scene.
“Blood spatter reconstruction is utilized by investigators specifically to see if the evidence presented at the scene occurred as it appears. In other words, does the blood spatter present fit in with the story being told, or the picture of the scene you are presented with? It is very difficult to stage blood spatter, which is why it can be quite telling.”
Her initial worry stems from blood being absent where logic dictates it should appear: “Shotgun blasts into someone’s head are devastating injuries, with a significant amount of blood spatter, particularly on the items or body parts adjacent to the entrance wound.
“It is inconceivable there would be no blood present on the left hand of the victim, if that hand was in the direct vicinity of the entrance wound, as described in this scenario. Unless the hand was shielded by another object, blood would be present.”
The second element of concern relates to gravity and bloodstain patterns. She elaborates that “flow patterns from wounds are an important tool for crime scene reconstructionists. Blood flows from a wound with the force of gravity, and will travel in a downward direction.
“If a person is found with wounds to their face that have flowed down the front of the face and onto the front of the victim’s clothing, the victim was upright after the blood shed event to some degree.”
In this instance, blood was allegedly discovered on the front of the shirt and trousers, which, she observes, “indicates the head was over those surfaces from some period of time after the bloodshed event, which would contradict the assumption the victim shot himself lying on the floor, and had not been upright. As the gun was found lying on the victim, this is suspicious.”
Shen stops short of declaring the death a homicide outright, though she maintains the collection of discrepancies raises legitimate forensic concerns. “There are many things in this case that would leave questions. But the blood patterns are extremely important in assuring the conclusions drawn make sense. It would appear in this case, the blood was not given its due. One should be curious as to why this was ruled a suicide.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
