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1200 BCE
13th Century China
First case recorded using forensic science. Someone was stabbed so all of the knives in the village were collected. Flies were attracted to the traces of blood and landed on only one of the knives, causing the suspect to confess. -
Mathieu Orfila
The "Father of Forensic Toxicology". He published the first paper on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals. -
William Herschel
Used thumbprints on documents to identify workers in India -
Alphonse Bertillon
"Father of Criminal Investigation". Developed Anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals. -
Henry Faulds
Uses fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published his first Sherlock Holmes story; Considered the first "CSI", featured in four novels and 56 short stories, popularized scientific crime-detection methods. -
Francis Galton
Published "Finger Prints". Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification. Gave proof of their uniqueness. -
Hans Gross
Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. Published "Criminal Investigation" -
Karl Landsteiner
Discovered ABO groups, later received Nobel Prize -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Cross' principles within a workable crime lab; became the founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, France. -
Albert S. Osborn
Published "Questioned Documents". Developed the fundamental principles of document examination -
Leone Lattes
Developed a method for determining blood type from dried blood -
August Vollmer
Established the first crime lab in the United States, located in Los Angeles -
Calvin Goddard
Developed a comparison microscope; first used to compare bullets to see if fired from same weapon
