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1300
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. When someone was stabbed, 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
Considered "Father of toxicology". He was a chemist who published the first scientific 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 Identification". Developed Anthropometry which uses body measurements to distinguish individuals. -
Henry Faulds
Uses fingerprints to eliminate an innocent burglary suspect. -
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Published the first Sherlock Holmes story; considered the first "CSI" featured four novels and 56 short sories, 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 the ABO blood groups, later received a Nobel Prize -
Albert S. Osborn
Published "Questioned Documents." Developed the fundamental principles of document examination -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab; became the founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons, France. -
Leon Lattes
Developed a method for determining blood typed 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 the same weapon