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1200
13th Century China
The first case ever recorded using forensic science. Someone was stabbed and all the knives were collected and flies were attracted to only one knive, making the suspect confess. -
Mathieu Orfila
"Father of Forensic Toxicology"
Published 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 burgulary 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 to 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
Received Nobel Peace Prize -
Edmond Locard
Incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime lab
Became 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 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
