ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 16

Time and Distance as Solvability Factors in Murder Cases
Weis, JG
Professor, University of Washington, WA

Keppel, RD
Chief Criminal Investigator, Washington State Attorney General's Office, WA

(Received 1 April 1993; accepted 26 July 1993)

Abstract

There is no empirical research on solvability factors in murder investigations. This paper analyzes data collected in the first study to provide such, focusing specifically on the extent to which information on time and distance among locations of a murder incident are related to solvability. The results show that the more information on the times and distances separating where the victim was last seen, the location of the original contact between the victim and the killer, where the initial assault occurred, the murder site, and the body recovery site the more likely a murder case will be solved. These findings have profound implications for the management and conduction of murder investigations.

Keywords:
criminalistics, murder investigation

Paper ID: JFS13610J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13610J
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