NCJ Number
139631
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1992) Pages: 35-38
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Occult crime scene processing is similar to other criminal investigations that involve photography, fingerprints, and trace evidence collection.
Abstract
Occult refers to people involved in the supernatural; these people vary in terms of the level of danger they pose to society. Occult groups involved in witchcraft and Satanism may not be engaged in criminal activity. Other occult groups, however, may be involved in vandalizing property, abusing children, committing burglaries, and sacrificing animals and even humans. Members of criminal occult groups may believe they are protected by some evil force. The scene of an occult crime should be accurately recorded. Photographs should be taken before any evidence is unnecessarily removed. Infrared photography may be useful in obtaining hidden evidence. Latent fingerprints should be obtained, and handwritten notes and sketches may also provide useful evidence. Blood and body fluid examination and analysis should be performed, particularly since ritualistic bloodletting is performed by some groups using animals and humans. It may also be necessary to excavate and recover buried evidence. Common types of evidence found in the course of occult crime investigations include altars, black plastic, body parts, bones, booby traps, bowls, burnt trees or animals, cages, stakes, candles, chalices, circles or triangles, knives, swords, pentagrams, potions, and syringes. Police officers must be adequately trained in the investigation of occult crimes.