Caso 2 Quimicaforense

Burning Down the House:
A Case Study in Forensic Instrumental Analysis
by
Adam M. Boyd and Randolph K. Larsen III
Chemistry and Biochemistry
St. Mary’s College of Maryland

As Dr. Marie Stanforth steered her cumbersome suv into an unoccupied space at the scene of the latest fi re
in upstate Michigan, she instantly recognized the address. It was the current residence of her ex-husband.Yet,
with the same calm and collected demeanor with which she approached every crime scene she ever visited,
Dr. Stanforth confi dently opened the door of her car and walked purposefully towards the extinguished blaze.
Her boots crunched through a thin layer of snow as she trudged toward the scene. Th e record cold—the
coldest morning to date that winter—gave rise to a light snow slowlyblanketing the entire state for the fi rst
time that year. Marie marveled at how snow seemed to cover everything in a forgiving white veil. “Poor jerk,”
she thought to herself as she approached the smoldering blaze with her hands tucked in the pockets of her
heaviest parka. “I wonder where he’s going to live now.” Before she reached the scene, however, she was met
by her partner, Adley.
“So whathappened?” she dryly asked Adley as she tried to maneuver closer to the extinguished blaze.
“Th ere was a fi re,” Adley recounted. “Th ere was a real bad fi re.”
“Th anks for the update, partner,” Marie laughed as she put her hand on Adley’s shoulder. “Let’s have a look,”
she added as she tried to push her way past Adley’s outstretched arms. “Last time I checked we still got paid
poorly to digthrough ashes and play around with chemicals in a lab…. Why are you blocking me?”
“I think there is something you need to hear,” said Adley as he grabbed hold of Marie’s arm.
“Look,” Marie retorted, as she looked down at her arm and then pried it loose from Adley’s grasp, “I know
what you’re going to say. One of the higher-ups is going to take me off this case because Th omas and I
offi ciallybroke it off a little over  months ago. Given my emotional state, yada yada yada, I shouldn’t have
anything to do with the investigation—got it. I just feel bad that he’s going to have to fi nd someplace else to
live. Can we go do our jobs now?”
“It’s diff erent than that, Marie.”
“How is it diff erent? Look, Ad, newsfl ash: that was a year ago. It was over with Th omas about four days afterit got started, so if you don’t mind I’d like to have a look at the crime scene before we both freeze to death.”
With that Marie pushed past her partner and walked intently toward the roped off scene.
“Tom is dead,” Adley half muttered, forcing out the words as he choked on them. “I didn’t know how to tell
you. He died in the fi re.”
Marie turned slowly around to look her partner in the eye.Her head cocked to the side as her grey eyes
appeared focused on something off in the distance. “He’s dead? Tom is dead?”
“He couldn’t make it out in time. Fire squad found him face down on his mattress. It looks like he tried to
make his way out of his room, but the smoke was too dense. We won’t know exactly what happened until
we get the autopsy back from the coroner. Look, Marie, you’realready off the case. Chief already came down
here fi rst thing this morning to make sure everybody knew. At the moment, the only thing you can do is go
down to the station and talk to the police. Th ey want to question you.”
“What are you saying?” Marie asked despondently, hoping for Adley to change his story.
“You know what I’m saying,” said Adley, his breath clouding up in front of his face ashe stared through her.
“Th ey want to question you about the fi re. Th ey think it was arson. You’re a suspect.”
Th e fi nal jab caught Marie off guard. Everything inside of her wanted to scream—her impeccable service
record would be stained by unfounded charges. Instead she looked weakly at Adley and then trudged slowly
back to her car.
When Marie arrived for questioning at the police...