Advanced Forensics

Monday, February 9, 2015

Fire / Arson Assignment

Google Presentation

Working with a partner, find an arson case that meets one of the following criteria:

Case that resulted in a conviction.

Case that resulted in a conviction that was later overturned.
Case that resulted in an acquittal.

Requirements: Google Doc AND Google Presentation:

NOTE:

I must see evidence of collaboration!

Describe the crime in detail
Identify all case evidence
Discuss the events of the trial
Describe the case outcome
Discuss your opinion of the case
Include images and or a video

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Amanda Gutweiler

Jason Moises Avila , Brian Rego

Fire / Arson Case Analysis

Amanda Gutweiler

CASE: On Jan 9, 2001 Amanda Gutweiler left her three children Sadii Plumm, 10, Luke Hayden, 6, and Jessica Gutweiler, 3 alone at home while she briefly left to cash checks. When she got back her house was on fire and all three children died in the fire.

TRIAL: Original indicted for 3 counts of first degree murder. She was in jail for 4 years and was going to face the death penalty until in 2006 the indictment was thrown out. She pleaded guilty to 3 counts of negligent homicide and sentenced to five years but because she had spent 4-years incarcerated awaiting trial, she was released with time served.

OUTCOME: Amanda Gutweiler is now free and she has remarried.

EVIDENCE: The only evidence that they had against Amanda Gutweiler was that the concrete in the house had spalling marks which is a sign that an accelerant was used.

OPINION: Theres so much more questions that this case raised and seems like a really vague case

Work Cited

https://everythingcenla.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/9-years-later-amanda-gutweiler-kelly-sentenced-in-death-of-children/

http://cenlamar.com/2010/05/07/amanda-kelley-case-profiled-on-abcs-2020/

https://archive.org/details/AmandaGutweilerHypesKelleyAllegedArsonCase

http://thearsonproject.org/case-studies/amanda-gutweiler/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXBQ2TXehkM