How to Commit the Perfect Murder

Book excerpt: Today, most murder crimes can be detected through DNA analysis and the assistance of forensic scientists like pathologists, toxicologists and ballistic experts. So, the question must be asked, can a criminal, using the knowledge of forensic science to their own advantage, reduce their percentage of detection, in order to commit the perfect murder? If a criminal knew exactly what investigators were looking for at a crime scene could they use that to avoid detection? Crime Scene Analysis is a documented and forensic process. Fortunately, most murderers do not approach their crimes in a scientific manner. But, if you thought like a forensic scientist, is it possible to commit the perfect murder? The idea of committing the perfect murder, by which I mean, committing a murder and not being apprehended, is the ultimate intellectual challenge. A select few have endeavoured to put theory into practice. Some have succeeded. A few experts will reluctantly admit that there might be a way to get away with murder. They say it would require an undetectable weapon, a perfect location to commit the crime and an ingenious way to dispose of the body. There are many pitfalls a criminal can avoid by studying forensic science, just as there are many ways a poisoner can evade capture by studying toxicology. For example, did you know that the greatest source of evidence in a murder case is extracted from the victim's body? Forensic science will use an autopsy to determine the time of death; the victim's last meal; the manner of death; the weapon used; maybe even the actual weapon itself. Marks on the body will assist the pathologist in this regard. All of this information, pieced together, will bring them closer to catching the culprit. But there are ways to avoid this. There are ways of killing a person without leaving any marks on the body. There are ways to avoid leaving your DNA at the crime scene. There are ways to dispose of the body so that it will never be recovered, at least not in your lifetime. Even as you read this book, someone, somewhere is committing the perfect murder. They will never be caught and forensic science, although it has greatly enhanced detection rates, is not yet fool proof. Despite what you may have read elsewhere that the perfect murder exists only in Crime Fiction novels the fact is, that thousands of perfect murders are committed every year. Dr. Harold Shipman is the world's most prolific serial killer who killed over one thousand of his patients before making some some basic mistakes which resulted in his capture. It was only when his motive became one of greed that he was caught. Up to that point he had committed a thousand perfect murders. So yes, it is possible to commit the perfect murder. How? Well, let's say it's complicated