Burning the House Case Study

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 fire

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 confidently 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. The record cold—the

coldest morning to date that winter—gave rise to a light snow slowly blanketing the entire state for the first

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 what happened?” she dryly asked Adley as she tried to maneuver closer to the extinguished blaze.

“There was a fire,” Adley recounted. “There was a real bad fire.”

“Thanks 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 dig through 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 Thomas and I

officially broke it off a little over  months ago. Given...