Specialist Finds No Clues at 3 Slaying Scenes in Florida
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A forensic specialist said Wednesday that the three apartments where the bodies of five college students were found are “the most difficult” crime scenes he has ever seen.
Dr. Michael West made the comment after hunting for fingerprints at the apartments with high-tech equipment. West, a dentist and deputy medical examiner from Hattiesburg, Miss., said the apartments gave clues of a careful, cautious killer.
“I’ve never been associated with a crime scene that had so many violent attacks and so little evidence left behind,” West said. “This individual that perpetrated these crimes is not your average criminal. He’s very methodical and very neat. He doesn’t leave any traces of his presence.”
West used an experimental reflective ultraviolet imaging system that intensifies light 70,000 times to examine two of the three crime scenes Tuesday for fingerprints. He returned Wednesday to look at the final apartment.
West said he has been able to turn up some fingerprints “but the odds are they belonged to the residents” of the apartments.
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