THE FORENSICS OF BOMBS

ENERGETIC MATERIAL
A material which can undergo a self-sustaining
chemical reaction which gives off heat, rapidly
releasing a large amount of energy
Rapid - decomposition can occur in
fractions of a second
Reactions turn solids and liquids into
superheated gases almost instantaneously

FORMS OF ENERGY RELEASE

Heat

Light

Sound

TYPES OF ENERGETIC MATERIAL

Pyrotechnics
Propellants
Explosives

PYROTECHNICS
PURPOSE:
Create Smoke, Light, and Heat
EXAMPLES:
Display Fireworks
Road Flares
Smoke Grenades
Thermites

PROPELLANTS
PURPOSE:
Produce Controlled Gas Release
EXAMPLES:
Black & Smokeless Powder, Rocket
Fuel

Propellants or Low Explosives

Black Powder
KNO3, C, S

Pyrodex - BP Substitute

Smokeless Powder

Examples of High
Explosives:
Dynamite
C-4
TNT
ANFO

EXPLOSION
It seems unnecessary to define explosion, for
everyone knows what it is-

A loud noise and the sudden

going away of things from the
place where they have been.

EXPLOSIVE EFFECTS

EXPLOSIVE EFFECTS

Effects of Explosions
FRAGMENTATION EFFECT
Primary Fragmentation - Originates From the Device Itself
Secondary Fragmentation - Items in Close Proximity to the
Device (rocks, glass, etc )

Effects of Explosions
INCENDIARY or THERMAL EFFECT

Effects of Explosions
Blast Effects
Positive Pressure Phase/ Shock Wave
Negative Pressure Phase

Van Gogh Effect

Ears do not Rip Off Heads

Bodies Disassemble at ~ 350 psi

Heads are Well Made & Rugged

6-7,000 feet/sec. ?

Low Velocity Propellant (Good for Black

Powder)

Even 6 7 thousand fps way too high

IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE ON SITE

WHAT IS AN IED?

A Device Comprising Commercially Available

or Homemade Components in Conjunction with
Explosive Material Designed to Function
Unconventionally

IED COMPONENTS
- Power Source:
Battery, Capacitor
- Conductor:
Electrical Wiring
-Switch:
Mousetrap, Magnetic Reed Switch
- Load:
Explosive/Incendiary Material

TYPES of IEDs
Mail Bombs
Large Vehicle Bombs

Command Detonated
Roadside IED

What Survives?
Bomb Components
Pieces of the Container

What Survives?
Bomb Components
Pieces of the Container
Forensic Evidence

Oklahoma City Bombing

SCENE PERIMETERS

Evidence Recovery
Rear axle of a truck
with a CVIN

Replica of the Ryder Truck

No Clue too Small

Ignition key for a

Ford vehicle recovered
behind the YMCA

CHARGE SIZE

DEVICE COMPONENTS

Evidence Recovery
White and blue plastic
fragments
Recovered from
rooftop of the Journal
Records Building and
the Murrah Federal
Building

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Terry Lynn Nichols

A search of his home in Kansas revealed:

55 gal. Plastic barrels

A receipt for 2,000 lbs. of
3 empty bags of ammonium
fertilizer
nitrate fertilizer
A key to a rental locker
Detonator cord
A map detailing an
$5,228 hidden under mattress escape route

Martin Marietta Burglary

Theft of explosives from a
rock quarry between 9/28 &
10/3

Search of Nichols Home

Makita drill and drill bits
were also recovered

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Search of Nichols Home

Toolmark identification of drill
bit with the hole in the lock from
the Martin Marietta quarry theft

CHEMICAL TRACE EVIDENCE

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