Police report after attempted rape

[callalily61]

A bit explicit, so click off now if it'll bother you.

















How miserable can I make my MC? He dragged her into the bushes, ripped off her shirt and bra, then grabbed her crotch and dug one hand into her breast. She escaped (broke his nose), and is now at the police station. He left gouges in her breast--would she need to have photos taken of the injury for evidence if they catch him and prosecute?

It'd be very good for the plot and character development (long story) if she had to do this, but this is present-day and I want it to be as accurate as possible. If this wouldn't happen, then I won't write in the photos.

Thanks!

[joyce]

I've never experienced this in real life but I would think the police would take pictures of everything for evidence. They seem to take pictures of everything else, blood, dead bodies, etc. So taking a picture of a damaged breast would seem very usual to me. I would not question it as not being a truth if I read it.

[callalily61]

Thanks! (Well, I thank you, she doesn't, if you know what I mean.)

[kristie911]

Yes, they would absolutely take pictures of the wounds. They would probably also take evidence from her person. Scrapings from under her nails, whether or not she scratched him because many times the woman would have scratched him without being aware of it. Also, they'd probably take her clothing for evidence, including any dirt, leaves, grass that was stuck to it or even what might be stuck in her hair. All of that evidence would support her claim that he attacked her. Not to mention there would probably be blood on her clothes from his broken nose. They would almost always take her to the hospital for this process with a detective, so a doctor could catalogue her injuries and a nurse can be present for the evidence collection...it's not like she'd go through all this alone in a room with a detective.

[callalily61]

Kristie, you are awesome. Thanks.

So how bizarre is it that I'll be writing this scene during Christmas Choir rehearsal breaks...in a church...tonight? :D

[Sunkissed27f]

I second Kristie:

She should under go a Rape Test Kit (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/crisis/314.html)........this is where they take all the DNA and photographs of evidence.....etc.

Not just internal swabs being he didn't get that far, but any DNA.....like blood, saliva skin, hairs........etc

Good Luck!

[callalily61]

Never thought of that. Great!

(I am such a weirdo for thinking all this is great... but only because it's fiction.)

[dolores haze]

Yes, they would absolutely take pictures of the wounds. They would probably also take evidence from her person. Scrapings from under her nails, whether or not she scratched him because many times the woman would have scratched him without being aware of it. Also, they'd probably take her clothing for evidence, including any dirt, leaves, grass that was stuck to it or even what might be stuck in her hair. All of that evidence would support her claim that he attacked her. Not to mention there would probably be blood on her clothes from his broken nose. They would almost always take her to the hospital for this process with a detective, so a doctor could catalogue her injuries and a nurse can be present for the evidence collection...it's not like she'd go through all this alone in a room with a detective.

Calla - Hospitals have "rape kits" which includes an entire checklist of medical type things that need to be done. Know any ER nurses?

[callalily61]

Duh! I work with half a dozen! I'm in AIDS research--the data end.

[callalily61]

Bride of Duh. She didn't report it when it happened--went home and showered and freaked out. Her boss worms it out of her 24 hours later (long story redux) and drags her to the police station. He used to be a cop, so he knows his friends will treat her decently.

I'm thinking the rape kit will be useless now. All they'll have to work with is her torn shirt, which she stuffed in the garbage. She washed jeans and bra. Am I correct?

(The really fun part about all of this is the rapist is a minor character whose character chart has him as a wimpy geek whose only friends are World of Warcraft players. He's showing up in the climactic scene--but now he's telling me he's borderline psycho and the climactic scene will be much more intense. WHEE!)

[Horseshoes]

Okey dokey, so they may not do the medico-legal sex assault exam, but they will still wan the clothes. Even though she washed them, they may be able to get his blood on them. Trust me here.
Also, for realism on the photography scene, each photo is shot twice, once with and once without a "scale" (by which we mean a simple ruler).

[WittyandorIronic]

What do you have against World of Warcraft??

[callalily61]

Thanks, Horseshoes--I didn't know about the scale.

I checked with an ER nurse here at work and she agrees--after 24 hours they'd swab under her fingernails, take the clothes--esp. the shirt for possible hair samples. (And I startled my office mate for a moment till she asked me if this was about my book!)

Wa/oI--I asked the major IT/RPG geek here at work what the big RPG game is now, and he sais WOW, hands-down. I'm clueless about that stuff--I went to the experts like a good writer is supposed to do. :)

[emsuniverse]

Since you're in AIDS research, I'm sure you've thought of this - but what about checking for STDs? It's in the rape kit. Maybe once the guy is arrested they tell him "by the way, you have chlamydia!" That'd be perfect for him, dont you think?

[Poohcat]

You may want to look at the legal side. All evidence must show what is known as "The chain of evidence" This is essentially an unbroken time-line to ensure the evidence is not compromised.

For that reason, even way after the fact, the rape evidence has to be done by a trained specialist. This can be a nurse, doctor or police surgeon/pathologist so that the defence and the prosecution know the evidence is OK.

You should probably have some sort of specialist medico do the evidence collection. If the evidence is being collected way after the event- like the next day- then it wouldn't be done in a hospital but more likely at the police station or a police controlled clinic/rape crisis that sort of place to ensure the chain of evidence is intact. Then the most likely person would be the police doctor/ pathologist or medical examiner. What ever is the appropriate to the region/ country/ culture of choice.

Another thing you may want to consider is that these days the victim is in control. That means that they have the right to have a person of their choice present, also it is likely she would have some form of rape councillor hovering near to hand.

Don't forget the police will want to see the crime scene as soon as possible to search for trace evidence.

Thing about the photos you may want to consider is that after 24 hours the bruising can show up previously unseen marks, such as palm/ finger and teeth marks which can be photographed and digitally enhanced and used to make positive identification with prints taken from any suspects.

Washing will usually remove most trace evidence from the body, but will most likely be retained within the microscopic fibres of both the victim and the attacker.

I was thinking that you could use the victims saliva/ vomit or blood/ body fluid to be found in the deep microscopic fibres of the attacker. DNA can be found in ALL body fluids not just blood,though it is a lot harder to obtain. Just a thought which may provide an interesting twist. Especially if the attacker thinks he has washed all the evidence away.

Also if the victim breaks the attackers nose it will bleed- a lot for at least 10 minutes or more. Therefore his blood will be on the victim and the victims clothes as well as the crime scene and on the attackers clothes as well- especially his shoes and trousers as he runs away. The attacker will have swollen nose, black eye and it is likely to be bent, if he hasn't sought help, or in a nose cast if he has sought treatment, which he will have to do within a couple of days.

I hope these ramblings may help. I worked in trauma for many years, and did the law thing as well.