Background

Background to the crime

The house  at which the fire occurred belongs to an individual who is well known to police, Henry Lampman. Henry has served time for minor drug offences in the past but has not been in trouble for the past 3 years. When Crime scene analysts investigated the site, they found the seat of the fire began on furnishings close to the electric heater.

It was apparent that the heater had been placed very close to the edge of the couch which had ignited. The fire then spread through the ground and upper floors. Analysis of the couch was carried out for the presence of an accelerant, but this proved inconclusive.

Two bodies were found at the crime scene.

The body of a male was found lying on the floor of the hallway badly burnt hallway. He could not be indentified due to severe burns.

A bloody knife was located in the hallway close to the first body. A badly charred hammer was also located in the lounge room. The knife was bagged for further forensic analysis.

The body of a female was located outside in the garden shed. This area had not been affected by the fire. The victim was identified as Janice Lampman, one of the two residents at the house. On preliminary examination it appeared that she had died of a blunt force injury to the head. The crime scene pathologist measured the internal body temperature of the victim prior to bagging for autopsy.

A suspicious note was found in the pocket of the female victim.

The following forensic analysis was requested by crime scene investigators:

• On scene report of body temperature for the second victim.
• Autopsy analysis on both corpses.
• Dental record comparison for the unidentified corpse.
• DNA analysis of blood sample from the knife and bone marrow taken from the unidentified corpse.
• Fingerprint analysis of the knife was requested.
• The note was sent to the laboratoy for further investigation.

Attempts were made to contact the owner of the house, Henry Lampman, but no trace of him could be found. Investigators made the assumption that the body found in the house could be the remains of Mr Lampman. Police conducted a preliminary investigation and recorded statements from witnesses and individuals associated with the owners of 54 Lillywood Avenue.