WHS students get taste of crime scene investigation Friday
Weatherford High School students investigated a reported murder of three individuals during a mock crime scene in the 400 block of N. 4th Friday morning.
Students arrived to find an area cordoned off with police tape and school resource officer Justin Bushong gave the students an update of the crime and the crime scene before beginning their investigation.
After hearing Bushong’s update, students began placing flags and markers where they found evidence.
Forensics teacher Dennis Seifried said his class, which this mock crime scene was set up for, studies behavioral forensics.
“We try to find out why people kill people or hurt people. This is their first crime scene. Mr. Bushong here, he helps me about on every case,” Seifried said.
Friday was set up for students to observe the crime scene and begin collecting evidence to study.
“They’re going to have a whole week after we get done today to try and evaluate their pictures and everything and evidence and come up with a solution to give to the police. That’s what their job is, is to give the police a profile,” Seifried said.
Bushong said he tries to get students to investigate the scene as police officers and detective would. “We tell them officers will respond to make sure the scene is safe. We do an initial investigation and we usually call out a detective. The patrol officer will set up the perimeter, put up the crime scene tape, get things ready to inform the detective what they need to do. With that being said, I try to get the kids to know we have to start big and move small. That’s how we typically do an investigation to point them in the right directions of how to handle the investigation themselves,” Bushong said.
This type of work is just what WHS student Bailey Gresser wants to do after college.
“I personally want to be in the FBI and be a profiler and work in the field. I think it’s great to learn early on,” Gresser said.
Ethan Bracken said he enjoys watching crime shows and has an interest because of that.
“Just growing up, watching Criminal Minds, I always thought this stuff was cool. Just getting the opportunity to do it and I might do it later on in life,” Bracken said, adding this class will give him good experience.
“ It’s really good for people who want to get into this kind of stuff. It’s a good pre-cursor for what’s to come in the class,” Bracken said.
Gresser said the real-life experience helps her. “I think it’s a great experience because we get to see
“I think it’s a great experience because we get to see it in real life. I’ve noticed even small things. Even little pieces of evidence matter. I think it’s great especially for people who want to do this as a career,” Gresser said.