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44 BCE
Julius Caesar is assassinated
Caesar is killed in an assassination. A doctor conducted an autopsy and identified the fatal wound among the 23 stabbings. -
600
Fingerprints
Identity was originally determined via fingerprints. A debtor's fingerprint was taken by Arabic merchants and attached to the bill. -
1248
First Forensic Science Book
Chinese authors created the first guidebook on forensic science. The first instance of using medical expertise to resolve a criminal case. -
Physical Evidence
This was the first instance of physical evidence matching leading to a murder conviction in recorded history. A piece of ripped paper that matched the paper in the murderer's pocket was found in a revolver as evidence. -
Chemical Testing
In a murder trial, James Marsh, an English scientist, employed chemistry to establish poison as the cause of death. -
Fingerprint ID
In a murder case, Juan Vauchitch employed fingerprints as evidence. He also developed a fingerprint identification method. -
School of Forensics
Rodolphe Archibald Reiss established the first forensic science institution in Switzerland. -
Crime Lab
The first police crime lab was established in Los Angeles. -
Breathalyzer Test
Field sobriety testing equipment is created by R. F. Borkenstein. -
National Crime System
The National Crime Information Center was created by the FBI. This was a computerized system that stored all data about wanted people. -
Using DNA
Due to the use of DNA profiling, Tommy Lee Andrews was found guilty of several sexual assaults. -
Footwear Detection Intelligence
The Forensic Science Service introduces Footwear Intelligence Technology, the first online footwear coding and detection management system in the UK. -
Teeth
A technique for matching dental x-rays is created by Japanese researchers. Dental x-rays in a database may be automatically matched using this technology.
