Dr. Paul Leeland Kirk, professor of Criminalistics and forensic expert for the Sheppard defense team, stated in his affidavit that he examined the crime scene, various pieces of evidence held by the prosecutor and police, as well as blood samples collected and mailed to him. His investigation began on January 22, 1955 and continued for several months. Dr. Kirk used blood spatter analysis to conclude, among other things, that:
- The murderer was left-handed (Dr. Sam Sheppard was right-handed)
- Injuries to the victim's teeth indicate that the victim had bitten the attacker's hand
- A large bloodstain on the closet door was likely from the attacker's bloody hand
- Testing of the blood stain showed it did not match that of Sam or Marilyn Sheppard, so the attacker must have been a third person
- The murder weapon was a cylindrical object, such as a pipe or flashlight, not a surgical instrument, as asserted by the Coroner
- The physical evidence demonstrated that the crime was a sexual assault
The following photographs were submitted in support of Dr. Kirk's Affidavit. Kirk also explains his investigation in his 1966 trial testimony.
-
Kirk Photo 32: Wooden Block After Impact
Blood was puddled on the top of the plastic cover of the sponge sheet to the extent that it just did not flow off, which required about 4 ml. at the beginning and frequent renewals with 1 or 2 ml. of blood. Heavy enough blows were dealt that at least with one object (the heaviest bar), the plastic sheet and rubber sponge were cut completely through to the underlying wood. One such cut is shown spread with forceps in in this photo. The paper strips were removed from the walls after each series of blows and photographed.
-
Kirk Photo 33: High Blood Spatter on Wall from Block Impacts
The smallest high-velocity spatter droplets occurred to some extent with most of the blows. They tended to occur ahead of the direction of the stroke and in front of the impact point, i.e. away from the person wielding the object. When the spatter included both high- and low-flying droplets, the higher flying included a much higher percentage of the small drops as shown by comparing high spots in photograph No. 33 with lower-flying spots from the same blows in photograph No. 34. These drops were formed by use of the flat surface of the ball-peen hammer. Drops were thrown as far as 12 feet from the origin and as high as 7 feet in the air at the point of impact. If the wall had not intervened, they would have traveled as far as about 20 feet.
-
Kirk Photo 34: Low Blood Spatter on Wall from Block Impacts
The smallest high-velocity spatter droplets occurred to some extent with most blows. They tended to occur ahead of the direction of the stroke and in front of the impact point, i.e. away from the person wielding the object. When the spatter included both high- and low-flying droplets, the higher flying included a much higher percentage of the small drops as shown by comparing high spots in photograph No. 33 with lower-flying spots from the same blows in photograph No. 34. These drops were formed by use of the flat surface of the ball-peen hammer. Drops were thrown as far as 12 feet from the origin and as high as 7 feet in the air at the point of impact. If the wall had not intervened, they would have traveled as far as about 20 feet.
-
Kirk Photo 35: Small Drops Made by Heavy Bar
The smallest high-velocity spatter droplets occurred to some extent with most blows. They tended to occur ahead of the direction of the stroke and in front of the impact point, i.e. away from the person wielding the object. When the spatter included both high- and low-flying droplets, the higher flying included a much higher percentage of the small drops as shown by comparing high spots in photograph No. 33 with lower-flying spots from the same blows in photograph No. 34. These drops were formed by use of the flat surface of the ball-peen hammer. Drops were thrown as far as 12 feet from the origin and as high as 7 feet in the air at the point of impact. If the wall had not intervened, they would have traveled as far as about 20 feet. The smallness of drops ahead of the object is illustrated here, which were made by the heavy brass bar.
-
Kirk Photo 36: Blood Spatter From Flashlight Impact
Photographs No. 36 and No. 37 show that the spatter from use of a flashlight is comparable in characteristics with spatter spots from other objects.
-
Kirk Photo 37: Blood Spatter From Flashlight Impact
Photographs No. 36 and No. 37 show that the spatter from use of a flashlight is comparable in characteristics with spatter spots from other objects.
-
Kirk Photo 38: Blood Spatter from Blood-Soaked Flashlight and Bent Bar
The other significant regularity that must remain undisputed is that large spots 1/4" or more will only be obtained at any distance over very few feet by throw-off from the weapon. To test this, various objects were dipped in blood and the blood was thrown from them in various ways. The spots were predominantly small and high velocity in front of an object thrown forward violently as in delivering a blow, as was true of many spots on Sam Sheppard's bed. They often could not be distinguished from the small spatter spots, which also tended to move in the same direction. A typical range of sizes is shown with forward throw-off from the light bent bar, including large spots as expected with this motion if delivered with the violence of a true blow.
-
Kirk Photo 39: Backswing Spatter from Hammer
Throw-off on the back stroke was different in that the velocity of the object was invariably smaller. An object dipped in blood and thrown back, as in preparing for a blow, deposited large drops mixed with a considerable proportion of small ones. Photograph No. 39 shows this effect with the hammer.
