LIBS used by Oak Ridge in another Capital Murder Case in TX = GUILTY Verdict

everyoneneedsavoice · 2011-06-06T19:34:29+00:00

I posted this in the afternoon trial thread; as I was sick of hearing this procedure being called "junk science". :waitasec: Just wondering if the DT (or MSM) was aware of the Rachel Tolleson Case here in TX; where LIBS was used by Oak Ridge Scientist to identify chemical elements of tree wood, for the 1st time. Some of the same names have came up in Vass' testimony this morning; specifically the physicist. Outcome: Guilty - sentenced to death Same physicist who performed the LIBS on these wood logs; performed the LIBS on the carpet samples! (Madhavi Martin) In March 2004, a woman who had been missing for a week was found strangled and stabbed to death in a field in Collin County, Texas. Around her body lay pieces of partially burned logs. Her murderer apparently had tried to ignite the wood pieces in an attempt to burn her body. The attempt failed because the wood was too green. Madhavi Martin, a physicist in ORNL's Environmental Sciences Division...had begun studies of the chemical composition of wood, using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Martin was not told that, of the 14 logs she was asked to analyze, 10 were retrieved from the crime scene and 4 from another place the suspect had been. "I analyzed all 14 pieces and found they had an identical spectrum," she says. I examined the burned parts of the logs and the unburned parts. The data revealed that the wood pieces had the same elemental content. LIBS is a technique that produces a chemical "fingerprint" of wood or any other material, based on heavy metals and other trace elements. http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/...rticle19.shtml http://prc.utk.edu/martin.htm The scientists working on this technique were able to compare certain elements of each remaining log of wood from both the crime scene and the party. The Collin County Sheriffs Office was 99.99 percent confident the logs were identical, being from the same tree or at least from the same stand of trees. This resulted in the suspect being found guilty of capital murder. He is now on death row at the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/m...issue_id=12009 The wood [from both fires] was from the same d*** tree! He says. It was also the first time tree ring science had ever been applied to a murder investigation. http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...www.google.com PS - the defense in this case thought it was junk science too! :floorlaugh::floorlaugh:

Thread starter everyoneneedsavoice
Start date Jun 6, 2011

New Posts

Actor Timothy Busfield arrested
- Latest: BetteDavisEyes
- 1 minute ago
Celebrity and Entertainment News
MN - Renee Good killed by ICE, 7 January 2026 - MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE THREAD *NO DISCUSSION*
- Latest: Inthedetails
- 1 minute ago
Crimes In The News- Time Line - Media-Reference Fo
T
KY KY - Angela Storms, 33, last seen near Hwy 192 & Stewart Rd, Somerset, 23 Dec 2025
- Latest: truthfinder2019
- 1 minute ago
Missing Persons Discussion
C
My theory of the JonBenét Ramsey murder
- Latest: Cryptic
- 12 minutes ago
JonBenet Ramsey
AZ AZ - Isabella Comas 21, last seen leaving friend's res in 11000 block Van Buren, driving red Hyundai Sonata, phone was found, Avondale, 11 Jan 2026
- Latest: MickeysVoice
- 12 minutes ago
Missing Persons Discussion

^ null

This post contains flagged content. To view it, please un-check the Suppress Flagged Content flag in your Account Preferences.

^ null

^ null

^ null

^ null

^ null

^ null

^ null

You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

2009.08.07 Emails between Oak Ridge and OCSO

9 10 11

Replies: 214

Views: 29K

Jun 4, 2011

JBean

Purdue University lab uses DNA testing to nail stolen tree suspects

Replies: 0

Views: 2K

Jul 4, 2004

Casshew

GUILTY PA - Spencer Morrison, 37, & 2 kids killed by woodchipper, Pittsburgh, 13 April 2006

Replies: 25

Views: 6K

Sep 14, 2015

OkieGranny

NC NC - Ollie Ledbetter, 66 & Archie Kellam, 63, stabbed and killed in separate convenience store robberies, Oak Ridge, 23 March 1983

Replies: 0

Views: 313

Mar 19, 2024

Otterly

TN TN - Oak Ridge, Melton Hill Lake, "Lady in the Lake", WhtFem 24-35, 272UFTN, UP2895, ring w/cross, Mar'00

4 5 6

Replies: 114

Views: 30K

Oct 16, 2025

chaddylex

Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Link

Guardians Monthly Goal

Members online

Madigan

... and 168 more.

Total: 5,024 (members: 169, guests: 4,855)

Online statistics

Members online: 169

Guests online: 4,855

Total visitors: 5,024

Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads: 637,977

Messages: 18,721,012

Members: 244,232

Latest member: mssarahmwatson

Community Rules

Be Civil

Treat all members with respect. No personal attacks, harassment, or inflammatory language.
Victim Friendly

Always show respect for victims and their families. No victim blaming or insensitive speculation.
Fact-based Sourcing

Provide credible sources for claims. Distinguish between verified facts and personal theories.
Social Media Use

Do not post direct links to personal social media profiles of private individuals.
Copyright and Paywalls

Do not copy full articles. Summarize and link to the original source instead.
Privacy and Personal Information

Do not post personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, or workplaces.
Registered Sex-Offenders

Do not name or speculate about RSOs unless officially named in connection to a case.
Stay On Topic

Keep discussions relevant to the case or topic at hand. Avoid off-topic tangents.
Accounts, Moderation, and Disputes

One account per person. Contact moderators privately for disputes or concerns.
Solicitation and Fundraising

No solicitation, fundraising, or promotion of personal ventures without approval.