CSI camp teaches forensics to kids

After a week of research, 50 forensic science hopefuls were given the chance to apply their skills Friday at the mock murder scene of Bad Choice, a dummy with two X’s for eyes drawn on his Styrofoam head.

The crime scene — complete with fake blood, footprints and a note from the murderer — was set up behind Holmes Hall as part of MSU’s weeklong crime scene investigation camp, which is in its second year of operation at MSU.

The camp, which had a waiting list after reaching full capacity with a group of 50 middle and high school students from six different states, was offered as part of MSU’s Gifted and Talented Education program.

Staffed by forensics professionals, graduate students and police officers from the MSU Police Department, the camp allowed students to get a glimpse of a career in forensic science, the camp’s developer, police officer Michele Glasgow, said.

“I think what you’ll find is it just opens the door for kids to go into (forensics),” she said. “It’s a great way to get in touch with kids and show
them they can achieve their goals.”

Fourteen-year-old Samone Bunge said she had “a blast” at the camp, where she had a chance to expand her interests in forensics by testing blood spatter, digging up evidence from a crime scene and taking samples of maggots on a dead pig to estimate its time of death.

“I’ve kind of loved watching ‘CSI’ and ‘Law and Order’ and stuff forever and I’ve been considering a career in that,” she said.

“Our school announced it over the PA and I talked to my mom and I’m here.”

Glasgow said the participation of officers from the MSU police, who attended the camp in full uniform, allowed campers to see and talk to people working in the career they might want to follow in the future.

“They were working with MSU’s real crime scene investigators,” she said. “They are the ones on campus, who, if there is a homicide, breaking and entering or anything, these are the guys and girls that would be out there investigating that.”

The campers spent Friday documenting evidence and trying to piece together what happened to Bad Choice, who was found dead in the bedroom of his “apartment,” with blood spatter on the walls, muddy footprints on the floor and a note reading, “Whatever you think, my buddy Shawn didn’t do this.”

They testified as experts in front of an Ingham County judge as part of a mock trial Friday.

The potential crime scenarios the campers dreamed up were limitless, said Patty Joiner, a second-year forensic science graduate student who helped with the camp.

“Their imaginations are endless,” she said. “Some parts they get absolutely, other things they come up with, it’s like, ‘I’ve never thought of that possibility before.’”

Bunge said the camp made forensic science grow from the focus of TV shows she loves to watch to the focus of the career path she wants to follow.

“Now I’m kind of more confused about what part I want to go into, but I’m sure this is the path that I want to follow,” she said.