Forensic Files: “Saving Face”
A case of 2D forensic facial reconstruction I did was featured on the television program Forensic Files as part of an episode entitled "Saving Face." The forensic artwork was done to aid in the identification of a skeleton found in Austin, Texas.
Amazing teamwork was done by police, laboratory, and forensic science personnel and prosecutors on this case which led to the apprehension and conviction of a serial killer.
When I was contacted, detectives had only an unidentified skull and badly needed to get a name attached. Forensic art has the power to make that connection by providing a facial image for dissemination to the public in hopes that recognition might take place.
The request for the artwork came from Homicide Detective Robert Merrill from the Austin Police Department. Anthropological input was provided by Dr. David Glassman. I created drawings, both frontal and lateral, to project how the victim might have appeared in life. Rubber tissue depth markers were affixed to the skull at certain bony landmarks and were the basis for the overall facial contours. Anatomical formulas were used to estimate the eyes and nose but the mouth area proved to be more problematic. As part of the perimortem death struggle, a significant area of bone around the mouth was damaged and no longer remained.
I used an anatomical 'facial triangle' as suggested by anatomist Dr. Robert George to recreate the mouth area.
Remarkably, someone who knew the victim in life contacted police after seeing the facial reconstructions in the media. She had moved to Texas from Mexico and no dental records could be found for her for comparison. In a new and unique use of DNA, letters were obtained from her family members in Mexico. She had written to them and traces of her saliva remained from licking the envelopes to seal them. A comparison of DNA on the envelopes and DNA obtained from the dental pulp from a molar in the skull led to her positive identification.
The identification of this woman, Sylvia Garcia, led police to Martine Gonzales, a former policeman in Mexico. Ultimately, Gonzales was linked to the murders of two other women, Maria Flores and Olivia Estrada.
Gonzales is shown during his trial with a headset in use for translation purposes.
He was found guilty for the murders of all three women and given a life sentence.