Yale Female Student Strangled to Death--Evidence Will Close This Case Quickly
Posted: Saturday, September 19, 2009
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
The infamous serial killer Ted Bundy once confided to police that when he strangled women he looked directly in their eyes as he choked them to death. While doing so, he said he could see that the women knew he had total control over their lives. He loved that control. The recent strangulation death of Annie Le, a 24-year-old Yale University graduate student sparked shock and sadness across the US .
Annie Le vanished Sept. 8. Her body was discovered five days later what was to be her wedding day stuffed into a utility compartment behind a wall in the basement of the research building. Strangulation caused by another is close and personal and very likely will leave behind trace evidence, especially if there is not much time to clean up the scene afterwards.
The location where Le's body was found indicates a quick disposal by the killer and the likelihood of evidence being left behind. Evidence such as hair, fibers, blood, latent shoe prints and transfer evidence (from one person to another) is likely to be present.
Further evidence used in the arrest of Clark more than likely consisted of police looking into card-access door records. These records can show where and when Clark and Le accessed certain offices in the research area. In addition, the research area had scores of surveillance cameras which I am sure were meticulously analyzed.
In today's day and age, many establishments have sophisticated card-access door systems. The way many of these systems work is that people are issued cards similar to that of a credit card. The cards are used like a key to get in and out of certain areas. Every time they swipe the card to go somewhere in the building, the date, time, location and the person using the card is recorded. Some people do not know the tracking capabilities of these card access systems and the help it can be for criminal investigators. As far as surveillance cameras, we all know what they do; however, the average person may not know where all the cameras are and what areas are actually being monitored.
Card access system, video surveillance system, closed area where the body was found (as opposed to out in the elements) a court ordered DNA of the suspect (Clark) along with evidence retrieval from his apartment, most likely seals Clarks fate. Of course, Raymond Clark is innocent until proven guilty; however, this case should be a textbook case of solving a crime with many branches of evidence leading the way. As an investigator and teacher of investigative techniques, I would be shocked if this case is not completely solved.
However, how do we solve the issue of those who want to kill others, or that want to strangle women for an overwhelming feeling of control? As several astute SearchWarp authors have written in previous articles, it is in the heart of man where change is needed. Surveillance cameras, card systems or the overwhelming likelihood of evidence being found will not stop some people from killing otherschanging the heart or mind of people will. How we do that is the big question.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I am glad you wrote on this matter, Steve. The perspective of a law enforcement officer is very interesting to an average schmo like myself.My heart goes out to the family. No one should have to deal with something like this.Great job, as always.Hi Ken, thanks for writing. I often forget that some of what I'm involved in is intriguing to others but it certainly is. CSI, CSI Miami etc etc etc are very popular shows on TV (I don't watch any of em anymore). Even though those shows actually do an injustice to justice in many ways by people expecting much more in investigations than is realistic. But the fact of the matter is that there are cool ways to retrieve latent (or not visible) shoe prints, tire tracks, DNA, bone identification techniques etc, etc. Everyday knew techniques are being developed and sometimes old ones being found not to be as solid as previously thought. One of the disputed investigative technques that has lost tons of respect is bite mark analysis and testimony--used to be thought of highly, not so much anymore...thanks for writing Ken
You are absolutely right. With today's technology we can catch criminals easier, yet curing the darkness in the heart is something that remains elusive. Well done, sir.Hi Mike--Thank you for reading and writing--I appreciate it.
Great article. Well done.These people are sick. It must take something so hideously disgusting in a person for them to be able to do something like this.I'm glad that law enforcement has moved on so much that we can get rid of these kind of people.Yes Connor, I agree with you that these people are sick--thanks for reading and writing.
hi steve,nancygrace is like a bad addiction to me-i can't not watch her every night yet i can't stand her, and i'm getting tired of all the missing children cases and murders. i don't know how we'll ever solve it, unless we come up with curriculum that is well put together, and place it in our schools as part of their learning about boundaries and honesty and lying, cheating stealing. some kids don't have good family homes, and only witness these things, but are never taught a better way, and why.control over women has to be way up there, and the loss of the need for that control shuld have come in upbringing, but almost anyone can learn.thanks for sharing,my best regards,sueHi Sue, Poor family life/upbringing in my opinion is a big factor in much of the reason for crime. This case seems like it may be a deeper sickness but who knows at this point. Many rapists seem to have that control/power issue behind their acts--someone smarter than me needs to come up with ways to stop this kind of thing--I'm not smart enough...thanks for writing Sue.
Having worked several complex cases like this I found the case very interesting. I hate using the "person of interest" comment though. I would rather say that a case is not an isolated incident then naming a person who later could be proven innocent - person preference. Bundy was a very interesting person and had no concern for anyone else at all.I hate that term person of interest too--they ought to can it!
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