Sharon Plotkin Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction

Distinguishing between direct and circumstantial evidence and understanding the unique value of physical evidence in a courtroom.

Before evidence is touched, it must be understood. sharon plotkin crime scene investigation & reconstruction

Collecting the right evidence in the right way. In 2017, based almost entirely on the reconstructed

In 2017, based almost entirely on the reconstructed physical evidence, Michael Plotkin was arrested. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2018. The conviction was a landmark victory not for a new DNA test or a snitch, but for the enduring power of crime scene reconstruction. A ransacked living room with a broken window

A ransacked living room with a broken window and a deceased victim. Tasks:

In the Plotkin closet, investigators noted high-velocity spatter on the closet door frame and interior walls—spatter that would only occur if Sharon was standing at the doorway, not kneeling or sitting in the back of the closet where she was found. Furthermore, the absence of significant blood on the inside of the closet door suggested the door was closed before the bleeding occurred. The reconstruction suggested a sequence: Sharon was shot near the doorway, then her body was moved or collapsed deeper into the closet.