Investigatorsprepared today to announce the cause of Washington intern Chandra Levys deathwill no doubt have used forensic science skills to arrive at their conclusions, said Michael Yura, director of West Virginia Universitys world-renowned Forensic Identification Program.

“In cases like this, when the body is badly deteriorated, forensics is the only way to determine when and how a person may have died,”Dr. Yura said.

“Investigators can tell a lot from dried blood, hair, pieces of clothes or fingernails,”he said.

“I am sure they looked at how much blood there was on the ground to determine if she had been moved as well as the type of blood. I am sure they looked at hair strands and where they were located. They also looked at the bones, including where they were found and if they were damaged,”he said.

They also looked at the composition of Levys blood to determine if drugs or alcohol played a role in her death, Yura said.

Perhaps most importantly, investigators also will be looking to see if anyone elses blood was at the scene, which could lead to the identification of a killer, he added.

WVU Forensic Entomologist Jim Amrine said investigators may also be able to determine the time of death, based on insects found on or near the remains.

“They will have looked at what kind of bugs were at the site and study how long it would haven taken for an insect to reach a particular state of development to help determine the time of death,”he noted.

Dr. Yura is available to talk with media more about the role forensic science plays in murder investigations and specifically, the Chandra Levy case. His cell phone number is 304-276-1933. Dr. Amrine is available for comment at 304-293-6023.

For help facilitating interviews, call WVU News and Information Services, 304-293-6997.