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For researchers of the Jeffrey MacDonald case: The murders of Colette, Kimberley and Kristen MacDonald
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USACIL Letter and Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70
Version 1
See also Version 2 (statement portion differs)
For easy comparison, clicking link will open Version 2 in separate window
Click the USACIL Scans and Transcripts button above to download all files from USACIL Reports
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USACIL Letter re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70
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USACIL Letter re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70 Click icon to expand and reduce original image. Drag the expanded image to move it.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY USA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION LABORATORY FORT GORDON, GEORGIA 30905
ATPM - CIL 15 January 1971
SUBJECT: USACIL Laboratory Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70
Commanding Officer USA Criminal Investigation Division Agency (USACIDA) Temo B, STOP 106 2d and S Street SW Washington, DC 20315
1. In response to a request by the Commanding Officer, USACIDA, a review of Laboratory Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70 has been made and is attached. As part of this review the entire case, to include preliminary, repeat and supplemental reports, has been consolidated to permit expeditious study of the evidence and analysis which has been accomplished by the USACIL staff.
2. Biographical data is enclosed which provides background information and the qualifications of the technicians who took part in this investigation.
3. As the Commanding Officer of USACIL during the period 13 May 1969 to 24 August 1970, I have included a statement of my observations regarding the actions taken by this unit both to expedite the case and to insure the maximum support of the requesting criminal investigation detachment.
CP5, MPC Project Officer
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 1 of 3
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 1 (version 1) Click icon to expand and reduce original image. Drag the expanded image to move it.
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STATEMENT
I, Captain Joel L. Leson, [REDACTED] was Commanding Officer of the
US Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) during the period
13 May 1969 to 24 August 1970. During the course of that period, USACIL
was called upon to render forensic scientific assistance to Detachment B,
3d MP Gp (CI), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in a case involving Captain
Jeffrey R. MacDonald, his wife, Mrs. Colette MacDonald, and his children
Kimberly and Kristen MacDonald. Initial notification was received by
me at 0550 hours, 17 February 1970, from the duty officer, US Army
Military Police School that a multiple homicide had been committed at
Fort Bragg and that a crime scene processing team was being requested.
After confirming this information with Det B, 3d MP Gp personnel (CW3
Moser and CW2 R. P. Orr) I arranged for an aircraft to standby at the
Fort Gordon 3d Army Aviation Detachment. At 0730 hours, I briefed the
laboratory team composed of CW2 Harold V. Page (Photography), MSG H. O.
Medlin (Fingerprints), WO1 Ralph T. Turbyfill (Fingerprints), and SP4
Craig S. Chamberlain (Chemistry). At 0820, Colonel Herman Trop, CO,
3d MP Gp (CI), briefed the team in a conference call and after this
was completed, the team proceeded to Bush Field, Augusta, GA, for air
transportation to Fort Bragg.
From the departure of the crime scene team until its return, I maintained
daily contact with MSG Medlin (Team leader) in an effort to see if further
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 2 of 3
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 2 (version 1) Click icon to expand and reduce original image. Drag the expanded image to move it.
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support was required from USACIL to personnel at Ft. Bragg. Upon the
return of the USACIL team on 21 February 1970, all evidence was marked
for laboratory identification and processing began.
A de-briefing was given by MSG H. O. Medlin with regard to this case on
23 February 1970. At this time we noted that although crime scene
search and processing in the field is not a standard function of this
unit, the response provided was expertly performed and in a timely man-
ner.
To expedite this case a priority was given all evidence involved after
its arrival at the laboratory. All results were forwarded after normal
laboratory quality control checks and tests were made.
With regard to laboratory assistance provided by USACIL - both trial
and defense counsels were given access to the technicians involved in
the case for the purpose of explaining their findings and conclusions
in addition to presenting their qualifications.
With regard to this assistance, when approval was granted to conduct a
taped interview by Cpt Robert Payne, defense counsel's representative
at Fort Gordon, it was agreed that a typed transcript would be provided
USACIL to allow for review by technicians being interviewed prior to
Article 32 testimony. This was not done. (MSG Medlin was the only
examiner interviewed.)
In response to certain allegations made by CPT MacDonald concerning
lack of liaison with the FBI and the lack of FBI laboratory service,
I provided an additional verbal statement to LTC Thomas E. Day on 21
December 1970, which explained liaison with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation's ID Division, to include procedures employed in the
processing of fingerprints by this unit and the FBI. I am unequivi-
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 3 of 3
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USACIL Statement re: USACIL Report Number FA-D-P-C-FP-82-70, page 3 (version 1) Click icon to expand and reduce original image. Drag the expanded image to move it.
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cally satisfied that every action taken by USACIL in the conduct of
this case was correct and in accordance with the highest scientific
and administrative standards. Further, I am also convinced that the
USACIL performed its mission in a professionally and ethically
superior manner.
/s/ Joel L. Leson
JOEL L. LESON
Captain, MPC
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