What evidence would confirm a cadaver dog alert?

[Lace]

Yes it was, but when was it taken into custody ?
When did the idea of possible sedation first arise ?

When was what taken into custody?

It must have been right at the beginning that they suspected sedation,  otherwise why test the bed?   I believe Kate when she said  that she mentioned that she thought the  children could have been sedated to the Police.

[Lace]

Do forensics search for that,I'm far from an expert but on recent documentaries on tv following live police investigations,semen,hair and blood seem to be the ones looked for.

I have seen the Police go over bedding or clothing with something which looked like cellotape.

[jassi]

When was what taken into custody?

It must have been right at the beginning that they suspected sedation,  otherwise why test the bed?   I believe Kate when she said  that she mentioned that she thought the  children could have been sedated to the Police.

The bedding

[barrier]

I have seen the Police go over bedding or clothing with something which looked like cellotape.

We probably all have,but as I mentioned earlier it seems as if its,blood,semen,hairs.

[Robittybob1]

The bedding on Madeleine's bed was tested for a sedating  drug.    So they were thinking 'abduction'  so why didn't they test for any skin cells on the bedding?    Could have been done first.   IMO

That test was just a "sniff test" wasn't it? 

[Carana]

That test was just a "sniff test" wasn't it?

That's my impression from the report as wel. I haven't found anything to confirm otherwse. And that was the following afternoon.

[Lace]

Testing for Chloroform.

[Robittybob1]

Testing for Chloroform.

What sort of test was performed?

[Holly Goodhead]

Have you ever thought what evidence would confirm an alert?

Over and over we get told the alerts mean nothing unless they are corroborated.

So would you all tell the forum what you would accept as corroborating evidence?


I'll add part of another post I made on the topic:
"We know their reliability depended on the finding of corroborating evidence at the location.

But Madeleine had been living at that location so finding her DNA there was never going to be enough.

In fact finding her blood there was unlikely to be enough, for a kid can get a bleeding nose and that doesn't mean she died.

Does the corroborating evidence have to be found at the site of the alert.  They don't actually say that do they.  So if her body was found at another location would that be corroborating evidence?"

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I have no knowledge of cadaver dogs with the other cases I've looked at but from memory I can't recall any UK criminal cases where any sort of findings from these dogs has been used at trial?

I don't believe they are used by any of the UK based forensic service providers?

[Holly Goodhead]

Here's a website to a UK based forensic service provider.  It lists the typical services offered but I haven't see any FSP offering up services relating to these dogs.

https://www.principalforensicservices.com/

[Holly Goodhead]

As I understand it this test was carried out by dog handler Martin Grimes from South Yorkshire police?  Who actually commissioned the test? 

[Robittybob1]

As I understand it this test was carried out by dog handler Martin Grimes from South Yorkshire police?  Who actually commissioned the test?

The McCann is rather unique in that since it happened in Portugal and they have the habit of releasing the file when the case goes cold (archived), we have a large body of police (PJ) files that we can read.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TRANSLATIONS.htm  It takes years of research to go through them.

Martin Grime files are released too
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_GRIMES.htm
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARTIN_GRIMES_RIGATORY.htm

[Carana]

We probably all have,but as I mentioned earlier it seems as if its,blood,semen,hairs.

Certainly back then.

I'm really not sure that they could have analysed, or had the money, to analyse every skin cell on bedding at the time.

On the other hand, good practice might be to bag everything carefully anyway and keep it in the event of future forensic breakthroughs.

[slartibartfast]

Certainly back then.

I'm really not sure that they could have analysed, or had the money, to analyse every skin cell on bedding at the time.

On the other hand, good practice might be to bag everything carefully anyway and keep it in the event of future forensic breakthroughs.

Though it appears that skin cells from gloves can be tested these days.

[Carana]

Though it appears that skin cells from gloves can be tested these days.

If items had been kept according to protocols that hadn't yet envisaged future advances in forensics.