Determination of the Area of Convergence and Area of Origin of Bloodstain Patterns

The goal of bloodstain pattern analysis is to determine the what, when, and where of bloodshed events. The “what” is answered by examining the size of the preponderance of the stains, the overall appearance of the stains, and the pattern distribution combined with the case particulars. The “when” may be answered by alterations such as clotting and sequencing. The “where” requires the analyst to determine the area of convergence and area of origin that corresponds to the location of the source of the blood. These determinations are often referred to as being the location of the victim, but more precisely they refer to the location of the blood produced by the victim’s injury at the time a pattern was created.