ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an effective and practical investigative strategy for the investigation of drug-related homicides. Drug-related homicides are defined as murders that occur as a direct result of the use, sale, and distribution of narcotics and other illegal drugs. The resolution of many narcotics cases has been enhanced by the significant advances in forensic science coupled with the natural propensity of shifting associations in criminal enterprise partnerships. In any event, the crime scene process should focus on body position, wound structures, ballistics, blood, clothing, trace evidence, and informational resources, which represent the tangibles and collectibles in drug-related homicides. The author recommend that the team should include narcotics officers, who are familiar with drug operations, as well as homicide detectives, who have experience with career criminals. The analytical process of classifying each drug-related homicide into one of four categories and then applying the three-phase enforcement strategy to the investigation enables the detective to establish priorities and maximize his or her investigative efforts.
