Plant power solves crimes

Criminals had better beware of plant bits left at the scene of their crimes. Rolf Mathewes, a botanist at Simon Fraser University, is regularly seconded from his academic and teaching duties to help solve high profile murder cases.

Trained in botany and paleobotany, the study of ancient plant fossils, the silver-haired academic refers to himself as "the accidental forensic botanist. My study of microscopic plant remains in sediments to track forest history and climatic changes unwittingly prepared me for forensic analysis of similar fragments recovered from crime scenes and bodies," explains Mathewes.

The Maple Ridge resident and associate dean of science at SFU helped police identify plant evidence found, almost four years ago, in a bag that had contained the body of a young murder victim. "I was called in after police recovered the bag from the bottom of Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Park," remembers Mathewes. "My identification of plant remains from the body bag and the victim’s hair helped police confirm where her body had originally been hidden."

Mathewes’ forensic work involves using leaves, seeds, pollen and other plant parts to confirm the timing or location of a crime. "With the help of a microscope, I’m often sifting through pans of dust and sediment for plant fragments that can be up to 500 times smaller than what can be seen with the naked eye."

Mathewes is in demand on the lecture circuit. Homicide investigators and other professionals in forensics attended his Lower Mainland workshops last year. One of Mathewes' current interests is helping SFU establish an institute of forensic studies. A fictional detective novel is also taking root in the back of his mind. An avid reader of such works, Mathewes says with a sly grin, "Forensic botany is fertile ground for new plotlines."

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(electronic photo available)

Websites: SFU Biology-Mathewes;
www.sfu.ca/biology/faculty/mathewes/