Chemical and Forensic Analysis of JFK Assassination Bullet Lots: Is a Second Shooter Possible?

Annals of Applied Statistics, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2007), 287-301, DOI:10.1214/07-AOAS119

15 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2012

See all articles by Cliff Spiegelman

Cliff Spiegelman

Texas A&M University

William A. Tobin

Forensic Engineering International

William D. James

Independent

Simon J. Sheather

Texas A&M University

Stuart Wexler

Highstown High School

D. Roundhill

Chem Consulting

Date Written: May 1, 2007

Abstract

The assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) traumatized the nation. In this paper we show that evidence used to rule out a second assassin is fundamentally flawed. This paper discusses new compositional analyses of bullets reportedly to have been derived from the same batch as those used in the assassination. The new analyses show that the bullet fragments involved in the assassination are not nearly as rare as previously reported. In particular, the new test results are compared to key bullet composition testimony presented before the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). Matches of bullets within the same box of bullets are shown to be much more likely than indicated in the House Select Committee on Assassinations’ testimony. Additionally, we show that one of the ten test bullets is considered a match to one or more assassination fragments. Finally, this finding means that the bullet fragments from the assassination that match could have come from three or more separate bullets. Finally, this paper presents a case for reanalyzing the assassination bullet fragments and conducting the necessary supporting scientific studies. These analyses would shed light on whether the five bullet fragments constitute three or more separate bullets. If the assassination fragments are derived from three or more separate bullets, then a second assassin is likely, as the additional bullet would not be attributable to the main suspect, Mr. Oswald, under widely accepted shooting scenarios [see Posner (1993) "Case Closed", Bantam, New York].

Keywords: forensic, bullet composition, heterogeneity, bullet lead, CBLA

Suggested Citation

Spiegelman, Clifford and Tobin, William A. and James, William D. and Sheather, Simon J. and Wexler, Stuart and Roundhill, D., Chemical and Forensic Analysis of JFK Assassination Bullet Lots: Is a Second Shooter Possible? (May 1, 2007). Annals of Applied Statistics, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2007), 287-301, DOI:10.1214/07-AOAS119, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2186544

Clifford Spiegelman

Texas A&M University ( email )

Langford Building A
798 Ross St.
College Station, TX 77843-3137
United States
(979) 705-6437 (Phone)

William A. Tobin (Contact Author)

Forensic Engineering International ( email )

2708 Little Gunstock Rd.
Bumpass, VA 23024-8882
United States
(804) 448-3955 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.feintl.com

William D. James

Independent ( email )

Simon J. Sheather

Texas A&M University ( email )

Langford Building A
798 Ross St.
College Station, TX 77843-3137
United States

Stuart Wexler

Highstown High School

25 Leshin Lane
Highstown, NJ 08520
United States

D. Roundhill

Chem Consulting

13325 BLACK CANYON DRIVE
Austin, TX 78729
United States

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