Maggie M:I agree with you on the problem with the fp tool. Even wrapped in duct tape I think this would break the scalp.

I think Spitz is a respected forensic doctor, yet anyone who follows famous court cases knows that it is not uncommon for two equally famous experts to disgree on the meaning of the evidence before the court.

I also feel that famous experts tend to bask in an aura of infallibility and self-importance that can hinder their understanding of whatever evidence they are examining. They are also human beings that can be swayed at times by others suggestions or circumstances, fatigue, incomplete information, actual lack of expertise in a given field and time constraints.

I don't have any idea if, or how much, these things might be true, or untrue, for Dr. Spitz. Obviously I don't know the man. I can imagine the BPD asking him to choose among a small assortment of possible murder weapons such as: The flashlight, a brick, falling against something, or a golf club. In that case, even I might choose the flashlight as the most probable, or only one possible. If, however, the group included a bat and a tape-wrapped 1/2" pipe with a tee fitting I might think otherwise. I think these doctors are very busy and feel they don't have the time to consider every possible weapon source for each of the victims they study. I think they rely on the investigators to offer them possible weapons, wherever possible, to consider.

At this point, I think it is possible that the Flashlight was used, based more on Dave's research than Spitz's (hey Dave, I lost your email addy, can you email me again?) but I don't think it is a given, not by any means. And I am pretty flumoxed at his suggestion that the (stun gun) marks were caused by "snaps"....I mean that is just plain stupid.