STATEMENT


         I, Captain                            was Commanding Officer of the US

         Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) during the period 13 May 1969

         to 24 August 1970.  During the course of that period, USACIL was called

         upon to render forensic scientific assistance to Detachment B, 3d MP GP (CI),

         Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in a case involving Captain Jeffrey R. MacDonald,

         his wife, Mrs. Collette MacDonald, and his children Kimberly and Kristen

         MacDonald.  Initial notification was received by me at 0550 hours, 17

         February 1970, from the duty officer, US Army Military Police School that

         a multiple homicide ad been committed at Fort Bragg and that a crime scene

         processing team was being requested.  After confirming this information with

         Det B, 3d MP GP personnel (CW3        and CW2         ) I arranged for an

         aircraft to standby at the Fort Gordon 3d Army Aviation Detachment.  At

         0730 hours, I briefed the laboratory team composed of CW2

         (Photography), MSG               (Fingerprints), WO1

         (Fingerprints), and SP4                       (Chemistry).  At 0820, Colonel

                      00, 3d MP GP (CI), briefed the team in a conference call and

         after this was completed, the team proceeded to Bush Field, Augusta, GA,

         for air transportation to Fort Bragg.

         From the departure of the crime scene team until its return, I maintained

         daily contact with MSG        (Team leader) in an effort to see if further










 

         support was required from USACIL to personnel at Ft Bragg.  Upon the

         return of the USACIL team on 21 February 1970, all evidence was marked

         for laboratory identification and processing began.

         A de-briefing was given by MSG              with regard to this case on

         23 February 1970.  At this time we noted that although crime scene search

         and processing in the field is not a standard function of this unit,

         the response provided was both adequate and timely.

         MSG        made a number of recommendations regarding contingencies which

         call for direct support to the field by USA technicians.  These included

         the obtaining of coveralls and lab coats stored and ready for issue when

         such contingencies arise.  (This recommendation has been implemented in all

         divisions of USACIL.) It was recommended that a set of field kits be pre-

         pared for each division to expedite "quick response" assistance to the

         field.  (This has been accomplished.) As a result of the extensiveness of

         this case, additional serology specialists and training in crime scene

         processing by lab chemists was programmed into the Chemistry Division's

         program of instruction.  A recommendation to insure that all USACIL chemists

         are prepared for a case such as this, if and when assistance to the field

         is requested in the future was also made.

         To expedite this case a priority was given all evidence involved after its

         arrival at the laboratory.  All results were forwarded after normal laboratory

         quality control checks and tests were made.

         With regard to legal assistance provided by USACIL - both trial and defense

         counsels were given statements by the technicians involved in the case for

         the purpose of clarifying their findings and presenting their qualifications.




 

         With regard to this assistance, when approval was granted to conduct a

         taped interview by Cpt               defense counsel's representative

         at Fort Gordon, it was agreed that a typed transcript would be provided

         USACIL to allow for review by technicians being interviewed prior to

         Article 32 testimony.  This was not done.  (MSG    was the only examiner

         interviewed.) Due to the lack of specific questions from defense counsel

         (civilian lawers                  ) Cpt       terminated questioning of

         other technicians.

         As a result of certain allegations made by CPT MacDonald, I additionally

         provided a verbal statement to LTC               on 21 December 1970,

         which explained liason with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ID

         Division, involving the processing of fingerprints by this unit and the FBI.

         I am certain that every action taken by USACIL in the conduct of this case

         was correct and in accordance with proper scientific and administrative

         policy.  I am convinced that this unit performed professionally and ethically

         throughout the conduct of this investigation.




                                                        Captain, MPC