Casey Anthony Murder Trial: It’s Official, William C. Rodriguez is not the Co-Founder of the Body Farm … Some One is Bolstering on the Witness Stand or Worse

On Saturday, June 18, 2011 during his brief testimony  as a defense expert witness in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, William C. Rodriguez III stated in the affirmative that he was the co-founder of The Body Farm. Who knew? The reason why we never knew, maybe is because the comment was false.

Defense Attorney Jose Baez: Are you a Co-Founder of the Anthropological Facility at the Univ of TN – also known as the Body Farm?
William Rodriguez:  Yes I am.

The very first thing I thought was, oh really? That is nothing I ever heard of. I had always thought that Dr. William Bass was the founder of the Anthropology Research Facility at UT. So we decided to do some research over the weekend to discover the truth.  Then Scared Monkeys decided that we would do what we thought the MSM and defense attorney Jose Baez would and should have done … do their due diligence and fact check Mr Rodriguez by simply asking the Body Farm. Then again, when Baez cannot seem to follow a simple court’s order by Judge Perry for experts to write reports of their opinions and what they plan on testifying to, why would any one think that “due diligence” is in the vocabulary?

We decided to do the obvious, send a simple email to the general email mailbox of Body Farm asking them whether Rodriguez was a co-founder of the  Anthropology Research Facility. Their reply was as follows:

William Rodriguez was a student under Dr. Bass and conducted research at the facility in the early and mid 80s. He was a major assistant in the early years, but was by no means a co-founder

There you go … straight from the horse’s mouth, “BY NO MEANS A CO-FOUNDER”.

Is William C. Rodriguez III guilty of “bolstering” or worse? How could Rodriguez stated that he was a co-founder of the famous forensic investigative Body Farm? Better yet, how could anyone with any common sense not questioned such a statement? And better than that, did Jose Baez and his crack staff of researchers only use Wiki’s as their proof? If so, no wonder Baez has an aversion to the Internet and blogs.

Need more proof  than that of an email from The Body Farm, why not. Below read the following passages from Dr. William Bass’s book, DEATH’S ACRE: Inside The Legendary Forensic Lab THE BODY FARM, Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson.

On page 102-103  Dr. Bass writes the following regarding William Rodriguez which would lead any one to believe he was an assistant …

” During winter, flies are grounded  by the cold; in fact, anytime the temperature drops below 50 degrees, flies stop flying. The Arikara graves that contained no pupal casings held people who died and were buried during cooler seasons of the year. It fascinated me at the time to realize that we could figure out, two hundred years after it happened, what season of the year an Arikara warrior had fallen in battle.By the time I established the Body Farm, I knew that if I could get a graduate student interested in studying insect activity in corpses, we’d probably figure out ways to deduce a lot more than just the particular season in which a person had died.

Bill Rodriguez was the ideal graduate student for the task — partly because he was willing to take it on, and partly because he had a broader background in field research than most graduate students.

Bill had an undergraduate degree in anthropology, with a minor in zoology. He’d entered anthropology intending to study primates, and in fact he actually went to Africa as part of a team working to restore laboratory raised chimpanzees to the wild. But he’d also taken my osteology course and had done quite well in it, so one day,when I needed someone to go with me on a forensic case, I went looking for an assistant, and Bill was the first qualified helper I found. He was washing grimy windows in one of our classrooms; because we were housed beneath the stadium’s concrete stands, a lot of dust and dirt swirled onto and into our quarters. Bill had a teaching assistantship, which sounded pretty highbrow, but the “assistantship” part included some pretty lowbrow chores like washing windows”.

But wait there is more. From page 104 reads as the follows:

” The police never managed to solve that particular murder, but the case did have one happy ending to it: it got Bill Rodriguez hooked on forensics.Primatology lost a promising young scientist that cold, snowy day. Not long after that, Bill helped clear the ground, level the gravel pad,and pour the concrete for the new Anthropological Research Facility. A few months later, he helped me set out our first research subject, corpse 1-81. by then Bill had settled on his thesis topic. H.B. Reed had chronicled insect activity in dog carcasses. Bill would do the same thing with human corpses, beginning with 1-81.”

(Hat Tip NikkiBNurse for transcription of Dr. Bass’s book)

Let’s get the facts straight, Dr. William Bass came to Knoxville TN in 1971 and started the Anthropological Dept there. William Rodriguez was his student and Bass was his mentor and he taught Rodriguez at UT. Rodriguez then helped him with getting the Body Farm started, according to this book and Body number 1-81 was his first project, the first body laid out on Death’s Acre.. BUT, the idea and concept of the Body Farm was solely that of William Bass. Boss formulated it, devised it and founded it. End of story.

Bass was the one who was reviewing bodies years before that concrete was poured. and as he states on page 96, “In the fall of 1980, my STUDENTS and I set to work. We cleared trees and brush from the center of the site;we laid a gravel driveway so trucks could pull in with bodies and equipment;we ran  water line and electricity from the hospital.”

So, several students worked on breaking ground here … it does not mean THEY founded it. Nor does the Body Farm say it either. So you make the call, why would Rodriguez need to say he was more than he really was when it came to The Body Farm? Rodriguez is looking to discredit the work of Dr. Arped Vass and call it junk science. However, if one wishes to discredit another, they might want to first start by telling the truth of themselves first.

What is insane is that Rodriguez had impressive credentials, so then why the need to fabricate and imply to the jury that he was a co-founder of The Body Farm?

Casey Anthony Murder Trial: Is William C. Rodriguez III Really a Co-Founder of the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, Better Known as “The Body Farm”? I Thought Dr. Bass Founded It!

Things That Make You Go Hmm …

Yesterday, during the tumultuous morning  of the Casey Anthony murder trial when defense expert witness, William C. Rodriguez, was on the witness stand he stated that he was a co-founder of the “Body Farm”, or as it is officially known as the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility.With all of the attention being paid to the fact that Judge Belvin Perry admonished defense council Jose Baez for his intentional effort in going against the court’s order on discovery, was there something missed with regards to this defense expert witness’s curriculum vitae? Obviously Mr. Rodriguez has an extensive history in forensic anthropology, but  did he really co-found the Body Farm?

Defense expert witness: William C. Rodriguez III

Upon a cursory review, the only reference of William Rodriguez as a co-founder of the Body Farm was in a Wiki. Please tell me that Jose Baez and his master defense team sleuths did not use a Wiki as the Gospel? This would be as big a blunder as jumping to conclusions that Vasco Thompson  received calls from George Anthony, even though he ex-con never had the telephone number in question until 2009.

Defense expert witness testimony on direct from Jose Baez, June 19, 2011: (Watch VIDEO HERE on exact comments)

Defense Attorney Jose Baez: Are you a Co-Founder of the Anthropological Facility at the Univ of TN – also known as the Body Farm?
William Rodriguez:  Yes I am

Really? Every article and reference to “The Body Farm” has William M. Bass as the founder and no reference of William Rodriguez. Even the bio on the official web page of Forensic Anthropology Center only mentions Dr. Bass and no mention of William Rodriguez.

The program began with the arrival of Dr. William M. Bass in 1971 to The University of Tennessee Knoxville. He oversaw the development of the discipline at UTK, which culminated with the creation of the Forensic Anthropology Center within the Department of Anthropology, and many resources for students, researchers, and law enforcement agencies.

From the Anthropological Research Facility brochure, still no mention of William C. Rodriguez III.

The Research Facility, opened at its present location in 1980 by Dr. William M. Bass, provides an ideal setting to scientifically document postmortem change. This outdoor field laboratory enables the investigation of parameters which are crucial in time since death estimates. Donated remains make this research possible and simultaneously provide a modern osteological teaching and research collection.

In reviewing past articles articles on the “Body Farm”, there is no reference as Rodriguez as a co-founder.  The following is a Newsweek article, ‘Down on the Body Farm” from October 23, 2000, long before and expert witness testimony of the Casey Anthony murder trial. William C. Rodriguez III is quoted in this article

William Bass III, 73, the Body Farm’s founder, doesn’t find the scene ghoulish. “I see this as a scientific challenge,” he says, as maggots work efficiently on 20 or so corpses decomposing in the early autumn sun. Then Bass uses a gloved hand to lift a rotting limb.

Only 61 American anthropologists now apply their broad-ranging science to crime busting. Bass trained 19 of them. His graduates labor from the Smithsonian to the U.S. Army Central Identification Lab in Hawaii to major metropolitan morgues. Several have probed mass graves in Kosovo and Bosnia.

Body Farm alumni have probed many of the world’s trouble spots. William Rodriguez, chief deputy for special investigations with the U.S. Armed Forces Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C., led the U.S. medical team into Kosovo just after last year’s armistice. It looked at 300 victims from two different regions and provided the War Crimes Tribunal with evidence for the initial indictments against Slobodan Milosevic. “Most of the remains were in an advanced state of decomposition,” says Rodriguez, who earned his Ph.D. from UT in 1984 and remains in weekly contact with his mentor Bass   …  Without Bass and the accumulated research from the Body Farm, Rodriguez told NEWSWEEK, “I couldn’t have answered well over 50 percent of those questions.”

Other references of Dr. William Bass as being the founder of The Body Farm, not co-founder

1. Slippery Rock University of PA: Forensic Anthropologist, Founder of ‘Body Farm’ Dr. Bill Bass to Lecture on Criminal Investigations.
2. Herald Citizen, 9/2/10 – Body Farm founder to talk in Livingston this week
3. Volunteer TV, 2/8/11- Body farm founder raises money for Anthropology students
4. UT – Knoxville – Bill Bass, forensic anthropologist and founder of the Body Farm, will talk about his book, “The Devil’s Bones and Other Stories,” at 2 p.m., Sunday Feb. 17.
5. Cleveland Daily Banner: ‘Body Farm’ founder discusses importance of UT research site

What’s in a Wiki and can they be trusted as fact? The Magic 8-Ball says that signs point to “No”. In doing serches on line, we cannot find one place prior to yesterday’s trial where there is a reference that William Rodriguez was a co-founder of The Body Farm, except in a Wiki that was edited in 2010 by an IP from MD.  Interestingly enough, Dr. William Bass’ WIKI states that he is the FOUNDER of the Body Farm.

William M. Bass is a U.S. forensic anthropologist, renowned for his research on human osteology and human decomposition. He has also assisted federal, local, and non-US authorities in the identification of human remains. He taught at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and though currently retired from teaching, still plays an active research role at the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, which he founded.

Then we look at the Body Farm WIKI, or the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility which states that it was started by was started in late 1971 by anthropologists William M. Bass and Bill Rodriguez. However, there appears to have been an edit made in the Wiki in 2010.

The University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, better known as the Body Farm and sometimes seen as the Forensic Anthropology Facility,[1] was started in late 1971 by anthropologists William M. Bass and Bill Rodriguez as a facility for study of the decomposition of human remains. It is located a few miles from downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, behind the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Click HERE or on pic for larger image

There is an extensive article from TruTV on the Body Farm and Dr. Bass’ efforts in dreaming up, implementing and founding the Body Farm. For those interested in forensic science, this is a fantastic and informative read as to what the Body Farm is all about. However, there is a lack of William Rodriguez’s name in the chapter after chapter of reading.

Check out the VIDEO below from 2007 from The Body Farm with both forensic anthropologist  William Bass and forensic entomologist Neal Haskell, Ph.D., M.S.

We have a question into the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility as to whether William C. Rodriguez was a co-founder of the Body farm. We shall await their answer; however, from what is presently available, it would seem like a slight embellishment at best. Would an individual, William C. Rodriguez III, who got their undergraduate degree in the 1980′s be a co-founder when according to the VIDEO below, Dr. Bass discusses the concepts and the beginning of  the Body Farm started in 1971.

This would seem like something that maybe the State and prosecutor Jeff Ashton might want to ask William C. Rodriguez about. One would think that of you were the co-founder of such a prestigious forensic science facility like the Body Farm, it would be referenced everywhere and when Bill Bass’ name is listed it would say, co-founder as well. One would think. However, putting up fences and pouring concrete does not a co-founder make. That would be a laborer and student who was helping out, hardly a co-founder. If Mr. Rodriguez did more, we would really like to see it. if not, Jeff Ashton best object to “Bolstering”.

By the way, where is the MSM in all this? Stop showing videos of individuals beating each other up waiting in line for the Casey Anthony trial and misinforming the public that Werner Spitz did some type of great job by dropping unsubstantiated BS bombshells when he was destroyed by the prosecution on cross and investigate whether there is some embellishments going on here. Inquiring minds want to know.

Hat Tip for contributions to Post: TurboThink, Klaas

Casey Anthony Murder Trial Day 22: Defense Attorney Jose Baez Threatened with Contempt Charges by Judge Perry for Violating Court’s Order Rules of Discovery … Dr. William Rodriguez Expert Witness Fiasco

Day 22 – Murder trial of tot mom Casey Anthony: No Way Jose, Baez scolded by Judge Perry and maybe held in contempt.

Judge Belvin Perry reads defense attorney Jose Baez the riot act in court today … will take up possible contempt charges against Baez after trial is over. Will Baez be found in contempt of court and be sanctioned again? Not only is Baez too inexperienced for a capital murder trial, his arrogance that he thinks he is the next coming of F. Lee Bailey is beyond insane.

Judge Perry provides a Smack Down to Defense Attorney Jose Baez

It did not take long this Saturday morning for fireworks to erupt in the murder trial of Casey Anthony in the death of her daughter Caylee. Defense witness Dr. William Rodriguez III, co-founder with Dr. Bass of the Body Farm, was the first witness and he was not on the witness stand long when the State objected that Rodriguez be considered an expert in entomology (VIDEO – 11:22) and a side bar was called by Judge Belvin Perry. You could see during the this mornings proceedings that Judy Perry was annoyed. That would only be the beginning of how upset Perry would become. Eventually, the witness was accepted as an expert in the fields tendered by the defense. However, the best was yet to come.

Then it happened again, State prosecutor Jeff Ashton objected during Rodriguez’ testimony, asked for a voir dire and asked Judge Perry to approach the bench. Judge Perry then looked to the Heavens once again and dealt with a side bar with Jose Baez, Cheney Mason and Jeff Ashton. It lasted a short period of time but still the time bomb was yet to go off.

THEN IT HAPPENED, Ashton objected again stating that “we have a discovery issue (VIDEO – 26:04). A perplexed Judge Perry told attorneys to approach the side bar and cut the comments out. The side bar lasted forever and it was obvious that Judge Perry was none too pleased with Baez and the defense. They came back from the side bar and Judge Perry asked Ashton to make the objection again so that they could go through the issue by the numbers.

Ashton’s objection was that the opinion being offered by the defense expert witness is not contained in his report of Feb 21, 2011 pursuant to the court order previously stated by Judge Perry. Ashton goes on to say that there is no reference of an opinion with regards to duct tape or any interpretation of duct tape. Jose Baez and the defense team was busted. Baez tried to weasel out of the obvious game that had been caught in by saying, that it was their understanding of the court’s order that if it was not submitted in the report or in deposition that it would be precluded from trial (VIDEO – 5:14). An infuriated Judge Perry told Baez to pull out the court’s order and read the portion that is in question. Judge Perry then began asking the witness, Dr. William Rodriguez III, some questions as it pertained to his understanding of what should have been included in his reports and what he was going to testify to as to the duct tape in this case.

Read more

Casey Anthony Murder Trial Day 21: Surprise Defense Witness Vasco Thompson Looks to be a Legal Defense Sham … What’s in a Number?

When will the Baez and his defense ever learn what the term “legal ethics” mean? Hell, when will Baez and his band of merry liars lawyers do their investigative home work before they try and ruin people’s lives? It appears that Baez and his ilk will do anything to give the impression of reasonable doubt, including jumping to conclusions without any due diligence.

Add Vasco Thompson to the long list of people damaged by the exploits of alleged murderer Casey Anthony. JOSE BAEZ DREAM TEAM? Hardly. At this point the junior varsity mock court from any nearby law school might be better served.

This week  Jose Baez and the Casey Anthony defense team added Vasco Thompson to the defense witness list. It was touted as a “BOMBSHELL” tonight surprise witness and the aha moment. Thompson was a convicted kidnapper who was said to have made four phone calls with George Anthony, the tot mom Casey Anthony’s dad.Or so the defense says. Once again the defense and Baez appear to be playing games again and trying to smear the name of George Anthony. Or is Baez and his defense team really that ignorant?

George Anthony angrily issued a statement through his attorney earlier this week denying those claims. Today, Vasco Thompson stood outside the Orange County courthouse and also denied that he’d ever met George Anthony.

“I have no idea who George Anthony is,” Thompson said. “The phone number they got, I didn’t have that number until February of 2009. I don’t know why they dragged me into all this mess.”

Baez never said what Thompson’s connection to the case may have been, but he has accused George Anthony of helping to dispose of Caylee’s body after she accidentally drowned in the family pool.

George Anthony denied knowing Vasco Thompson and it got even better today as Thompson held a presser with his attorney that left egg on the face of Jose Baez and his legal team.Vasco Thompson said at his presser today that he had no idea who George Anthony was and never had the telephone number in question until February 2009. Just one problem, Caylee Anthony went missing in 2008 and her remains were found in December 2008. Are you serious? The Baez Legal Beagles couldn’t do their home work and see who actually had the telephone number at the time of the calls? Really?

“I have no idea who George Anthony is,” Thompson said. “The phone number they got, I didn’t have that number until February of 2009. I don’t know why they dragged me into all this mess.”

I am guessing that the barrister Jose Baez will no longer be calling Vasco Thompson to the witness stand as he will be too busy wiping the egg off his face. But Jose, Don’t Lose that Number … you never know when you might want to call some one else and ruin their life all in the name of defending a pathological liar and client in Casey Anthony who would go 31 days before ever notifying any one that her child was missing when in fact, Caylee was already dead.

Blow Flies & Punches Fly Before the Casey Anthony Murder Trial Begins Friday, June 17, 2011 … All Hell Breaks Loose Waiting in Line (VIDEO)

Blow Flies and Punches fly …

Punches fly as a fight breaks out before the trial starts Friday morning, June 17, 2011 as spectators wait in line. What on Earth! Take a look at the VIDEO below and check out the insanity that took place as people waited “impatiently” in line. We can put a man on the moon, yet we cannot figure out a way to have people wait in line and not beat each other up? UNREAL.

What a commentary on our society today. Although, it some what resembles the “Battle Royal” between Jose Baez and the States Jeff Ashton yesterday during a side bar an proffer.