Chapter 9
Sara generally respected the professional opinions of Albert Robbins, but the Medical Examiner had somewhat old-fashioned opinions about sex in general and rape in particular which were simply not supported by the forensic literature. As recently as a month ago she'd heard him state definitely that a victim had been a virgin. Sara knew that virginity could neither be established nor disproved by the presence or absence of an intact hymen, and that the presence or absence of vaginal trauma did nothing to distinguish between consensual sex and sexual assault. Studies showed that as many as a third of adolescents who were known to have been sexually assaulted (confirmed by confessions on the part of the perpetrator) had no physical findings on colposcopic examination. And it was well documented that even significant trauma could occur with consensual sexual activity. While it was rare, there were even case reports of women with intact hymens after the delivery of babies, possible because the hymen is not a solid membrane, but rather a redundant ring of stretchy distensible tissue, something like a hair scrunchy, attached to the edges of the vagina. And yet Robbins constantly made statements regarding the sexual experiences of victims, and whether or not they'd been assaulted. "I don't see any evidence of rape," Robbins would intone as he did his external exam. But not this time. This time there was little doubt about what had happened.
"Why a recorder, do you think?" Sara pondered out loud as she studied the bloody instrument still protruding from between the victim's legs.
"He hated fifth grade music class?" guessed Robbins.
Grissom threw him a dirty look and Sara choked back a laugh.
"I'm guessing it was an object of convenience," Grissom responded evenly, meeting Sara's eyes.
"Right place at the wrong time?"
"Exactly."
Robbins looked up from the corpse where he'd been continuing his exam and caught the intense gaze between his two colleagues. He waited a couple of beats, but seeing no change in the silent exchange, cleared his throat.
"Do you have any ID on this young lady yet, but any chance?"
Grissom looked over at him, surprised. The corpse had been logged in as "Jane Doe". Robbins knew perfectly well they hadn't identified her.
"Why?"
"Because she's lactating. There's a baby out there somewhere missing his mommy."
Exchanging a startled look with Sara, Grissom hurriedly pulled out his cell phone.
"Sofia? Have there been any recent reports filed involving an abandoned baby?"
"Not that I'm aware of, and generally a call like that would go out as an 'all points'. But I'll check. Why? What's up?"
"Looks like our murder vic had a kid."