WCN (Westminster Cable Network)

Issue date: 10/10/09 Section: Campus News

October 17, 2009

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.-- Westminster chemistry professor Helen Boylan and 2009 biochemistry graduate Mallory Lichwa were part of Saturday night's telecast of 48 Hours Mysteries on CBS.

The two were consulted by producers and asked to demonstrat a high-tech laser instrumentation process that's one of the tools being used by forensic experts in a high profile murder case in Florida.

The murder of toddler Caylee Anthony and the pending trial of her mother have grabbed headlines and airtime all over the country. Investigators have claimed the mother concealed the child's corpse in the truck of her car, but can they prove it? 48 Hours Mysteries producers wanted to show how laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)will help investigators in Florida.

However, a gag order prevents anyone working on the case to discuss even the science behind the forensic science work.

When CBS producers started looking for someone who could show how LIBS works, they found Westminster. It was a result of Lichwa's use of LIBS for her senior research project on the forensics analysis of fingernail polish. She presented that research at a national chemistry conference. 48 Hours discovered her research abstract is online.

A 48 Hours camera crew traveled to campus in September to shoot a demonstration of the cutting edge science faculty and students are engaged in at Westminster.

Neither the defense or prosecution in the notorious murder case have consulted with Westminster's chemistry department, but CBS producers did. Their quest for researchers with a background with LIBS is a chance for the sciences at Westminster to shine if only for a few minutes on network television.

Check out our video coverage as well as photos from the television production at Hoyt Science Resources Center.

Hear from Dr. Boylan and Mallory Lichwa about their participation.

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