Forensic Botanist
Patricia Wiltshire, 63, is a forensic botanist and ecologist who investigates some of the most high-profile murder and rape cases in the country. She played a key role in convicting Ian Huntley of the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Patricia specialises in locating human remains and linking offenders to the scene of a crime, with the help of soil, vegetation, animal life and weather.
Patricia started her career as an archaeologist, studying the vegetation history of peat bogs and later became a London University lecturer in Forensic Archaeological Science. Then 13 years ago, Hertfordshire constabulary contacted her after they found a partially burned body dumped in a ditch. The police wanted to establish whether a particular car had been in that field and contacted Kew Gardens, who suggested they call Patricia. Patricia went to the crime scene and using pollen grains found at the scene and in the car, was able to prove the car had been involved in the crime. This secured a conviction. She had never seen a dead victim of crime till then, and says that her experiences in forensic investigation have "formed" her: "I don't think I thought at all before; I was in an academic environment and detached from life."
Patricia's techniques for extracting pollen from a body include washing its hair and using a crochet hook to retrieve fragments clinging to nasal passages; a trick that has earned her the nickname of "the snot lady".
She enjoys what she does and finds it compelling - she has always been curious about plant and animal life and loves facts. A double dose of whooping cough and measles when she was six left her with a chronic weak chest that interrupted her schooling. To make up for this, her parents bought her a set of encyclopaedias which she still likes to wade through.
It is wonderful to hear Patricia Wiltshire talking about her fascinating work.
Real forensics and police work are so much more interesting than boring made-up CSI and Waking The Dead-type shows.
Complain about this postHow can i get an mp3 of Dr. Wiltshires interview on Saturday Live please.
RWJ
Complain about this postHow could I hear Patricia Wiltshire's interview on Radio 4 Saturday morning again, as unfortunately I didn't manage to catch the beginning. I was absolutely captivated by it.
I found her interpretation of Intuition absolutely fascinating and she has made me re think my own perception of this.
Complain about this postI also, unfortunately, missed Dr Wiltshire's interview. I would really like to have a copy, if anyone knows where to find one.
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