At 02:57 PM 8/5/97 -0500, Thomas R Jefferys wrote:

I am pretty sure there are ways to distinguish between plastique and various
petrochems exploding.  They explode quite differently.  For example sewer

gas

probably would not destroy the sewer cap... instead it would knock it up

into

the air.  On the other hand c-4 would frag the sewer cap.

It's the speed of the explosive reaction and the distribution of force that
matters. Petrochemicals burn rather slow, while c-4 is faster (the nitrate
groups are what do it).

  It's the byproducts that would be the giveaway.  Any half-competent
forensics lab should be able to detect the distinctive residue from plastic
explosive.

On the other hand, potassium chloride breaks down as it does its work. It
breaks down into potassium ions (found naturally within the body in
reasonable abundance) and chloride ions (also found naturally within the
body in reasonable abundance). It also causes the heart to fibrillate and
fail, which is pretty much identical to a cardiac arrest. Potassium and
chloride ions disperse quickly into the body tissues as well. That's why
its, if not untracable, very hard to detect.

  The problem with Potassium Chloride as a murder weapon is that it has to
be injected directly into a vein, which is not a simple matter for an
assassin to accomplish.  The problem with any poison is that it is
difficult to use enough to ensure death without leaving any traces.  It is
amazing what some people can survive.  A morphine addict can take amounts
of morphine that would kill an ordinary person and some people just have
natural tolerances far in excess of the norm.  Of course, if you don't care
about leaving traces, no problem.  

Also, if potassium chloride's used in the right kind of victim, say one
with preexisting heart disease or renal failure, then you case a reaction
that wouldn't be unexpected in such people. The heart disease victims die
of heart failure, but what do you expect with a patient with heart disease?
The renal failure victims die of an electrolyte imbalance, but what do you
expect from a patient with renal failure?



Like I said, if the victim is right (heart or renal disease) then no one
will think twice about it.

Traceability isn't so much the problem, as is making it look accidental or
like a disease. That's hard to do with forgien poisons but much easier with
sensitive chemical balances and nasty infections. (Ebola, anyone? <wg>)

  Ebola is not guaranteed to cause death.  It isn't even guaranteed that
the person will develop the disease if exposed.

  The key is that no one finds the death suspicious.  If a top CIA official
with a history of heart disease drops dead from an apparent cardiac arrest,
there will still be an in-depth investigation and detailed autopsy.  Some
deaths will be treated as possible murder just because of the victim.  


   dml