LA Forensics: Bag of Tricks

Back at the Morgue

An autopsy was conducted on Kuster two days after he died. The medical examiner found blunt force trauma to Kusters head and left shoulder counted 13 stab wounds by a non-serrated blade.

Ten of Kusters stab wounds were in his neck and two of them cut the jugular vein. Some of the cuts were caused by a shallow, slashing motion that cut just the skin. Others went through the muscle. The deepest was 1-1/2 inches.

Kuster was also stabbed in the chest, back, shoulder and arm. It appeared that he fought off his attacker by raising his right hand, which was sliced, along with his forearm. His nose was also broken.

Perhaps the most interesting element was that Kuster clutched a lock of hair that was turned over to criminalists for processing.

Harry Klann examines evidence

Based on the wounds, detectives surmised the following: the killer confronted Kuster in his bedroom, smashing him in the back and over the head with the figurine and pummeling his face with a fist. Then a frenzied knife attack occurred that Kuster feebly tried to ward off. All of the wounds occurred while he was still alive.

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1. Bag of Tricks
2. Life in the Fast Lane
3. Scene of the Crime
4. Back to the Morgue
5. Too many Suspects
6. Trying to Make a Match
7. Finally a Break
8. Putting the Pieces Together
9. Justice at Last