TOPIC: Blood evidence

In the early stages of the CID investigation, the most important forensic finding had to do with blood analysis.  A unique aspect of this analysis was the fact that each MacDonald family member had a different blood type.  This provided CID investigators with a virtual map of a family member's location and movements within the crime scene.

The following is not a complete list of all the blood evidence, but these are the most significant blood traces for each family member:

Jeffrey MacDonald (Type B blood):

  • Front and right side of the sink in the hallway bathroom
  • Stepladder in the hallway bathroom
  • Wicker material moved from the stool in the hallway bathroom
  • Five drops of blood, each the size of a dime, found on the kitchen floor in the front of the sink
  • Blood stain near the left elbow on Jeffrey MacDonald's pajama top
  • Blood found on the hallway closet door
  • Blood found on the bottom south edge of west door jamb in east bedroom

Colette MacDonald (Type A blood):

  • Massive blood stains on the master bedroom carpet
  • Blood spatter on the top sheet of the master bed
  • Massive blood stains on the blue bedsheet and multi-colored bedspread found rumpled together in the master bedroom
  • Blood spatter found inside the closet in the master bedroom
  • Bloody streaks found on the master bedroom ceiling
  • Two direct bleeding stains found on top of Kristen's bed
  • Blood spatter found on Kristen's wall next to her bed
  • Formation of the word "PIG" on the headboard in the master bedroom
  • Formation of Jeffrey MacDonald's left footprint found exiting Kristen's room
  • Bloody streaks found on the Hilton Hotel bathmat
  • Massive blood stains on Jeffrey MacDonald's pajama top
  • Bloody smudges found on the dining room floor
  • Blood stain found on the bathroom wall to the left of the sink
  • Cast-off blood spatter found on the north wall in Kimberley's room

Kimberley MacDonald (Type AB blood):

  • Six-inch circle of blood found just inside the entrance to the master bedroom
  • Trail of blood beginning at the entrance to the master bedroom and ending near the entrance to Kimberley's room
  • Blood spatter found on the ceiling in Kimberley's room
  • Blood spatter found on the wall in Kimberley's room
  • Transfer stain found on a bedspread in Kristen's room
  • Direct bleeding stains found on the blue bedsheet
  • Blood stain found on the lower left panel of Jeffrey MacDonald's pajama top
  • Bloody streaks found on the Hilton Hotel bathmat
  • Bloody smudges found on the dining room floor

Kristen MacDonald (Type O blood):

  • Direct bleeding stains on Kristen's pillow and bed
  • Blood on the side of Kristen's mattress and boxspring
  • Pool of blood on the floor next to Kristen's bed
  • Blood spot on the outer lens of Jeffrey MacDonald's glasses

There were several significant "or" results within the Fort Gordon blood report:

  • Blood spot near the top step of the stairs leading to the living room was Type B or Type O
  • Blood on a pink tissue found at the entrance to the hallway bathroom was Type A or Type AB
  • Blood on a pink tissue found in the hallway bathroom sink was Type A or Type AB
  • Right footprint found on the floor in Kristen's room was Type A or Type AB
  • Bloody smudge in the configuration of a finger found on the leading edge of an Esquire magazine was Type A or Type AB

The crime scene also contained a number of blood stains that could not be typed due to stain paucity:

  • Left footprint found in the middle of the hallway floor near the entrance to Kristen's room
  • Blood on the living room floor near the glasses of Jeffrey MacDonald
  • Top of the kitchen stove
  • Refrigerator door handle
  • Under the left kitchen sink
  • Side of the washing machine
  • Sink faucets in the hallway bathroom
  • Top of the bathtub
  • Left side of the hallway bathroom sink
  • Midnight Sun shampoo box located in a waste basket by the north door
  • Cloth toilet seat cover
  • Top of the toilet tank
  • In liquid removed from the sink trap in the main bathroom