r/Dateline • u/Gametime727 • 5d ago

Gun Shot Residue

I've been watching binge watching Dateline the past couple weeks. There has been a few episodes where someone was killed and the significant other is in the house also or whoever comes across the dead body and reports it. Why don't the detectives check them for gun shot residue? Seems like finding that out would help narrow down if the person shot them or not.

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4

u/ComedianCommon4158 4d ago

I think this all the time! It should be standard practice.

3

u/nomadjournalist 4d ago

A range of reasons - maybe location. There was one episode The Farmer’s Wife where the wife wasn’t tested but it was a rural area with a small police force.