The case involved close cooperation between investigators, including police detectives, evidence technicians, criminalists, investigation technicians, and a forensic odontologist. In 1975, acting on information supplied by the San Diego, California, Police Department, a homicide team forced the door of a private residence and found an adult male lying dead across a bed; he had been shot and stabbed. Two female adults were arrested in connection with the murder. Used chewing gum found at the crime scene was analyzed, and investigators found that chewing impressions matched those of one suspect. Remarkably, the suspect had an opening drilled in the back of her upper incisor and the same tooth was missing a filling. These same defects were noted on the chewing gum. Other criminal cases are described in which forensic techniques played an important role. 3 footnotes and 2 tables