312 Forensic dentistry
cases. The marked three-dimensional nature of the bite in the nose in this case
remains an unusual finding, even today. Direct comparisons were also made
utilizing the dental casts from the only suspect, Walter Marx, directly to the
three-dimensional model of the nose. All three dentists, Drs. Gerald Felando,
Reidar Sognnaes, and Gerald Vale, testified at trial that the teeth of Walter
Marx made the bitemark in the nose of Lovey Benovsky. The admissibility of
the bitemark evidence and the conviction of Walter Marx were upheld on sub-
sequent appeals. Without the bitemark evidence, the prosecution did not have
a strong case against Marx. The testimony of a psychiatrist was considered
and Marx was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, not murder.^10
14.1.2.6 Illinois v. Milone, 1976
Within two years of the landmark case in California, an important and con-
troversial case occurred in Illinois. This significant and problematic case will
be more fully explored in the next section.
Figure 14.6 marked three-dimensional bitemark on the nose of lovey Benovsky.
Figure 14.7 the teeth of richard marx compared to the nose injury.