Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) does not prohibit a criminal defendant from offering other crimes or wrongs of non-defendants circumstantially.

Greene v. B.F. Goodrich Avionics Systems, Inc., 409 F.3d 784, 790-791 (6th Cir. 2005) (upholding trial court's conclusion that decedent Greene's statement was admissible as an excited utterance because the statement was made "while under stress....Federal Rule of Evidence 803(2) or a comparable State rule creates a hearsay exception for an utterance that relates to a startling event or condition and is made while the declarant -- the maker of the statement -- is excited as a result of the starling event or condition.

Hirst v. Gertzen, 676 F.2d 1252, 1263 (9th Cir. 1982) (holding, in civil rights action against county, city, and government officials for prisoner's death in jail, that evidence of deputy's prior acts of violence which was introduced to establish the identity of the murderer, was inadmissible because even...The negligent or incompetent character of an agent or employee is an essential element of a negligent entrustment claim. If the negligent character or incompetence of the agent or employee is at issue, evidence about the negligence or incompetence of the agent or employee is not barred by the rule prohibiting the use of a person's character to show the person's conduct.

Schafer v. Time, Inc., 142 F.3d 1361, 1371-1372 (11th Cir. 1998) (reversing jury verdict and remading for new trial in diversity action even though the trial court had properly made a preliminary ruling which allowed defendant magazine publisher to introduce and explore plaintiff libel victim's specific...Propensity, or character, is admissible if character is an essential element of a claim, charge, or defense.