forensicsworld

Alphonse Bertillon Anthropometry

Abrasion injury from a stopping incident. An obvious transfer of the footwear tread pattern has occurred. A great example of a class characteristic! Although no accidentals or random characteristics are visible, you can be certain that some of the victim DNA has ended up on the footwear of the suspect. If discovered soon enough that DNA could be collected. Once collected using a consent DNA sample from the victim, a comparison can be made. The goal of this is to connect the shoe to the victim.

How would you go about collecting the DNA from the sole of the shoe?

A PUMKIN IED!?!? 🎃

It’s June so why not a post about a pumpkin!

When most people see a pumpkin, they think of fall decorations, Halloween, or pumpkin pie. But in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and emergency response work, everyday objects can sometimes be used to conceal dangerous devices.

A pumpkin can be modified and used as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), taking advantage of its innocent appearance to avoid suspicion.

After forensics took photos from afar, the EOD team eventually deemed the pumkin safe to approach. It was determined to be a “fake” IED however it did contain a collection of nails and metal bits. The wires coming out of the top certainly raised concern!

No forensic evidence was located which would have assisted with identifying who left the pumpkin behind a building.

It was a great reminder… You never know so be careful!

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SCREWDRIVER PUNCTURE WOUNDS

A screwdriver may be a common household or workplace tool, but when used as a weapon or involved in an accident, it can cause significant and potentially life-threatening injuries.

What Makes Screwdriver Injuries Unique?
Unlike knives, screwdrivers have a narrow, rigid shaft that concentrates force onto a very small area. This allows them to pe*****te deeply into soft tissue, sometimes causing extensive internal damage despite a relatively small external wound.

Forensic Considerations
• Small, round, slit-like, or irregular puncture wounds may be present.
• External injuries can appear deceptively minor.
• Wound depth often exceeds expectations based on surface appearance.
• Damage to blood vessels, nerves, organs, and bone can occur.
• The shape and characteristics of the wound may provide clues about the type of screwdriver involved.

Assessing The Wounds
The limited size of the entry wound can mask serious underlying trauma. Medical imaging and careful examination are often required to determine the full extent of injury.

Reconstruction and Investigation
Forensic investigators examine:
✔ Wound morphology
✔ Direction and angle of pe*******on
✔ Number and distribution of injuries
✔ Associated tool marks or clothing damage
✔ Scene evidence and witness accounts

Understanding the mechanics of puncture wounds, and those specifically related to screwdrivers, helps investigators reconstruct events and distinguish between accidental, self-inflicted, and assault-related injuries.

Screwdrivers are typically “weapons of opportunity” however they can cause as much or more damage than expected!

Never fails…always something that grabs the attention! Breakfast today, Stanton Manor, England…footwear impression on the window sill!

First photo…“wounds” from left to right…small dagger, hunting knife, large dagger, military style knife. Second photo…the actual knives.

Note the difference between double edged and single edged weapon wounds. Using the dense foam the “wounds” are clearly different. Often the differences are equally clear when examining the skin of a stabbing victim!

At autopsy a thorough examination of stab wounds can reveal evidence of the general type of knife used in a homicide. Examining wounds can also be be very revealing in non-fatal attacks.

Connecting a weapon to a wound is an important part of any forensic investigation!

I’ve posted this one before…did the experiment in my driveway at home! One of my favs!

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USING A LOGHT TABLE TO VIEW FINGERPRINTS ON GLASS:

A light table is a simple but highly effective tool in fingerprint examination, especially when working with transparent surfaces like glass. By illuminating the evidence from beneath, latent fingerprints become easier to detect, photograph, and analyse without excessive handling of the exhibit.

How it works:
When glass is placed on a light table, transmitted light passes through the surface and increases contrast between the fingerprint residue and the background.

Use when viewing…
• Natural latent prints
• Powder-developed fingerprints
• Cyanoacrylate fumed marks
• Smears and ridge detail not visible under normal lighting

Advantages:
-Enhances ridge detail visibility
-Assists photography and documentation
-Reduces glare and reflections
-Helps identify the best angle for examination

Suggestions and Tips:
-Always examine glass under multiple lighting conditions and angles
-Combine using a light table with oblique lighting, forensic light sources, or filters
-Use a clear plastic scale or ruler in your photos

Give a light table a try!

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WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON BLOODSTAIN PATTERN FOUND IN FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS?

The most common bloodstain pattern encountered in forensic investigations is passive bloodstaining, particularly drip stains.

What are passive bloodstains?

Passive or drip stains are created when blood falls solely under the influence of gravity. They usually occur when a person is bleeding from a wound and blood drips onto a surface without any additional force applied.

Common examples:

* Drip stains – individual drops falling vertically
* Drip trails – a series of drops showing movement
* Pools – blood collecting in one area
* Flows – blood moving due to gravity across a surface

Characteristics of drip stains

* Usually circular if the blood falls straight down onto a smooth surface
* Become elongated when striking at an angle
* May show “spines” or satellite stains on rough surfaces

Passive bloodstains can help forensic investigators determine:

* The position of an injured person
* Movement through a scene
* Direction of travel

Note that there some variations in the labelling of these type of bloodstain patterns. As such without getting into the minutiae of particular terminology, we can all identify and relate to a “drip stain”…the round one! 🙂👍

Like, comment and keep your eyes open for evidence!

USING ARDROX TO PROCESS LATENT FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS

Ardrox is a fluorescent dye stain used in forensic science to enhance latent fingerprints after cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming on non-porous surfaces such as plastic, glass, and metal.

Once applied, the dye adheres to the cyanoacrylate-developed ridge detail and fluoresces under UV or forensic light sources, allowing forensic investigators to visualize and photograph prints with improved contrast.

Commonly used on:
• Plastic packaging
• Fi****ms
• Glass surfaces
• Tape & adhesive materials
• Cartridge cases

In this instance, aluminum foil!

Ardrox can enhance faint prints, reduce background interference and is useful on multicolour backgrounds.

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LACERATION vs INCISION WOUNDS

Laceration

Caused by blunt force trauma
Examples: falls, assaults, vehicle collisions

Characteristics:

* Irregular or jagged edges
* Tissue bridging present
* Bruising/abrasion often surrounds the wound

Skin tears from impact.

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Incision

Caused by a sharp-edged object
Examples: knives, scalpels, glass

Characteristics:

* Clean, sharp, well-defined edges
* No tissue bridging
* Usually longer than deep
* Minimal abrasion or bruising at margins

Skin is sharply divided.

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Differentiating wound types helps forensic investigators determine:

* Type of weapon or force used
* Possible sequence of events
* Direction and mechanism of injury
* Whether injuries are accidental, self-inflicted, or assault-related

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In Summary…
Blunt force tears tissue → Laceration
Sharp force cuts tissue → Incision

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