Fingerprint Recovery from Human Skin by Finger Powder
Rozman KB, Trapecar M and Dobovsek B
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Abstract
An examination experiment has been carried out to investigate whether fingerprint powder and lifting technique can recover and transfer latent fingerprints from human skin surfaces of dead bodies. For recovery Swedish Black powder and for transfer White Fingerprint Gelatine were used.
Donors placed fingerprints on the human skin surfaces. Finger marks were then in all cases recovered with Swedish Black powder. The procedure was repeated after 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours. Treated finger marks were secured and preserved as latent fingerprint evidence by lifting process. We recovered 8% finger marks suitable for further examination of all deposited samples on the human skin surfaces.
Introduction
Crime scene investigation is a process that aims at recording the scene as it is first encountered, and recognizing and collecting all physical evidence potentially relevant to the solution of the case. Crime scene investigators who have received comprehensive forensic training usually quickly take over the work at the scene and implement ideas from research institutes in practice. The personnel processing crime scenes should be aware of equipment necessary to process a crime scene and a mechanism to secure and transport the evidence to the laboratory. Physical evidence has the potential to play a critical role in the overall investigation and resolution of a suspected criminal act. We can therefore say that in investigating crimes, we are using traditional investigative approaches with modern methods and “state of the art” tools.
The examination of latent fingerprints involves several steps, progressing from simple to increasingly sophisticated. Most fingerprints are hidden until revealed by chemicals (powder, liquids or gases). Once a print has been revealed, it is usually study or “lifted” and transferred to a laboratory. Scientists have developed more than 40 methods of retrieving fingerprints from crime scenes [1]. In our article we will focus on a method of fingerprint recovery from human skin by finger powder.
At the crime scene the finger marks may be found on many surfaces, including glasses, woods, papers, metals, fruits, vegetables and human skin. According to forensic literature human skin is one of the least convenient surfaces for recovering ridge skin impressions [2]. Hebrard and Donche [3] achieved positive results of finger mark recovery from human skin. They were using several methods include RTX method [4], powders [5-7], iodine fumes [6,7] and CA fuming [8]. The detection was done on surfaces of 16 living persons and 23 dead bodies. Delmas [9] presented the use of luminous magnetic powder. In his study intentionally deposited fingerprints on the skin of five victims were examined. Mashiko and Miyamoto [4] also achieved positive results of finger mark recovery from human skin.
This article is part of a study on fingerprints deposited onto human skin of dead bodies. It contains findings and results of recovery by fingerprint powder and gelatine lifter for finger marks on these surfaces.
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