5/5/2015 Chapter 15 Cast and Impressions By the end of this chapter you will be able to: o o o o * Distinguish between patent, latent, and plastic impressions Describe how to make foot, shoe, and tire impressions Use track width and wheelbase information to identify vehicles Explain dental impressions and match them with bite marks Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 O.J Simpson-If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit 1 5/5/2015 OJ Simpson’s Bruno Magali Shoes OJ Simpson’s Bruno Magali Shoes 2 5/5/2015 Cast and Impressions Evidence in the form of impressions is often found at the scene of a crime. there are three kinds of impressions: latent, patent, and plastic. Each kind of impression tells an important part of what happened at the scene of the crime. Cast and Impressions ● Foot, shoe, dental and tire impressions can be collected. ● From tire tracks, investigators can establish information to identify a vehicle ● Teeth impressions are as individual as fingerprints ● Shoe impressions can establish body weight, wearer’s activities and surfaces that the suspect usually walks on 3 5/5/2015 Casts and Impressions People, vehicles, and objects leave evidence of their presence at an accident or crime scene. o o o * Patent impressions are two-dimensional Latent impressions are hidden to the eye Plastic impressions are three-dimensional Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Patent Impressions ● Patent prints are 2 dimensional impressions that are visible to the human eye. They are from foreign substances that are transferred to another surface 4 5/5/2015 Latent Impressions Latent Impressions are left by blood, oils and sweat from the skin and transferred onto smooth surfaces. However, they are invisible to the naked eye and are recovered using alternate substances Plastic Impressions Plastic impressions are 3 dimensional imprints that can be left in soft materials, such as: snow, mud, soil, or soap 5 5/5/2015 Individual or Class Evidence? o Depending on how an impression is made determines whether if it is individual or class evidence o A particular tread pattern in shoes or in tires may identify the brand and size, but it does not identify a specific individual Individual or Class Evidence? Distinguishing characteristics such as: a split on a shoe sole or an unusual wear pattern on a car tire could be used as individual evidence Dental impressions are typically considered individual evidence and have a long history of use to identify individuals 6 5/5/2015 Shoe Impressions o o o o * Shoe print size indicates the foot size The depth of a foot or shoe impression indicates a person’s weight The type of shoe can tell something of the person’s job or personality Databases contain the names of specific manufactures and tread designs Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Shoe Wear Patterns Factors that personalize a person’s footwear: o Body weight o The way a person walks • Weight distribution • Direction of toes (straight, pointing out or in) o o * The surface on which the person usually walks Unique holes, cuts, and debris embedded in the tread Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 7 5/5/2015 Shoe Wear Patterns Databases contain the names of specific shoe manufacturers and tread patterns used to identify different types of shoes Collection of Shoe Impression Evidence Why would the following steps be important? 1. Take photos as soon as possible 2. Take multiple photos of the impression from at least two different orientations 3. Place an identifying label and a ruler in position with the impression for the photo 4. Use oblique lighting when possible 5. Dental stone is used to cast shoe prints * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 8 5/5/2015 Casting Shoe Impressions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq uyNZaNbPo http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 19767544 Comparison of male/female feet Lifting Latent Impressions Different methods to make latent prints visible: o Luminol makes bloody footprints visible for photography o Dusting the latent print reveals an impression for lifting or photography o Electrostatic lifting and gel lifting (image below) techniques can capture hidden impressions * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 9 5/5/2015 Electrostatic lifting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQz4gNjcvAA Electrostatic Dusting and Lifting o o o * Electrostatic dusting reveals dust left with each step and creates an impression Electrostatic charges can lift impressions from paper wood surfaces carpeting linoleum asphalt concrete Gel lifters also recover latent impressions Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 10 5/5/2015 Comparing Shoe Size and Height * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Tire Treads and Impressions o o o o * Tire treads—ridges and grooves channel water away and provide traction Patent tread patterns—impressions made after tire runs through a fluid material Latent tread patterns—impressions from tire oils used to keep tires soft and pliable Plastic tread patterns—three dimensional impressions left in soft surfaces Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 11 5/5/2015 Tire Treads and Impressions o o o o * Unique design of a tire’s surface is referred to as a tread pattern Tread patterns can indicate the type of vehicle that left the mark Link a suspect or victim to a crime scene Reveal events that took place at the scene Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Anatomy of a Tire * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 12 5/5/2015 Tire Tread Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv NzsqvQbS8 Recording Tread Impressions o o o o o * Count ridges and grooves across the tire width Note unique characteristics—wear or pebbles embedded in the grooves Create a print of the suspect’s tire impressions through one revolution Compare impressions from the crime scene and suspect’s tire Identifying tread patterns may not be enough to link a suspect with a crime scene Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 13 5/5/2015 Identifying a Vehicle Track widths— (Side view) From center of tire to center of tire Wheelbase length—(Front view) From center of front axle to center of rear axle * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Identifying a Vehicle o Turning diameter is a measure of how tight of a circle can be driven by a vehicle or the minimal space required for a car to make a U-turn Databases can be checked to find the vehicle with these specifications * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 14 5/5/2015 Accident Reconstruction o o o * Drivers may not recall the exact series of events before, during, and after an accident People, vehicles, and objects, however, can leave evidence of their actions at the scene of an accident Debris patterns and tire marks can be clues to speed, direction, and vehicle identification Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Accident Reconstruction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u96_C gE86ys 15 5/5/2015 Accident Reconstruction There are three basic types of tire marks: o o o Skid marks—clues to the distance traveled after brakes are applied and the vehicle’s speed Yaw marks—shows a sideways skid Tire scrub—determines the area of impact How are each of these formed? * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Dental Impressions o o * Occasionally a perpetrator will leave behind a bite mark—considered individual evidence Note differences in the size of teeth and jaws, position, fillings, crowns, caps, breakage, and crowding Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 16 5/5/2015 Development of Teeth ● The appearance of teeth follows a predictable pattern beginning in the first 7-12 months of life * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Development of Teeth ● Gradually, the primary teeth are replaced by 32 permanent teeth ● The last teeth to emerge are the wisdom teeth, which emerge between 17 and 21 17 5/5/2015 Dental Patterns in Forensics There are the two basic ways dental patterns can be used in forensic investigations: 1. Used to identify unknown bodily remains, and; 2. identifying a suspect from a unique bite pattern or bite marks left at the scene of a crime * Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Dental Patterns in Forensics o There are 76 points of comparison when comparing a suspect’s dental patterns with bite marks left at a crime scene, such as: -Chipping, missing teeth, space between teeth, teeth alignment, individual tooth dimensions, etc.. 18 5/5/2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary o o o o * Impression evidence—whether patent, latent, or plastic—will be considered class evidence unless it has individualizing features. Debris patterns and tire marks can be clues to speed, direction, and vehicle identification. Differences in dental patterns can connect a person to a crime scene. Documentation (including early photos) is extremely important in an investigation. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15 Always leave a good impression 19
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