NCJ Number
145537
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1993) Pages: 169-172
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Evidence from a murder case demonstrates that skin material/debris can transfer to the inside surface of clothing, through pressure applied from the outside.
Abstract
Shoeprints were not visible on the outside surface of the victim's t-shirt, and were detected on the inside surface only through laser illumination. Image enhancements were attempted through a variety of physical and chemical methods. Electrostatic lifting did not produce dust that could have been transferred from the soles of the shoes to the outside surface of the t-shirt. Treatment with tetraaminobiphenyl did not reveal bloodstains in the shoeprint areas. Radioactive sulphur dioxide fuming did not further enhance the images. Through treatment with diazofluorenone, an amino acid reactant, the full tread pattern and part of the brand name of the shoes became visible, as did shoe damage characteristics. Treatment with ninhydrin, an amino acid and protein reactant, made the images slightly clearer; treatment with amido black, a general protein reactant, did not produce greater enhancement than had already been achieved. The actual shoes that made these prints were never found. 3 tables and 5 references