NCJ Number
194766
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 17-21
Date Published
2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study considered the importance of fiber evidence among fingernail clippings. Both children and adult fingernail clippings were analyzed.
Abstract
Forensic evidence is important when trying to connect an alleged suspect to a crime victim. Often in murder and assault cases, the victim fights their assailant and in doing so, unintentionally gathers evidence under their nails. This study analyzed the fingernail clippings of 56 participants for the presence of fibers. Subjects were categorized according to gender, age, and left vs. right handed dominance, and the fibers were classified according to color and type (cotton, wool/natural, and man-made). Vials were given to the participants for the purpose of putting left and right hand fingernail clippings in each, and they were asked not to wash their nails prior to clipping them. The results showed that adults had more fibers under their non-dominant hand while children had more fibers recovered from their dominant hand. Because of skin cells found around some of the fibers, this finding indicated the fibers had been under the nail for some time. More cotton fibers were found under the fingernail clippings followed by man-made fibers and then wool. One possible reason fewer wool fibers were recovered may have to do with the time of the year the study was conducted, i.e., summer. This information is unknown. Tables, references