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Use of Craniofacial Superimposition in Historic Investigation

NCJ Number
246571
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2014 Pages: 260-263
Author(s)
James A. Bailey Ph.D.; G. B. Brogdon M.D.; Brandon Nichols M.D.
Date Published
January 2014
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A skeleton discovered in Grand Forks, North Dakota was purported to belong to Clelland Clell Miller, a James-Younger gang member, who was killed during the Northfield Bank robbery on September 7, 1876.
Abstract
A skeleton discovered in Grand Forks, North Dakota was purported to belong to Clelland Clell Miller, a James-Younger gang member, who was killed during the Northfield Bank robbery on September 7, 1876. A 3-D image from a computer tomography CT scan of the skull was obtained, and a craniofacial superimposition was conducted to determine if the skull could belong to Miller. The superimposition method used in this case was to overlay the CT image of the skull onto Miller's postmortem photograph. In addition to the craniofacial superimposition, the images were juxtaposed to compare similarities or differences in facial morphology between the skull and photograph. Superimposition methods can be used to exclude identifications; however, they should not be used as a conclusive method for identification. In this case, there were sufficient similarities between the skull and Miller's photograph; therefore, the skull could not be eliminated as possibly being that of Miller. Abstract published by arrangement with Wiley.