NCJ Number
182622
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: July 1999 Pages: 695-699
Editor(s)
R. E. Gaensslen Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
William Maples practiced many aspects of human identification using simple and relatively inexpensive video superimposition equipment, and identification of skulls by comparison to known photographs was a primary concern.
Abstract
Maples determined clear, smiling photographs revealing the spatial relationships of the teeth to one another led to uncomplicated positive identifications. However, without benefit of dentition, the accuracy of an identification based on the alignment of soft tissues with the underlying skull was questionable. A study conducted by the author and Maples used 3 human heads and 98 profile and full-face photographs. A 0.6 percent incidence of false matches resulted when both views of the face were used. Lateral view and frontal view super-impositions were identified incorrectly in 9.6 percent and 8.5 percent of the sample, respectively. As a result, multiple photographs from varying angles were requested for superimposition identity cases. Additional applications in laboratory case work were developed for the equipment. Light boxes under television cameras allowed radiographic comparisons. Videotaped comparisons of antemortem and postmortem radiographs were shown to medical examiners and families as proof of identification. The author and Maples were also involved in several cases in which photographs taken by surveillance or automatic teller machine (ATM) cameras were compared to court-ordered photographs of an alleged perpetrator. One case that went to trial led to the conviction of a habitual criminal; this individual had a condition known as Stahl's ear, a deformation of the cartilaginous structure. The ear was clearly seen in many of the ATM camera photographs and was easily aligned with the known photographic sample. 32 references and 4 figures