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YOU DON'T KNOW, (This article is a reprint from the Apr--Jun 1996 issue of the T.D.I.A.I. newsletter. As I have said in the past, Texas generates a bountiful supply of material--—Thanks Texas.)
By CHARLES PARKER Over the past twenty years I have had a number of people in law enforcement inform me that you cannot get a latent print off of this surface or that surface. My usual response is “You don't know, until you try.” One way to illustrate this point is the following information on the wide variety of surfaces from which latent prints have been developed. In Volume 43, #6 (Nov. -- Dec., 1993), of the JOURNAL OF FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION, an article by Jerry Miller described a latent print that was developed on the surface of a ribbed shotgun shell. The latent was developed by cyanoacrylate ester with additional processing of black powder. The latent print was later identified to a homicide suspect. In Volume 34, #3 (March, 1984), of the IDENTIFICATION NEWS, an article by Captain Marvin H. Barlow of North Carolina reported that latent prints were developed on some “old brick” that was part of a ventilator shaft on the roof of a building that was burglarized. The suspect was identified. In Volume 35, #7 (July 1985), of the IDENTIFICATION NEWS, an article by Roy Reed of Marshalltown, Iowa, described using silver nitrate to develop latent prints on brass slugs used in coin operated machines. In the article he stated that he developed several latent prints. No mention if a suspect was identified. In Volume 36, #12 (December 1986), of the IDENTIFICATION NEWS, an article by Cpl. H.A. LeRoy of Vancouver, B. C., describes using Physical Developer to develop some latent friction ridges on documents in a purse that had been in the Fraser River for approximately 3 and months. One of the latent prints was determined to be identifiable and was subsequently identified to the victim. Of course we all know about developing friction ridge detail on the sticky side of tape using Gentian Violet, or the new Sticky--Side Powder, but how many police officers know that this can be done? Not many from my experience. In Volume 35, #1 (January 1985), of the IDENTIFICATION NEWS, an article by Kathy Taggart, of Billings, Montana reports that a latent print was developed by using super--glue and then magna powder on a white onion skin. The latent was later identified to the suspect in the case. In the August 1982 issue of the TD--IAI newsletter, Burl D. Bourgeois of the Austin PD, described how a banana picked up by a suspect and left at the scene of a robbery at a Safeway Store, was processed for latent prints and one was lifted from the banana. It was later identified to the suspect's left index finger. Within the last five years in the Identification Section of the Corpus Christi Police Department we have developed latent prints on a wide variety of unusual surfaces, from Orange Jell--O, an electric cord, the inside of a rubber glove, a cigarette butt, a paper match, a dirty tire rim, a bloody patent print on a victim, a condom, and last but not least, a bloody patent print on a pillowcase. Not only can latent prints be developed on difficult surfaces, but the lifting techniques employed are sometimes very unusual. For instance take the following examples: In Volume XIV, No. I (June, 1995), of the “4N6“, which is the official publication of the Iowa Division of the IAI, Drue A. Powers of the Red Oak Police Department described the use of “ROLL'N GLUE”, for the lifting of latent prints. After powdering the surface, slowly pour the glue over the surface. After drying, the glue can be peeled off the surface with the latent print adhering to the glue. The bottom line is you really don't know, until you try, whether or not an unusual surface will contain that friction ridge detail that you are looking for to help solve a case. Good Hunting.
This article was reprinted in “THE PRINT” |