Trace Evidence Analysis continues and builds upon the tradition of its successful companion title Mute Witnesses (2000). Written by some of the top practicing forensic scientists, each chapter explains in detail the detective and analytic work that goes into solving complex cases. The book contains nine entirely new cases, each self-contained in its own chapter, covering everything from homicides to accident reconstruction. Leading experts from around the world provide detailed accounts of the process of collection, classification, and analysis of microscopic evidence to draw definitive conclusions that solved actual cases.The cases not only fascinate but provide students and expert forensic scientists alike with an invaluable tool to examine the roles of trace evidence and microscopy in forensic investigation. ?· Contains contributions from some of the premier forensic scientists in the field?· Discusses the role of evidence in solving cases and explores the legal and ethical responsibility of the forensic scientist?· Explores real-world application of scientific methods and analytic principles including evidence gathering, instrumentation, sampling methods, analysis, and interpretation?· Includes over 160 full-color figures that illustrate the relevant case evidence
Author(s): Max M. Houck
Edition: 1
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 259
COVER......Page 1
TRACE EVIDENCE ANALYSIS: MORE CASES IN MUTE WITNESSES......Page 4
CONTENTS......Page 6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 8
CONTRIBUTORS......Page 10
INTRODUCTION......Page 12
THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF TRACE EVIDENCE CASES......Page 14
EXAMINATION AND METHODOLOGY......Page 20
CASE 1......Page 23
RECENT ADVANCES IN TRACE EVIDENCE ANALYSIS......Page 24
RESEARCH AND THE ESTIMATION OF EVIDENTIAL VALUE......Page 27
THE FUTURE OF TRACE EVIDENCE......Page 30
REFERENCES......Page 36
INTRODUCTION......Page 38
CRIME SCENE......Page 39
THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS......Page 40
ANALYSIS......Page 42
HAIR OF A DOG?......Page 45
HAIR OF AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG?......Page 48
PRIMARY TRANSFER VERSUS SECONDARY TRANSFER......Page 50
INTERPRETATION......Page 52
THE TRIAL......Page 55
SUMMARY......Page 57
THE “ROOT” OF THE PROBLEM......Page 59
REFERENCES......Page 62
INTRODUCTION......Page 64
FPFs AND PLASTIC COATING MARKS......Page 65
TEXTILE PRINTINGS AND LEATHER VARNISH......Page 71
HAIRS......Page 72
PINCHED FIBERS......Page 73
SEARCHING FOR TRACE EVIDENCE......Page 74
EXAMINATION OF TRACE MATERIAL......Page 77
EVIDENTIAL VALUE......Page 80
CASE EXAMPLE 1......Page 81
CASE EXAMPLE 2......Page 84
CASE EXAMPLE 3......Page 86
CASE EXAMPLE 4......Page 89
CASE EXAMPLE 5......Page 92
CASE EXAMPLE 6......Page 93
CASE EXAMPLE 7......Page 95
CONCLUSION......Page 96
REFERENCES......Page 97
INTRODUCTION......Page 100
INITIAL LABORATORY EXAMINATION......Page 103
POLICE INVESTIGATION......Page 104
HOUSE EXAMINATION......Page 105
CAR EXAMINATION......Page 106
ITEMS RELATING TO THE HOUSE......Page 108
DEBRIS FROM THE CAR......Page 110
CHAINS/PADLOCKS......Page 111
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FINDINGS......Page 112
SUMMARY......Page 114
REFERENCES......Page 115
INTRODUCTION......Page 116
CASE 2......Page 117
THE ANALYSIS......Page 118
SUMMARY......Page 129
REFERENCES......Page 132
INTRODUCTION......Page 134
EVIDENCE......Page 135
THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST......Page 136
THE IMPACT OF DNA TESTING......Page 137
TRACE EVIDENCE......Page 138
THE EXPERT WITNESS......Page 139
HAIR AND FIBER EVIDENCE......Page 140
FORENSIC HAIR ANALYSIS......Page 141
FORENSIC FIBER ANALYSIS......Page 146
EVIDENTIAL VALUE......Page 147
HUMAN HAIR......Page 148
TEXTILE FIBERS......Page 151
THE CASE......Page 156
LABORATORY APPROACH......Page 157
ACTUAL HAIR AND FIBER RESULTS......Page 160
THE APPEALS......Page 169
REFERENCES......Page 173
THE COLLECTION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE......Page 176
VOMIT AND CEREAL......Page 180
IDENTIFICATION OF FOOD TRACES BY LIGHT MICROSCOPY......Page 183
SOIL......Page 192
GARBAGE CANS......Page 194
SOOT......Page 197
SEQUENCE OF TRANSFER EVENTS......Page 199
REFERENCES......Page 200
INTRODUCTION......Page 202
COLLECTING TRACE EVIDENCE......Page 203
AN INTERROGATION WITH NO WITNESSES......Page 206
COURSE OF FIBER INVESTIGATION......Page 207
COLLECTING REFERENCE MATERIAL......Page 209
ANALYSIS......Page 210
SUMMARY......Page 220
REFERENCES......Page 221
INTRODUCTION......Page 222
CRIME SCENE......Page 223
INVESTIGATION......Page 224
ANALYSIS......Page 226
COURT PROCEEDINGS......Page 237
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 242
THE CRIME SCENE......Page 244
THE CARPET FIBERS AND COLOR......Page 248
THE ROPES AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION......Page 254
REFERENCES......Page 260
L......Page 262
Z......Page 263
C......Page 264
F......Page 265
I......Page 266
R......Page 267
T......Page 268
V......Page 269
Z......Page 270
