Evidence Recovery

Body of Evidence Greg Mason

Training Objectives
Describe the importance of crime scene security upon arrival at a death scene Describe the importance of obtaining critical information about the victim and who discovered the crime scene Discuss the importance of discovering the cause, manner and mechanism of death Describe how to properly document the scene and be aware of trace evidence including fingerprints, glass fragments, hair, fibers, paint chips, gunshot residue (GSR), vegetation, and nail clippings Describe how to develop latent finger prints or bloody finger prints on the body of a deceased person

Scene Security
Who discovered the scene 911 First Responding Officer (FRO) victim positioning Who has entered the crime scene EMS FD PD Det Was evidence disturbed for safety reasons Was the victim moved positioning & location FRO Observations weather conditions, lights on/off, odors present, smoke, bleach Occurred location or dump site, or hospital, or MEO Secondary locations teamwork vehicle, scenes

Victim Info
Identity prints if necessary Valuables wallet, jewelry, purse Known acquaintances Last seen detective work Clothing

Processing The Scene

Crime Scene Documentation Victim wounds Blood Spatter Digital, 35mm, Video Evidence free path to the victim Light Energy scan for trace Hairs, Fibers, GSR (wounds), cosmetic transfer, narcotics, bite marks, bone fragments, glass & paint chips Working together with the MEO & case Detective Time of death, lividity, decomposition, insect activity Collection of Clothing, casings or projectiles, GSR. Fingernail clippings/scrapings, DNA Blood Samples perpetrator blood Note: Each ME office should consult with their crime scene unit to establish a protocol regarding the collection of clothing from bodies at the scene

Processing The Scene

Latent Prints contact with the perpetrator or moved after death Female victims more opportunity wrists, ankles, Cyanoacrylate Fume, Magnetic powder, Krome Koat Transfer Bloody prints TMB Merbromin, Iodine Fuming, Amido Black Location Search

Evidence from MEO

Major Case Prints Foot Prints Hair Standards Blood Tubes Section of Rib Save Kit Recovered Projectiles Clothing Ropes

Modes of death
Homicidal Violence Suicide Accidental Drowning Falls or Jumps Electrocution Hanging Carbon Monoxide Overdose or poisoning Vehicular Accidents

Health Hazards
Blood borne pathogens PPE

Trace Evidence

Photographs courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Hair / Fiber Stimulated with Light Energy

Photograph courtesy of Payton Scientific Inc. , Buffalo NY

Seminal Fluid

Photograph courtesy of Payton Scientific Inc. , Buffalo NY

Ambient Light

Stimulated by Light Energy

Accelerant

Photograph courtesy of Payton Scientific Inc. , Buffalo NY

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Gunshot Residue
Components of the SEM Test Kit

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Adhesive Pad

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Remember that these are not swabs do not rub the applicator on the skin, instead dab each applicator up and down on each area.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

The applicator is dapped on and off the hand of the suspected shooter, not swabbed. Each kit comes with specific directions on where to take your samples from.

A positive GSR test does not prove someone fired a gun either.
GSR tests are a tool. A negative GSR test does not conclusively mean that a suspect did not shoot a gun.
Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Visible gun powder residue in the non-shooting hand of the victim.

This hand was placed around the cylinder of the revolver when it was fired.
Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Indentation on the trigger finger of the shooting hand

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Better to perform the GSR collection at the scene

Antiquated method of gun shot residue preservation

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Fingerprint Recovery

Iodine Fuming

Iodine fuming works through a process called sublimation; the changing of a solid directly to a gas without going into a liquid form first. Iodine crystals are stimulated by heat and change from a solid form directly to a gas (Fumes)

The Iodine Fuming Gun

Iodine Fuming
This is a non-destructive technique which can be used first in the Chemical enhancement sequence. Iodine is not sensitive to impressions that are "old". Several additional processing techniques may be applied following Iodine Fuming.

Heat activates Iodine crystals

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Remember, developed prints will fade rapidly and must be photographed.

Development is complete when fuming no longer produces Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL) visualization of the print.

Polished silver side down

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

The plate is then exposed to sunlight to develop the prints on the surface

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Polaroid Film
This method is very similar to the Krome Koat transfer method of lifting fingerprints, only using the old style Polaroid Film. The unused Polaroid film is used straight out of the box, unexposed. The film is applied the to skin surface, face down, in the area where fingerprints are suspected of being. (1 to 2 minutes, without moving or lifting the film.) Lift the film off the surface and apply black or magnetic powder as needed to develop the print. The print can then be photographed and lifted or tape placed over the print to protect it from smudging.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Magna-powder

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Best results are obtained by warming the paper surface to above 86 Deg. (F) (Recommended by Dr. Lee Connecticut State PD) Krome kote paper is similar to photographic paper and is absorbent. The objective is to transfer the print from the skin to the Krome Kote paper.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Krome Koat Transfer

Card applied to area of suspected latent print. Hold the card firmly to the skin surface for about 1 min. Good areas to check for latent prints are the neck, wrists, ankles, chest area, back, face, etc. The type of crime and actions taken by the perpetrator may also give you additional ideas of where to look for prints.
Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Remove and Examine the Card for ridge detail Note* skin texture will often develop on the card along with ridge detail. Examine it carefully.

Transferred lift developed with magnetic powder.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Merbromin

Photograph courtesy of Payton Scientific Inc. , Buffalo NY

Merbromin is Applied in two parts.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

ALS 475nm Merbromin was designed to react within a wide range of the light spectrum.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Ultra Violet

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Amido Black

On Skin Tissue

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

The rinsing solution removes excess chemistry, allowing you to more readily see the chemistry that has stained the bloody contaminate.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Tetramethylbenzidine

When properly mixed, TMB takes on a light green-brown color.

Working Solution in sprayer

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Use provided safety gear when using or mixing TMB avoid breathing vapors or coming in contact with the powder or liquid form.

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Cyanoacrylate Fuming
Cyanoacrylate Ester is the ingredient in Super Glue that is needed to develop fingerprints on surfaces. Super glue fumes react with the moisture and Amino Acids found within the fingerprint residue. The fumes form a polymer that tunes the prints into a hard plastic (Polymerization)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Always Photograph any ridge detail observed after the process

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Developed prints can be lifted after being photographed

Photograph courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (FL)

Contact Information
Greg Mason 727-744-6180 gmason@pcsonet.com