Jessamin A.

Santander
November 09, 2021
Activity 4

Hair Testimony Essay

My name is Jessamin A. Santander and I am one of the FBI investigators who reported to the
crime scene. Today I am here to testify my conclusion about the evidence I have found. In addition to the
physical evidence, strands of hair were obtained from the floor of the scene. I have taken hair samples
from the suspect to compare to the hair that was found.
Hair on different parts of our bodies help to regulate body temperature, decrease friction, and
protect the skin from direct sunlight. A single strand of hair consists of a hair shaft produced by a follicle
embedded in the skin. The three layers of a hair are the medulla, the cortex, and the cuticle. The medulla,
which is the inner section, can be hollow or filled, absent, fragmented, pigmented, or un-pigmented. The
cortex is the thickest layer containing most of the pigment giving hair its color. Lastly, the cuticle is the
outermost layer made of overlapping scales that protect the inner layer of the hair. When analyzing hair,
you can do it either macroscopically or microscopically. Macroscopic investigation can indicate length,
color, and curliness. Microscopic investigation can indicate fine detail in the hair structure. For example,
phase contrast microscopy can reveal the presence of dye or other treatments.
Hair is class evidence, not individual evidence. Since it is class evidence, it cannot be used to
identify a specific individual. The most someone investigating the hair can do is trace it back to a group
of people with similar hair traits. The strands of hair found at the crime scene do not, in fact, match the
hair of the suspect in questioning. Both the hair of the suspect and the strands found at the scene, are
blonde. The difference is, one was clearly bleached to obtain a dirty-blonde highlight, while the other is
naturally around the same shade of blonde. Since the crime scene is a public place, many people of
different hair colors pass through there daily. The hair obtained from the scene could have come from any
blonde that was seen near the area that day. The suspect should not be completely left off the hook, but
now we know that the hair was not from their head.
In conclusion, the hair that was found at the crime scene was not a match to the hair from the
suspect’s scalp. You should take into consideration that I am an expert on hair analysis when making your
final decision. I believe my findings are in fact true that the hair was not a match. The fact that one strand
was bleached blonde while the other was naturally blonde, should be proof enough.