Transcript Criminalistics

Fingerprints
Fingerprints
History
• Ancient Carvings, 3000 B.C.
– Included figures depicting fingerprint patterns
• Awareness of patterns on fingertips
• China, ~ 3000 B.C.
– Fingerprints embedded in clay used to seal documents
and packages
Fingerprints
History
• William Hershel, 1860
– Confirmed FP don’t change over time
– Used FP in India to control fraud in
government contracts & pensions
– Didn’t envision using FP in criminal
investigations
Fingerprints
History
• Henry Faulds, 1880
– 1st to suggest using FP in
criminal investigation
– Offered to set up FP unit at
Scotland Yard, 1886-88
• Offer rejected
Fingerprint Classification
History
• Ivan Vucetich: Argentina PD, 1891
– Set up Anthropometry ID system
– 1891- developed FP classification system
– 1893- bloody FP used to solve homicide
• Ordered to revert back to anthropometry
– 1896- FP used exclusively in S. America
Fingerprints
History
• Anthropometry: 1870 - 1900
– Devised by Alphonse Bertillon
– Series of 11 body measurements
used to classify individuals
Anthropometry
1870-1900
Alphonse Bertillon
Fingerprints
History
Leavenworth Prison, Kansas - 1903
Will West
William West
Body height
178.5
177.5
Reach of both Arms
187.0
188.0
Trunk Height
91.2
91.3
Head Width
17.7
17.8
Head Length
15.8
15.9
R. Ear Length
6.6
6.5
L. Foot Width
10.8
10.7
Anthropometry: measurements in centimeters
Fingerprints
History
• Anthropometry: 1870 - 1900
– Will West/William West Case – Kansas (1903)
Will West
William West
•Anthropometry discredited
•Individuals distinguished by fingerprints
Francis Galton
“Finger Prints” 1892
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Studied minutiae of fingerprints
Collection >8000 sets of prints
Statistical proof of identity
Foundation for acceptance in
court
• Unable to determine heredity,
race, gender from fp.
Francis Galton
Three Principles
1. Fingerprints are Unique. No two ever found to be
the same.
2. Fingerprints don’t change during lifetime.
3. Detail sufficient to classify into 3 patterns:
1. Arches
2. Loops
3. Whorls
Fingerprint Classification
History
• Sir Edward Henry, 1900
– India- FP used to identify workers for payroll
– Credited with developing FP classification
system for British (“Henry System”)
– 1901- Scotland Yard adopted Henry System
for FP bureau
Fingerprints in the USA
• 1902- NYC Civil Service Commission uses to certify test applications
• 1903- NY State & Leavenworth Prisons
• 1904- Scotland Yard instructs US police at World’s Fair, St. Louis, MO
• 1905- U.S. Army
• 1911- 1st conviction based on FP evidence, Illinois
• 1924- FBI Identification Division
What Are Fingerprints?
• Ridges in upper
layer of skin (epidermis)
• Pattern produced by cells of
dermal papillae
• Provide friction
for grasping
• Ridges contain pores for
secretion of perspiration
• Developed in fetus at 17 wks.
• Never change
Composition of Eccrine Sweat
(Body Surfaces without Hair)
• >99% Water
• Solute Composition
– 44% Sodium Chloride
– 29% Lactic Acid
– 12% Urea
– 8% Amino Acids
– 7% Others (Organics & Inorganics)
Fingerprint Classification
Core - Approximate
center of pattern
Type Lines - Diverging
ridges that surround
the loop
Delta - Triangular
shaped area where
type lines meet
Fingerprint Classification- Loop
• Plain Loop
– Ridges start on one side, loop
around, and leave on the
same side
– Most common,
~ 60-65% of all fingerprints
– Ulnar Loop
• Opens toward the pinkie
– Radial Loop
• Opens toward the thumb
• Most often index finger
*Loops - 1 Delta and 1 Core
RADIUS
ULNA
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
• Whorl
– 30-35% of all fingerprints
– Circular pattern radiating
around the center of the
finger
– 2 or more deltas
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
Core
Delta
Delta
*Whorls - 2 Deltas and 1 Core
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
• Plain Whorl
– Line between
deltas crosses
circular part of
ridge pattern
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
• Central Pocket Loop Whorl
– Line between deltas does
not cross circular part of
ridge pattern
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
• Double Loop Whorl
– Two opposing loops side
by side
– How many cores and
deltas?
Deltas
Cores
Fingerprint Classification- Whorl
• Accidental Whorl
– Combination of any two
patterns except Plain Arch
Fingerprint Classification- Arch
• Plain Arch
– Least common, ~ 5% of
all fingerprints
– Ridges start on one side,
rise in the middle and
exit on the other side
– No core or deltas
Fingerprint Classification- Arch
• Tented Arch
– Ridges start on left, sharp
rise in the middle and exit
on the right
– Angle <90 degrees
This is not considered a Delta
What Types Are These?
Minutiae
Questioned Fingerprints
• Patent Prints - Made after finger comes in
contact with visible material
– Blood, Ink, Grease, Paint, Etc.
• Plastic Prints – Indented visible impressions left
in soft material
– Clay, Wax, Soap, Vaseline, Etc.
• Latent Prints - Invisible prints that must be
processed to be seen
Patent Fingerprints
• Visible Prints
– Easy to find
– Document with photography
– Collect entire item
– May be enhanced if needed
• Blood (Amido Black)
Plastic Fingerprints
• Indented Prints
– Easy to find
– Document with photography
– Collect item
– May be enhanced if needed
• Oblique lighting
Latent Fingerprints
• Invisible Prints
– Must be made visible
– Lighting
• Oblique
• UV (for non-absorbant surfaces)
• Alternate Light Source (high-intensity)
Alternate Light Source
• High intensity light beam
• Causes latent prints to
fluoresce when
illuminated
Weak prints: Fume with Super Glue, dust with fluorescent
powder, illuminate with ALS
Latent Fingerprints
–Increase Contrast
• Dark Background; make print lighter
• Light Background; make print darker
Dusting
Physical Enhancement
• Dust adheres to perspiration, oils in print residue
• Lightly dust - don’t wipe away print
• Apply small amounts of powder
• Use contrasting powders
– Gray or Black (non-porous surfaces)
– Fluorescent (multi-color surfaces)
• View with alternate light source (ALS)
• Magnetic Brush- powder with metallic particles
– Paper, leather, (porous substrates)
Dusting with Powder
Dusting with Magnetic Powder
Dusting
Physical Enhancement
• Dusting used on hard, smooth surfaces
• May be used on paper, if fresh
• Rapid, simple technique
– May be used to dust the whole scene
• If prints develop:
– Photograph (black & white)
– Lift with tape
– Place on contrasting background
Super Glue
Chemical Enhancement
• Cyanoacrylate – Active Ingredient
– Fumes react with latent print residue
– Prints are fixed (hardened)
– Print is visible (white)
– Print may be dusted after fuming to
enhance pattern
Prints On Paper
Chemical Enhancement
• Ninhydrin
– Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids
– Good for older samples
– Spray and heat
– Reaction takes
2 - 48 hours;
lasts months
• DFO (diazefluorenone)
– Used on money, less background
– Visible w/ ALS
Prints On Paper
Chemical Enhancement
• Physical Developer
– Silver Nitrate reacts with chloride
salts from perspiration
– Porous surfaces- paper and wood
– Results in minutes
– Print must be fixed or it will turn black
Automated Fingerprint Identification System
• AFIS
– Fingerprint scanned into
computer
• “Live scan”
– Compared with scanned
images of other fingerprints
• Open cases
• Arrestees, job applicants
SCALPS - Suffolk County
Automated Latent Print System
Woman and Son Found Slain on L.I.
Feb. 1984
A woman and her son were found slain yesterday in their home in Oceanside, L.I., the Nassau County police
said. The police, who did not disclose the cause of death, said they may have been killed during a robbery.
The victims were Susan Eigen, 41 years old, of 3412 Ocean Harbor Drive, and her son, Richard, 17. Their
bodies were discovered at 6:20 P.M. yesterday by another son, Michael, 11. The police, who are
investigating the deaths, said it is not yet known if they are related to the strangulation last Friday of
Luanne Anziano Finn, 27, of Oceanside, whose body was found in a burning car behind the Florence Smith
School in Oceanside.
New York: Mineola Man Convicted Of 1984 Murders
March 2004
A man was found guilty yesterday of two 20-year-old murders because of his application for a school bus
driver's job. The application required his fingerprints, which were matched to prints at the
crime scene. He faces a sentence of 50 years to life. The man, Louis Telese, 44, of Nanuet, was convicted
of murdering a Long Island woman and her 17-year-old son in 1984 in the family's Oceanside home. Mr.
Telese was arrested in June 2002, after the authorities linked him to the crime scene through the job
application, the district attorney's office said. One victim, Susan Eigen, 41, had been strangled, bound to
her bed and sexually assaulted. Her son, Richard, had been suffocated and bound to a banister. An
assistant district attorney, Robert P. Biancavilla said Mr. Telese, who was a cousin of the family living next
door, had planned to rob his relatives, but turned his attention to the Eigens because a relative was home.
Stacy Albin (NYT)
Live Scan-Inkless Fingerprinting
Minutiae Points Extracted from Known Print
AFIS
AFIS
•Computer identifies
ridge endings and
bifurcations for
comparison
•Software recognizes
geometric patterns
formed by these
minutiae with core at
center
Questioned Print
Known Candidate
Fingerprint Comparison
How many ridge characteristics are required for a match?
Suffolk County Automated Latent Print
System-SCALPS
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Established in 1986, Yaphank
Computerized fingerprint searches
297,800 sets of known prints on file
20,400 unknown latent prints on file
11,803 hits between 12/86 – 09/09
Updated 10/28/2009
Madrid Train Bombings
March 11, 2004
10 bombs on 4 commuter trains
191 dead, 1800 injured
Madrid Train Bombings
March 11, 2004
• 3/13: Interpol requests FBI help to identify FP on plastic
bag with detonators
• 3/20: FBI matches FP to Brandon Mayfield, Oregon
lawyer & Muslin convert
• 4/13: Spanish National Police call FBI’s match
conclusively negative
• 5/6: Mayfield arrested by FBI
• 5/19: Spanish National Police match FP to Algerian
suspect, Daoud Ouhnane.
• 5/23: FBI admits error
Madrid Train Bombings
The Evidence
Brandon Mayfield
Known
Questioned print
on plastic bag
Daoud Ouhnane
Known