Comparison of Rehydration Techniques for Fingerprinting the Deceased after Mummification |
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| Authors: | Chun‐Chieh Chen M.S. Chao‐Kai Yang Ph.D Chun‐Yu Chen M.S. Henry C. Lee Ph.D. Sheng‐Meng Wang Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Forensic Science Section, Changhua County Police Bureau, Changhua City, Changhua, Taiwan;2. Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, Kwei‐San, Taoyuan, Taiwan;3. Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT;4. Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, Kwei‐San, Taoyuan, TaiwanFinancial support provided by the Ministry of Interior, Taiwan (ROC) (Grant No. 103–0805–06–05–01). |
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| Abstract: | Postmortem decay causes fingertip decomposition, desiccation, shriveling, and rigidity, reducing the possibility of obtaining sufficiently clear fingerprints for identification. In this study, five rehydration solutions (ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, urea, and warm water) followed by three fingerprint recording methods (photograph, inking roll, and dusting tape) were investigated to process mummified fingertips from an unidentified cadaver. The results show that sodium carbonate treatment is the most effective for minutiae restoration, followed by ammonium hydroxide treatment. This study also demonstrates that even those fingertips that previously failed in urea solution, 1% potassium hydroxide solution, and warm water treatment could be further improved with sodium carbonate solution to obtain qualified minutiae for fingerprint matching. The optimal procedure is rehydrating the desiccated fingertips with sodium carbonate solution for 24 h followed by dusting the finger and transferring the print to adhesive tape. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science fingerprint mummified rehydration restoration sodium carbonate potassium hydroxide ammonium hydroxide |
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