Obtaining fingerprints from mummified fingers: a method for tissue rehydration adapted from the archeological literature

Our laboratory was asked to help with the rehydration of mummified human fingertips that had been removed from a recently deceased, unidentified female. Using a solution that was found in the archeological literature, we were able to successfully rehydrate dermal tissues to the extent that fingerprints could be taken. We believe that this solution, which until now has not been described in the forensic literature, is effective, affordable, and relatively easy to produce and use.     

The Frye hearing in Florida: an attempt to exclude scientific evidence

State Supreme Courts require a minimum threshold of reliability and acceptance in the scientific community for all medical and similar evidence to be admitted at trial. In Florida and some other states, the courts adhere to what is known as the Frye standard, whereas in most states and in Federal Courts, it is the so-called Daubert standard. The jurisdiction of the present case is Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida. Forensic pathologists seldom, if ever, are requested to participate in such hearings, unlike their toxicological and basic science colleagues who are more involved in research methodology and technical procedures. The burden is on the proponent of the evidence to prove the general acceptance of both the underlying scientific principle of the test and procedures used to apply that principle to the facts of the case at hand. The trial judge has the sole discretion to determine this question and general acceptance must be established by a preponderance of the evidence. The authors describe in detail a hearing in a case in which they were all involved. One author (WQS) had researched and documented the original scientific methodology in the literature. The situation involved a car and tractor trailer crash with the two occupants of the car dying of multiple trauma, whereas the truck driver was not injured. Autopsy of the auto driver revealed multiple injuries with exsanguination, and only vitreous humor and liver tissue, but not blood, were tested for ethyl alcohol. The estate of the driver of the automobile brought suit against the owner of the trucking company for wrongful death. The plaintiff requested a Frye hearing to question the reliability of testing other body specimens to translate to probable blood alcohol level. The testimony, submitted documents, and eventual decision by the judge are discussed.     

Evaluation of 1,2-indanedione and 5,6-dimethoxy-1,2-indanedione for the detection of latent fingerprints on porous surfaces

The ability of 1,2-indanedione and 5,6-dimethoxy-1,2-indanedione to detect latent prints on porous surfaces, as compared to DFO and ninhydrin, has been evaluated. Comparisons of prints developed under various conditions determined the optimum development conditions for the new reagents. The indanediones tested were found to have lower detection limits for glycine. The carrier solvent used was found to affect the quality of the prints developed. In Arklone, the new reagents developed prints that displayed superior luminescence to those developed with DFO. In HFE 7100, 1,2-indanedione and 5,6-dimethoxy-1,2-indanedione gave superior luminescence to DFO after zinc salt treatment and cooling with liquid nitrogen, both of which improve the luminescence of prints developed with 1,2-indanediones. 1,2-Indanediones could offer less expensive but effective alternatives to DFO. With further optimization, the new reagents may supersede DFO as the method of choice for the detection of latent fingerprints on porous surfaces.     

The accelerated polyvinyl-alcohol method for GSR collection--PVAL 2.0

The polyvinyl-alcohol collection method (PVAL) is used in forensic practice to gather topographical information about gunshot residues (GSR) from the hands to decide if the subject has made use of firearms. The results allow a distinction between suicide and homicide. The only inconvenience of PVAL was that the procedure took about 60 min because three layers of liquid PVAL had to be applied and dried. Therefore, the collection method was only applied to corpses. The improved and accelerated PVAL 2.0 uses a sandwich technique. Cotton gauze for stabilization is moistened with a 10% PVAL solution. A solid film of PVAL (Solublon) is spread on the cotton mesh. The gauze is then modeled to the hand and dried with a hair dryer. After removing the cotton gauze, the traces are embedded in the water-soluble PVAL. The procedure does not take more than 15 min. The results demonstrate the qualities and advantages of PVAL: topographical distribution of GSR, highest gain of GSR, sampling of all other traces like blood, backspatter etc., and humidity does not reduce the gain. In addition, with the new PVAL 2.0 dislocation of GSR or contamination are excluded. PVAL 2.0 can also be applied on live suspects.     

Detection and correction of a migration anomaly on a 310 genetic analyzer

During STR analysis on the 310 Genetic Analyzer, retarded migration of GS500ROX size standards and alleles in some samples was observed. The contribution of reagents, capillary and performance optimized polymer POP 4 to the observed anomaly was experimentally eliminated. Variation in electrophoresis temperature between 55 degrees C and 65 degrees C did not alter the rate of migration of GX500ROX size standard and sample alleles. An eroded connector for the cathode mounted on the heat plate assembly caused the abnormal migration. Hence, it is important to verify the mobility of all fragments in the size standard for each sample to avoid any erroneous allele calls by the automated data analysis software.     

Elderly sexual offenders admitted to a maximum-security forensic hospital

The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical and demographic characteristics of elderly sexual offenders at a maximum-security forensic hospital. Charts of male elderly patients charged with sexual offenses were reviewed to obtain clinical and demographic data. The majority of sexual offenders had mood or psychotic disorders. Almost one third had a history of violent or assaultive behavior. 57% had significant medical history. A history of violence and sexual assaultive behavior may be risk factors for future sexual offenses.     

Clinical and demographic characteristics of elderly offenders at a maximum-security forensic hospital

The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical and demographic characteristics of the male elderly offenders admitted to a maximum-security forensic hospital. Charts of male elderly patients were reviewed to obtain clinical and demographic data. Seventy-seven percent of geriatric felons were involved in violent crime, 41% of which had psychotic symptoms. Forty-five percent of offenders with a history of head trauma/neurologic disorder were charged with violent offenses. Fifty-nine percent had previous psychiatric hospitalization. Most elderly male offenders involved in violent crimes had primary psychotic and mood disorders, cognitive impairment, and a history of head trauma/neurologic disorder. The small number of subjects precludes clear conclusions and needs further study.     

Petechiae of the baby's skin as differentiation symptom of infanticide versus SIDS

The successive killing of three siblings by their biological mother at two-year intervals is described. The children were 367 days, 75 days and 3 years old. Although sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or interstitial pneumonia could not be ruled out as the cause of death in the two younger children, who were killed first, the third child exhibited discrete signs of violence in the mouth and throat area which were interpreted as proof of infanticide. All three children had petechiae of the skin of the face and throat, the upper thorax, the shoulders and the mucous membranes of the mouth. None of the children exhibited signs of a disease-related hemorrhagic tendency. After the mother was convicted of murdering the three-year-old boy by smothering in combination with compression of the thorax, she confessed to having killed the other two children in a similar manner. In the absence of hemostatic disease, the presence of petechiae of the skin extending over the entire drainage area of the Vena cava superior can be regarded as evidence of an increase in pressure in the thoracic cavity secondary to obstruction of the airways with simultaneous chest compression.