Chasing ghosts: An investigation of the ghosting phenomenon in footprints |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Friendly Foot Care, PC, 50 West 94th Place, Crown Point, IN 46307, USA;2. St. Vincent Hospital, 123 Summer Street, Worcester, MA 01608, USA;3. University of Northampton, University Drive, Northampton NN1 5PH, UK;4. University of Northampton, University Drive, Northampton NN1 5PH, UK;1. Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 University Embankment, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia;2. Kutafin Moscow State Law University, Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Str., Moscow 125993, Russia;3. Inter-Regional Economic and Legal Office 1D, 69 Blagodatnaya Str., St. Petersburg 196105, Russia;1. Henry C. Lee College, University of New Haven, Dodds Hall, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516, USA;2. Connecticut-DESPP, Division of Scientific Services, 278 Colony Street, Meriden, CT 06451, USA;3. College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 103 Agriculture Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0702, USA;1. Forensic Science Program, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA 18104, United States;2. Delaware Division of Forensic Science, Wilmington, DE, United States;1. Forensic Science Laboratory of the French Gendarmerie, 5 boulevard de l’Hautil, BP 60036 ERAGNY, 95001 CERGY PONTOISE cedex, France;2. University of Maine Institute of Technology, Chemistry Department, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 LE MANS cedex 9, France |
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| Abstract: | Ghosting is a phenomenon that has been identified in dynamic (walking) footprints. There is sparse research on the occurrence of ghosting; however, due to the forensic value of footprints and their use in other scientific fields, the phenomenon of ghosting warrants further study. Ghosting can be used to determine if a footprint is static (standing) or dynamic, which can help forensic investigators create a sequence of events at a crime scene. Furthermore, this can help in footprint comparisons from this determination, as “like versus like” comparisons of dynamic or static footprints can be made. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence and locations of the ghosting phenomena in dynamic footprints.136 dynamic footprints from 68 volunteers were collected using an inkless collection system. Each footprint was visually inspected for ghosting as well as examined using software.Ghosting was present on at least one location in all footprints. The highest prevalence occurred at the tip of the great toe, followed by the second digit and the heel. To a lesser extent, ghosting appeared at the tips of the other three digits. Ghosting often occurred at two or more areas in a given footprint. |
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| Keywords: | Footprint Ghosting Footprint analysis Crime Scene Dynamic Footprints |
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