NCJ Number
213060
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2006 Pages: 18-23
Date Published
January 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether undeveloped latent fingerprint impressions would survive an explosion.
Abstract
Following the detonation of two explosives devices in a vehicle, most of the surfaces containing the latent prints were completely destroyed. One faint ridge detail was discovered on the driver’s exterior door handle however, the majority of the detail was burned beyond use. Research methods involved placing test prints on several surfaces in the vehicle as well as the exterior door handles. Prints were created using sebaceous material from the forehead. The latent prints were clearly visible using oblique lighting prior to the explosion. Two types of explosives were placed in the vehicle and detonated. The blast was devastating, making recovery of the marked items difficult or even impossible in some cases. Future research should continue this line of inquiry using different types of explosives. Figures