NCJ Number
229406
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 172-194
Date Published
September 2009
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Since the configuration of knots found at a crime scene can be significant in identifying a suspect, this study used 562 volunteers to determine whether there were some individuals who tied notes that differed from the knot-tying patterns of most people, which is to tie "granny" or "reef" ("square") knots for parcels.
Abstract
In executing the instructions to tie shoelace and parcel knots, the study found that 70 of the participants tied knots that departed from the dominant knot-tying patterns of the participant sample. Of particular significance was the fact that 19 out of the 528 participants (3 percent) produced "figure eight" and "figure nine" hitches in combination with normal half knots, and 15 out of these 19 used a "figure eight" or "figure nine" hitch in tying shoelaces. Only 4 out of the 19 participants used these types of knots in tying knots for parcels. This latter finding is significant, because parcel knots are most likely to be used by an offender in homicide ligatures. There are at least 64 possible combinations of paired half knots and figure eight or figure nine hitches. Although not unique, these unusual knot configurations are noteworthy and could reduce the field of possible knot tiers in the course of a criminal investigation. The volunteers were drawn from police officers, teenagers, university students, graduate students, and random members of the public. The findings are reported over an 18-year study (1988-2006) of knot-tying habits. Most of the participants were Canadian, some were British, and a few may have been American. Both males and females participated, ranging in age from 5 to 17. 5 tables, 32 figures, and 14 references