Title:	Mute Witnesses: Trace Evidence Analysis
Author(s):	Max M. Houck
Publisher:	Academic Press http://www.academicpress.com
Copyright:	© 2001
ISBN:	ISBN-13: 978-0-12-356760-4 ISBN-10: 0-12-356760-2
Library of Congress:	2001088664

Outside Back Cover

“Yet, upon reflection, one is astonished that it has been necessary to wait until this late day for so simple an idea to be applied as the collecting, in the dust of garments, of the evidence of the objects rubbed against, and the contacts which a suspected person may have undergone. For the microscopic debris that cover our clothes and bodies are the mute witnesses, sure and faithful, of all our movements and of all our encounters.”

Professor Edmond Locard (1930)

Trace evidence is a part of almost every criminal investigation, due to the very nature of the materials that comprise trace evidence: paint, hair, fibers, glass, and soil, among others. Although “common,” these materials are by no means uniform. They can vary in size, color, type, intentional additives, accidental characteristics, batch formulations, end-use products, and applications presenting an almost limitless combination of traits for identification and comparison. But when collected and analyzed correctly, these small bits of material can corroborate witnesses’ stories, provide leads, and change the course of investigations.

Mute Witnesses: Trace Evidence Analysis presents a collection of intriguing case studies that demonstrate how these small pieces of evidence can tell the biggest stories, and provide a link between suspects, victims, and crime scenes. Each chapter presents a case review (particularly one where DNA evidence was not available, or was inconclusive), follows the progress of the investigation, and describes how trace evidence assisted. Written by the actual investigators involved, each chapter also highlights some important aspect of trace evidence analysis, such as instrumentation, sampling methods, interpretation, significance, research to answer a case-related question, or a manufacturing process. The chapters are self-contained and written for both technical expert and layperson alike.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii CONTRIBUTORS ix INTRODUCTION xi CHAPTER 1 FABRIC PROCESSING AND “NUBS” Douglas W. Deedrick 1 2 WIGS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONE FIBER Susan Ballou 21 3 TRACE EVIDENCE AS INVESTIGATIVE LEAD VALUE Amy Michaud 49 4 PLASTICS IN AUTOMOBILES Brad Putnam 69 5 FINDING TRACE EVIDENCE Richard E. Bisbing 87 6 “ONLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE” Scott Ryland and Max M. Houck 117 7 MANSLAUGHTER CAUSED BY A HIT-AND-RUN: GLASS AS EVIDENCE OF ASSOCIATION Jose R. Almirall 139 8 FEATHERS Lee Brun-Conti 157 9 A CASE OF CROSS-TRANSFER Max M. Houck 175 AUTHOR INDEX 187 SUBJECT INDEX 188