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Tool Marks and Other Impressions
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Tool Marks
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Tools in Crime Locking Pliers Needle Nose Locking Pliers Slip Joint Pliers Tongue and Groove Pliers Linemans Pliers Diagonal Cutters Wire Cutters/Strippers Pipe Wrenches Circular Cutting Tools Chisels Screwdrivers Pry Bars Bolt Cutters A-Rods Hammers
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Tool Marks Any cut, gouge or abrasion caused by a tool Tool leaves striations on softer surface that match marks on the surface of the tool 3 Types of Marks - Indentation - negative impression of object in softer surface (screwdriver) - Abrasion - made when 2 objects slide past each other (gun barrel/knives) - Cutting - produced along edge when surface is cut (saws/wire cutters)
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Tool Marks Indented Impressions –What can we determine? Size (class) Shape (class) Random nicks and breaks in tool (Individual)
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Class characteristics to look for in different tools: Pliers: - opposing jaws which grasp onto an object.
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Screwdrivers Designed to impart torque on a screw - may be used as pry tools by criminals. Class characteristics of screwdrivers include: - Blade width - Blade thickness - Surface texture
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Prybars used to gain leverage between two objects. slots in each end ensure a solid grasp on a smaller items Class characteristics include: Blade width Blade thickness Space between the blade tips
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Chisels bladed tools designed to compress material when struck. The bevel is the angled area from the tip to the blade face. Class characteristics: –Blade width –Blade thickness –Bevel thickness
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Hammers Claw hammers get their name from the split rear area of the hammer used to pull nails. The class characteristics for a hammer include –hammer face diameter –claw width –claw space width – claw thickness
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Connect Suspect Tool to Crime Scene Make impressions using suspect tool at various pressures and angles in soft metal Compare under comparative microscope
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Individual Characteristics Unique marks are transferred to the objects they contact. These are microscopic imperfections caused by: The manufacturing process Use Abuse Rust
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Impressed Toolmarks / Indented Compressions / Compression Marks Mirror images of the tool All imperfections on tool surface transfer to the impression Used for comparison and identification
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Striation Marks The tool is moved across an object (with pressure) producing a striated mark. Screwdriver most often leaves these types of impressions - Criminals typically use screwdrivers to try to pry open cash drawers, windows, doors, and car locks.
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Crime Scene Procedure - NEVER stick suspected tool into crime scene impression! - Many tool marks can not be removed from the crime scene - Measure and photograph all impressions - A cast must be made - Casting makes a negative impression of the toolmark - Typically done with Mikrosil, but many other options available - Mikrosil must be mixed prior to using. - After mixing, it is applied to the area of the toolmark.
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- Casting is documented and photos are taken - Once Mikrosil is hard, peel from surface - (Hard casts have other procedures) - The casting is a mirror image, therefore a casting of suspected tool must also be made for comparison
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Casting a Suspect's Tool - Make impressions using suspect tool at various pressures and angles in soft metal (lead)- (Sometimes a cast is made of these impressions as well) - Measure and compare width/length (Class characteristics) - Look at striations under comparative microscope (individual characteristics)
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Tool Marks Popped Steering Column Tool Marks
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Suspect Screwdriver Scrap screwdriver into soft surface at various angles and pressure
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Tool Marks Cast of steering column marks Compare to screwdriver cast marks
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Markings Match
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Shoe Impressions What can we tell? –Shoe type –Shoe size –Show wear patterns
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Wear Patterns - Toe or heal walker - activity of wearer - Body Weight - surface they walk on - Walk with feet inwards or outwards - unique holes/cuts/debris in shoe
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What material can shoe impressions be left in?
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Locating Shoe Prints Often found near: - The actual point of occurrence of the crime - The route through the points of entry/exit & the crime scene - Exterior areas
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How common are Shoe Prints? Combination of floor surface and condition of footwear determines likelihood of a foot print.
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Likelihood of a Shoe Print
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Shoe Impressions Can leave impressions in dust Photograph Electrostatic lift –Overlay dust with mylar film sheet
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Shoe Impressions Can leave impressions in soil Photograph Make a cast with dental stone
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Shoe Impressions Can leave shoeprint in snow Photograph Spray with 3 coats of Snow-Print Wax Cast with Dental Stone
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Tire Impression What can we tell? –Tread style=tire model –Tread width=tire model –Distance of left tires from right tires (Track Width) –Manufacturer of tire and make and year of vehicle
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Teeth Impressions Can be left in food, gum and skin
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Teeth Impressions Connect suspect to bite mark:
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Tracking and Animal Impression Analysis Think like an animal!
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What controls the behavior of wild animals?
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Its Stomach Its Hormones
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Prey vs. Predator Tracks Prey Animals –Many are Vegetarians –Tracks seldom go far from cover or burrows Predator Animals –Need meat –Tracks visit every nook and cranny
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Dog Family
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