1. Footwear Evidence

2. What is footwear evidence?
Different shoes will leave behind prints of different sizes and patterns.

3. Three different types of shoe prints:
Footwear Evidence
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Three different types of shoe prints:
Three dimensional impression
Shoeprint made in soft material (dirt, snow)
Requires making a cast of the print
Composition of dirt or snow will determine the detail of the impression.

4. Three different types of shoe prints:
Footwear Evidence
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Three different types of shoe prints:
Two dimensional print (visible)
Dirt or other material picked up by shoe and deposited onto flat, hard surface.
Variety of surfaces and materials deposited makes recovery of these prints complex.

5. Three different types of shoe prints:
Footwear Evidence
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Three different types of shoe prints:
Two dimensional print (latent)
Can leave behind barely visible dust
Can leave impression in polish/wax/dust

6. How are shoe prints evidence?
Footwear Evidence
How are shoe prints evidence?
Most suspects wear shoes.
Footprints are always left, it is whether they can be located and differentiated from other prints.
Burglar
Shoes

7. What information can shoe prints provide?
Footwear Evidence
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What information can shoe prints provide?
Link suspect or victim to scenes
Link two crime scenes
Example: Richard Ramirez case
Location of prints can:
Lead to more evidence
Refute alibis
Gait or Tracking information?

8. Set of measurements of foot prints
Footwear Evidence
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Gait pattern
Set of measurements of foot prints
Examples
Stride length
Toe Angle – pigeon toed?
Weight Distribution – front or back
Directionality – degree of planning
Shoe Size – size of foot
Depth of impression - bodyweight

9. Recovery of Footwear evidence
Footwear Evidence > Collection
Recovery of Footwear evidence
Due to numerous nuances, all shoeprints should be recovered from the scene.
Scene should be controlled to prevent destruction of evidence.

10. Examples of different patterns Running – long stride length
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Footwear Evidence
Examples of different patterns
Running – long stride length
Carrying load – short stride length
- dragging of feet
Men have a longer stride length
than women
Men usually walk with toes out,
women walk with toes in

12. Recovery of Footwear evidence
Footwear Evidence > Collection
Recovery of Footwear evidence
Some prints can be visualized by darkening a room and using a bright light at a low angle.
Footprints should be documented:
Location recorded and photographed

13. Recovery of Footwear evidence
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Footwear Evidence > Collection
Recovery of Footwear evidence
Objects with footprints should be removed if possible (paper, glass)
If can’t be removed, an examination quality photo should be taken.
Ruler: allows for enlargement to real size

14. After photo, 2-D print can be lifted:
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Footwear Evidence > Collection
After photo, 2-D print can be lifted:
Electrostatic Lifting:
A charge is used to lift dry materials from surface to black film.
Lift provides more contrast
Non-destructive
Photographed for evidence

15. After photo, 2-D print can be lifted:
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Footwear Evidence > Collection
After photo, 2-D print can be lifted:
Dusting:
Fingerprint powder can visualize print
Lifted with adhesive or gelatin
Photographed for evidence

16. 3-D impression can be highlighted
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Footwear Evidence > Collection
3-D impression can be highlighted
Spraying with colored wax spray (snow)

17. 3-D impression should be cast
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Footwear Evidence > Collection
3-D impression should be cast
Cast picks up detail; is durable
Cast after photo
Use dental stone

18. Write all
Footwear Evidence > Collection
Enhancement Methods
If footprint is made of blood, TMB (tetramethylbenzidine) or other color changing reagents can help visualize.

19. Analysis of Footwear Evidence:
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Footwear Evidence > Analysis
Analysis of Footwear Evidence:
Class Characteristics can be used to eliminate a suspected shoe or suggest a shoe could have made the impression.
Size
Pattern (make of shoe)
Suspect shoe or test impressions compared.

20. Analysis of Footwear Evidence:
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Footwear Evidence > Analysis
Analysis of Footwear Evidence:
Individual Characteristics can be used to identify an exact shoe.
However, these can change over time (wear).

21. Sources http://science.marshall.edu/murraye/Footprint%20Lab.html