TRACE EVIDENCE

CROSS TRANSFERS

• Occurs when there is person to person contact
• Success in crime solving when able to narrow sources for the type of fiber

PROBLEM WITH TRACE EVIDENCE

• Fibers are not unique
• There must be other factors involved to make the fiber useful

OHIO MURDER

• Lea was abducted from a ball field in Ohio
• Body was found 6 days later
• She had been raped and strangled

OHIO MURDER(CTD)

• Orange fibers found at the scene
• Fibers found were made out of polyester and were oddly shaped
• Scientest assumed it was carpet fiber

SIMILAR CASE

• A 28 year old was abducted and held prisioner in a mans home
• He had intent on killing her afte torturing her
• Police noticed that the vehicle was similar to the one in the Ohio Murder

SIMILAR CASE

• The vehicle had orange carpeting that matched the fibers at the Ohio Case
• With this little fiber, they were able to trace the manufacturer
• The manufacture supplied info about where the carpet had been delivered

SIMILAR CASE

• Other evidence was found
• They took it back to the lab to test it
• They could then convict Robert Anthony Buell

HOW ARE FIBERS COLLECTED

• Tweezers
• Tape
• Vacuum

WHERE DO FIBERS COME FROM

• Clothing
• Drapery and blankets
• Wigs
• Carpentry
• Furniture

FIBER ANALYSIS

• First thing is to compare the color and diameter
• Dyes can be analyzed with chromotography
• Even if two fibers can be matched through comparison...
• ..It does not mean that it comes from the same source