Hair and Fiber AnalysisHair and Fiber Analysis

Using MicroscopesUsing Microscopes

The MicroscopeThe Microscope A combination of lenses to magnify an A combination of lenses to magnify an

imageimage

Magnifying GlassMagnifying Glass 10X10X Compound MicroscopeCompound Microscope1500X1500X

– Stereo MicroscopeStereo Microscope 125X125X Low magnification, but provides 3D viewLow magnification, but provides 3D view Ideal for locating trace evidence in debris, Ideal for locating trace evidence in debris,

clothing, weapons, tools, etc.clothing, weapons, tools, etc.

– Comparison MicroscopeComparison Microscope Two compound microscopes in one unitTwo compound microscopes in one unit Used to compare evidenceUsed to compare evidence

– Polarizing MicroscopePolarizing Microscope Highlights and contrasts the image using Highlights and contrasts the image using

polarized lightpolarized light

Silver Microscope – 1763

Stereoscopic MicroscopeStereoscopic Microscope

Comparison Comparison MicroscopeMicroscope

Comparison MicroscopeComparison Microscope

Image from a Comparison ScopeImage from a Comparison Scope

Test Bullet Bullet from Crime Scene

Hair under Comparison ScopeHair under Comparison Scope

From Suspect’sCoat

From Victim’sClothing

East Harlem, NYEast Harlem, NY

A female found in an alleyway fairly close to a A female found in an alleyway fairly close to a California florist boxCalifornia florist box

Several types of fibers and a few brown-colored Several types of fibers and a few brown-colored hairs were found on the flower box liner.hairs were found on the flower box liner.

Could the hair be an important clue?Could the hair be an important clue? What would you want to know about the hair?What would you want to know about the hair? What information can hair provide? What information can hair provide?

Information from Hair?Information from Hair?

Can you determine species?Can you determine species?– Animal or Human?Animal or Human?

Can you determine body area?Can you determine body area? Can you determine racial origin?Can you determine racial origin? Can you determine age and sex?Can you determine age and sex? Was hair forcibly removed?Was hair forcibly removed? Does hair have individual characteristics?Does hair have individual characteristics?

What features would you investigate?What features would you investigate?

Anatomy of HairAnatomy of Hair Grows from a hair follicle located Grows from a hair follicle located

beneath the skinbeneath the skin The hair shaft extends from the root The hair shaft extends from the root

(embedded in the follicle)(embedded in the follicle)– Root and follicle contain DNARoot and follicle contain DNA

The hair shaft provides valuable The hair shaft provides valuable informationinformation– Three layers of the shaftThree layers of the shaft

CuticleCuticle CortexCortex MedullaMedulla

The Hair ShaftThe Hair Shaft

CuticleCuticle– Overlapping scales that always point to the tip Overlapping scales that always point to the tip

end of each hairend of each hair Like shingles on a roofLike shingles on a roof

– Each species has a unique cuticle structureEach species has a unique cuticle structure

Human Head Dog Deer

Rabbit Cat Horse

Cuticle Structure of Cat HairCuticle Structure of Cat Hair

Cuticle Structure of Squirrel HairCuticle Structure of Squirrel Hair

Casting a Hair for Cuticle StructureCasting a Hair for Cuticle Structure

Place a thin layer of fingernail polish on a Place a thin layer of fingernail polish on a glass microscope slideglass microscope slide

Carefully lay hair on nail polishCarefully lay hair on nail polish After polish begins to set, but before it sets After polish begins to set, but before it sets

completely – remove haircompletely – remove hair

What is left is an imprint of the cuticle What is left is an imprint of the cuticle structurestructure

CortexCortex

Under the protective cuticle layerUnder the protective cuticle layer Contains pigment granules that impart Contains pigment granules that impart

color to haircolor to hair– Important distinguishing characteristicImportant distinguishing characteristic

Transmitted light colorTransmitted light color Color distributionColor distribution Pigment granule shapePigment granule shape Pigment distributionPigment distribution Pigment densityPigment density DamageDamage OdditiesOddities SubstancesSubstances

How do you see the cortex How do you see the cortex under the cuticle structure?under the cuticle structure?

Determination of HeritageDetermination of Heritagefrom Hairfrom Hair

African Heritage

European Heritage

Asian Heritage

Cortex ExamplesCortex Examples

Muskrat

Bat

Pig

MedullaMedulla

– Central canal running through the center of the Central canal running through the center of the hair shafthair shaft

– Appearance varies from Appearance varies from Species to speciesSpecies to species Individual to individualIndividual to individual Even between hairs on the same individualEven between hairs on the same individual

– Medulla PatternMedulla Pattern AbsentAbsent ContinuousContinuous InterruptedInterrupted FragmentedFragmented

Human Dog Deer

Rabbit Cat Mouse

Medulla can be

Continuous

Interrupted

Fragmented

Absent

Was Hair Forcibly Removed?Was Hair Forcibly Removed?

normal,shedhair

stretched and damaged root attached tissue from follicle

Hair AnalysisHair Analysis

The two most common hair analyses The two most common hair analyses questions asked of the forensic scientistquestions asked of the forensic scientist– Animal or Human?Animal or Human?– Does hair recovered from crime scene compare Does hair recovered from crime scene compare

to hair from a suspect?to hair from a suspect? A comparison scope is essential hereA comparison scope is essential here

Hair is Class EvidenceHair is Class Evidence

Information from Hair?Information from Hair?

Can you determine species? YESCan you determine species? YES– Animal or Human?Animal or Human?

Can you determine body area? YESCan you determine body area? YES Can you determine racial origin? YESCan you determine racial origin? YES Can you determine age and sex? NOCan you determine age and sex? NO Was hair forcibly removed? YESWas hair forcibly removed? YES Does hair have individual characteristics?Does hair have individual characteristics?

– NONO What features would you investigate?What features would you investigate?

Hair ComparisonHair Comparison

– Cuticle (species)Cuticle (species)– ColorColor– LengthLength– DiameterDiameter– Presence or absence of medullae (species)Presence or absence of medullae (species)– Distribution, shape and color intensity of pigment Distribution, shape and color intensity of pigment

granulesgranules– Dyed or bleached hairDyed or bleached hair

When hair was bleached or dyedWhen hair was bleached or dyed– Hair is growing so new hair won’t be dyedHair is growing so new hair won’t be dyed– Hair grows about 1 cm/monthHair grows about 1 cm/month

Hair is Class EvidenceHair is Class Evidence

StatisticsStatistics

Comparison of head hairComparison of head hair– If the primary characteristics matchIf the primary characteristics match

Chances are approximately 1 out of 4500 that the hair belongs Chances are approximately 1 out of 4500 that the hair belongs to someone elseto someone else

Comparison of pubic hairComparison of pubic hair– If the characteristics matchIf the characteristics match

Chances are approximately 1 out of 800 that the hair belongs to Chances are approximately 1 out of 800 that the hair belongs to someone else someone else

These are based on very limited experimentsThese are based on very limited experiments

February, 1978February, 1978

Female body found in alleyway in east Female body found in alleyway in east HarlemHarlem– Nearby was a California florist flower box with a Nearby was a California florist flower box with a

plastic linerplastic liner– Female was identified as a member of a well-Female was identified as a member of a well-

know churchknow church She was known to be selling church literature nearbyShe was known to be selling church literature nearby

Evidence sent to labEvidence sent to lab

Flower box and plastic linerFlower box and plastic liner– Tan, wool fibersTan, wool fibers– Red, acrylic fibersRed, acrylic fibers– Navy blue, wool fibersNavy blue, wool fibers

Polarized light microscopyPolarized light microscopy

Victims clothingVictims clothing– Tan, wool overcoatTan, wool overcoat– Red, acrylic sweaterRed, acrylic sweater– Navy blue, wool-polyester pantsNavy blue, wool-polyester pants

Fibers also foundFibers also found

Box and LinerBox and Liner– Light blue, nylon rug fibersLight blue, nylon rug fibers– Several brown, rabbit hairsSeveral brown, rabbit hairs

Victims clothingVictims clothing– Light blue, nylon rug fibersLight blue, nylon rug fibers– Several brown, rabbit hairsSeveral brown, rabbit hairs– Red, nylon rug fibersRed, nylon rug fibers

Neither the rabbit hairs nor the nylon rug fibers could Neither the rabbit hairs nor the nylon rug fibers could be associated with the victims environmentbe associated with the victims environment

Investigators learnedInvestigators learned

A man who sold a full-length brown rabbit A man who sold a full-length brown rabbit coat to another local.coat to another local.– Obtained the coatObtained the coat

• Hair from coat matched rabbit hairs found on box, liner, and clothing

Victim

Coat

Obtained a Search WarrantObtained a Search Warrant

In the Suspects ApartmentIn the Suspects Apartment– Light blue, nylon rugLight blue, nylon rug– Red, nylon rugRed, nylon rug

Samples were collected and sent to labSamples were collected and sent to lab Both rug fibers were consistent with blue and red fibers found on Both rug fibers were consistent with blue and red fibers found on

victims clothing, flower box and linervictims clothing, flower box and liner

The fibers associatedThe fibers associated– Victim with the flower box and linerVictim with the flower box and liner– Victim to a coatVictim to a coat– Coat to a suspectCoat to a suspect– Victim to suspects apartmentVictim to suspects apartment

ConclusionConclusion

Victim was killed in suspects apartmentVictim was killed in suspects apartment Placed in flower boxPlaced in flower box Carried to the roofCarried to the roof Thrown offThrown off

Suspect found guiltySuspect found guilty– Sentenced to life in prisonSentenced to life in prison

Yet Another Baffling CaseYet Another Baffling Case

Nancy Titterton, 34 married to LewisNancy Titterton, 34 married to Lewis– Lived in ManhattanLived in Manhattan

Lewis – NBC ExecutiveLewis – NBC Executive Nancy – book reviewer and promising novelistNancy – book reviewer and promising novelist

– Worked at homeWorked at home

– Two men were returning a repaired sofa on Two men were returning a repaired sofa on Good FridayGood Friday Door was ajarDoor was ajar They called out – no answerThey called out – no answer Went in – bed was disheveledWent in – bed was disheveled Found Nancy face down in an empty bathtub, nudeFound Nancy face down in an empty bathtub, nude

– Strangled with her own pajamasStrangled with her own pajamas

First significant findFirst significant find

Piece of rope used to bind victims handsPiece of rope used to bind victims hands– Killer cut the cords and took all but a thirteen Killer cut the cords and took all but a thirteen

inch length which was under the bodyinch length which was under the body– Search for the source of the rope covered three Search for the source of the rope covered three

states and at least 20 manufacturersstates and at least 20 manufacturers

Smear of green paint on bedspreadSmear of green paint on bedspread– The painters who were painting in the building?The painters who were painting in the building?

Nope.Nope.

BeadspreadBeadspread

Found a single stiff white hair (0.5 in. long)Found a single stiff white hair (0.5 in. long)– Under a compound microscope it was Under a compound microscope it was

determined to be a horsehairdetermined to be a horsehair The type used to stuff furnitureThe type used to stuff furniture

– Sample of stuffing from Titterton’s sofaSample of stuffing from Titterton’s sofa Identical to one found on bedspreadIdentical to one found on bedspread

Sofa repair guysSofa repair guys– One came in late for work on Good FridayOne came in late for work on Good Friday

John FiorenzaJohn Fiorenza– Had a criminal history, and a psychiatric tendency toward Had a criminal history, and a psychiatric tendency toward

delusional fantasies delusional fantasies

Police Questioning FiorenzaPolice Questioning Fiorenza

Got NowhereGot Nowhere

Twine cordTwine cord– Traced to a manufacturer in York, PATraced to a manufacturer in York, PA

Sold some to the furniture repair shop where Sold some to the furniture repair shop where Fiorenza workedFiorenza worked

BustedBusted