J. WRIGHT LEONARD, BCFE, CDE - WhirledViewwhirledview.typepad.com/files/wadelton-joan-handwriting-analysis... · J. WRIGHT LEONARD, BCFE, CDE ... This examination is based on an individual

J. WRIGHT LEONARD, BCFE, CDE

FORENSIC DOCUMENT/HANDWRITING EXAMINER 1500 Walnut Street, Suite M-12

FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL COURTS Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102 BOARD CERTIFIED 215-735-4000 or 800-626-7880 www.ForgeryID.com [E-Mail:

[email protected]] [FAX: 215-735-4022]

October 12, 2015

Ms. Joan S.Wadelton

4530 – 34th Street South

Arlington, Virginia 22206

RE: SELECTION BOARDS - QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS –PRELIMINARY OPINION

Dear Ms. Wadelton:

You have asked me to render, and this is, my preliminary opinion as to whether certain documents contain

irregularities of handwriting. You have provided to me non-original documents for examination, with

handwriting displayed on each which is in question. The issues related to the documents are set forth

herein, along with my preliminary opinions after initial examination. The examination is not yet fully

completed, pending receipt of additional information requested herein.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS (Photocopies):

Exhibits WAD-349 through WAD-358. Six Reconstituted Selection Board Reports with rankings. The

names of the candidates have been redacted, with the exception of the name of Joan S. Wadelton. The six

board members’ individual signatures, however, have not been redacted and appear on each report.

Exhibits WAD-359 through WAD-396. Thirty-seven Promotion Board Score Sheets, each with the

scores for eight candidates thereon. All identifiable information and the names of the candidates have

been redacted, with the exception of the name of Joan S. Wadelton, leaving only the handwritten scores for

each candidate visible. Note that the certain of the exhibits in this group are incomplete in that scores are

missing in certain columns, as follows: WAD-378; 379; 380; 381; 382; 383; 385; 387; and 389.

THE ISSUES:

Regarding the individual Promotion Board Score Sheets, according to Standard Operating Procedures agreed

to by the State Department and AFSA, each score sheet should represent the work product of only one

person, and thus should reflect only one handwriting. In view of this directive, the question to this examiner

is whether there any indication that the handwritten information/scores contained on any of the Page 2

individual Exhibits WAD-359 through WAD-396 was executed by more than one hand, and also

whether there are any obvious irregularities, exclusive of the very obvious alteration of many of the

numbers on the majority of the documents.

The multitude of handwritten alterations among the documents are not at issue.

Handwriting Examination - Methodology

This examination is based on an individual examination and a side-by-side comparison of the

materials. The examination is normally conducted visually using various degrees of magnification

and differing light sources, as required. The objective of this examination is to establish whether

there are dissimilarities, absent characters, and/or similarities between the writings, and to evaluate

their significance individually and in combination. In addition, the writings are examined in detail

regarding the line quality, rhythm, letter structure, relative size, speed, etc. Based on all of the

aforementioned information obtained, a determination is made as to whether a reasonable conclusion

can be drawn.

The identification of any handwriting/handprinting is based on the agreement of the unique, internal

handwriting/handprinting characteristics displayed in the writing examined. If a questioned writing agrees

with the representative standards in its identifying elements, it must be deemed to have been written by

the same person. If, on the other hand, unexplained differences exist between the known and unknown

writings, they must be the work of two writers, but the differences between them have to be of a

fundamental nature, not just the minor variations normally found between two writings of any person.

Numerous factors are analyzed in this regard, such as: continuous writing or movement interrupted;

rhythmic or jerky patterns of writing; pen emphasis on particular strokes and overall pressure; speed and

skill of execution; muscular coordination; beginning, connecting and ending strokes; letter formations;

habitual retouchings; tremor; base line alignment; relative size of capitals and small letters, including

those that project below the line or above the height of a single space; ornamentations, embellishments

and flourishes; simplifications of form; punctuation; the utilization of space; and other criteria.

PRELIMINARY OPINION:

Cognizant of the fact that the questioned documents are non-original, there are indications that

certain of the questioned Promotion Board Score Sheets contain the handwriting of more than one

individual.

Page 3

These referenced Promotion Board Score Sheets include, but are not limited to, the following

exhibits:

EXHIBIT INDICATION__________________________

WAD-361 Different hand variations in the formation of the number “7”


WAD-364 Different hand variations in the formations of the numbers “7” and “8”


WAD-371 Total points on line 7 is 86. A perfect score is 60.

WAD-372 Total points on line 7 is 86. A perfect score is 60





Total points on line 8 is incorrect. Should be 36.

Additional numbers are written in the right margin.

WAD-377 Different hand variation in the formation of the numbers “5” and “7”

Col. 5 score for Wadelton is blank, the total points is also blank

Handwriting in Col. 1 is the same hand as WAD-380. Handwriting

in Col. 3 is the same hand as WAD-382

Handwriting in Col. 4 is the same hand as WAD-383 Handwriting

in Col. 5 is the same hand as WAD-378.

Additional numbers are written in the right margin in a different

hand than all the writing on the balance of the document.

Writings on WAD-379 & WAD-381 do not fit in this sequence on WAD-377.

WAD-378, 379, 380

381, 382, 383, 385,

387 and 389

Only one column is completed on these 9 score sheets

WAD-390 and 391 The handwriting on these two documents is an exact duplication. The

handwriting is identical.

.

The preliminary opinions set forth herein are qualified opinions, and are qualified due to the fact that

the original documents have not been examined. Original documents permit the examination in

greater detail of the handwritten strokes. This examiner respectfully requests to examine the originals

of the questioned documents identified as Exhibits marked WAD-349 through and including WAD

396.

Page 4

As previously mentioned, the multitude of alterations to the numerical scores on WAD-359 through WAD-396 are

not specifically at issue. However, it does not go unnoticed by this examiner that the numerical scores for Joan

Wadelton and others contain many alterations of scores, some of the original numbers of which cannot be

deciphered. However, in at least eight cases for Joan Wadelton’s scores where the original numbers were altered

and overwritten, the original score could be deciphered, which was higher than the number which was written on

top of it. It seems significant to point out the fact that the Wadelton scores were consistently lowered through

alteration, as illustrated below:

ALTERATIONS WHICH LOWERED JOAN WADELTON’S SCORES –

Original Number Score Changed to a Lower Number

WAD-360, Original number “4” changed to a “3”

WAD-360

WAD-361, Original number “4” changed to a “3” and Number “10” changed to a “3”

WAD-361


WAD-363


WAD-364

WAD-365 – Original number “10” changed to a “7”

WAD-365

WAD-371 - Original number “5” changed to a “4”

WAD-371 WAD-393 -

Original number “6” changed to a “3”

WAD-393


WAD-396

Page 5

Additional Information Provided:

Exhibits WAD-015 and WAD-016 (Reconstituted Selection Board Report dated March 9, 2006) on

which four board members’ signatures have been redacted, but on which appears the signature of the

Chairperson plus that of Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Also provided are copies of four emails between

Melinda Chandler, Esq. and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, dated April 13, 14 and 15, 2009, in which

Linda Thomas-Greenfield states that she does not recall being on a Reconstituted 2003 SFS-V

Multifunctional Board in March, 2006. (Copies attached to this report.)

This raises the question as to the genuineness of the signature of Linda Thomas-Greenfield on this

Reconstituted Selection Board Report of March 9, 2006 (WAD-015 and WAD-016), and indeed,

considering the information and inconsistencies aforementioned in this report, the issue of the

genuineness of all of the signatures of the 36 board members on Exhibits WAD-349 through WAD-

358. The undersigned again requests to examine the originals of Exhibits WAD-349 through WAD-

396 to address this additional issue, and to further address those previously mentioned in this report.

NOTE: Many of the questioned score sheets demonstrate under-developed writing, in this case

meaning writing that is executed at a low skill level. This is surprising in view of the fact that the

board members are all accomplished and highly educated individuals, and you would not expect their

writing to be underdeveloped. Therefore, comparison handwriting of all 36 board members is

requested, including numerals, to verify the source hand of certain written numerals appearing on the

questioned score sheets.

Please advise if the original documents marked WAD-349 through WAD-396 can be obtained for my

review in order to further this preliminary examination, as well as collections of comparison

signature and handwriting specimens of all of the 36 participating board members. At such time, the

undersigned reserves the right to supplement this report.

This examiner adheres to the 2008 reporting standards of the ASTM (American Society of Testing and

Materials) and is a voting member of the Forensic Sciences Committee. If you have any questions, please

feel free to give me a call. Exhibits and my CV are attached.

Respectfully yours,

Enclosures J. Wright Leonard

EXHIBITS TO REPORT—CERTAIN PROMOTIONAL BOARD SCORE SHEETS

WAD 361


WAD 362


WAD 364


WAD 365


WAD 371


WAD 372


WAD 373


WAD 374



WAD 375


WAD 376


WAD 377



WAD - 377

WAD - 380


WAD - 377

WAD - 382


WAD - 377

WAD - 383



WAD - 377

WAD - 378


WAD-378

WAD-379


WAD-380

WAD-382


WAD-383

WAD 390


WAD 391

CHANDLER – THOMAS-GREENFIELD EMAIL EXCHANGE, APRIL 13, 14 AND 15, 2009

CERTAIN ALTERATIONS TO PROMOTIONAL BOARD SCORE SHEETS FOR JOAN WADELTON – Where it can be

deciphered that the original number score was changed to a lower number


WAD-360


WAD-361


WAD-363


WAD-364

WAD-365 – Original number “10” changed to a “7”

WAD-365


WAD-371


WAD-393


WAD-396

Documents

J. WRIGHT LEONARD, BCFE, CDE - WhirledViewwhirledview.typepad.com/files/wadelton-joan-handwriting-analysis... · J. WRIGHT LEONARD, BCFE, CDE ... This examination is based on an individual