Underwater fingerprints?
Detecting Latent Prints on Submerged Handguns - A Dive into the FBI's Research
Have you ever wondered how investigators recover latent prints from handguns that have been submerged in water? Well, the FBI has got you covered. In a recent study, the authors took on the task of exploring this challenging scenario to provide guidance for their Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team (USERT) and for forensic experts involved in evidence recovery.
Surprisingly, there were no published studies on this specific topic before, so the FBI decided to dive in – pun intended. Their main goal was to see if they could process handguns for latent prints immediately after retrieval from the water, which would be a game-changer for solving crimes involving submerged firearms.
The research started by examining the existing protocols within the FBI. Typically, handguns recovered from underwater are secured, packaged in the water they were found in, and sent for processing. However, latent print examination wasn't usually part of the process. The study aimed to change that.
The researchers began by setting up an experiment that included various time trials, substrates, water types, and temperatures. They hypothesized that the longer a handgun stayed in water and the warmer the water, the less likely it would be to find latent prints. This makes sense because latent prints are primarily composed of water and can easily dissipate.
In the study, a total of 72 handguns were used, which were wiped clean and then had latent prints deliberately placed on them. Different variables were introduced, like handgun material, water type, water temperature, and the development method. The time trials went up to a whopping 70 days to see if latent prints could survive on submerged handguns.
The results were quite fascinating. It turned out that processing handguns immediately after removing them from the water yielded positive results, regardless of the development method used. In fact, latent prints were still recoverable up to 70 days after being submerged. This is groundbreaking because it gives divers and forensic examiners a window of opportunity to retrieve vital evidence from underwater firearms.
However, the researchers noted some crucial factors that influence latent print recovery. For instance, the temperature of the water and the type of handgun material played significant roles. Warmer water reduced the chances of finding latent prints, and metal handguns were more receptive to prints than polymer ones.
These findings are vital for law enforcement agencies, divers, and forensic experts as they provide essential insights into latent-print detection after submersion. The research still has room for growth, and future studies may introduce even more variables, such as simulating moving water or longer time trials.
In the end, this study highlights the importance of quick action when dealing with submerged weapons. Processing handguns immediately after removal from the water seems to be the key to successful latent-print recovery. It's a fascinating intersection of science and crime-solving, and it just might change the way underwater crime scenes are handled in the future. Kudos to Mary Kathryn Book and James Tullbane, the authors behind this groundbreaking research!
