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Hot lead in a cold case

UK fingerprint technology could help solve decade-old US murder case.

A double murder case in Georgia, USA, has received a major breakthrough thanks to new forensics technology from the University of Leicester.
 
The story emerged following the announcement by Dr John Bond, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Leicester Forensic Research Centre and Scientific Support Manager at Northamptonshire Police, that he had found fingerprints on the shell casings.
 
Dr Bond had been approached for help by Georgia detective Christopher King as the reputation of the University’s new forensic technology had spread.
 
The technology works by enhancing the corrosion that fingerprints can leave on metal surfaces. In this instance, it revealed fingerprint ridges on three shells, one of which Detective King felt could be detailed enough to provide identification.
 
Commenting on the case, Detective King said: "The results are surprising but to say that I am pleased would be an underestimate. I think they could definitely help eliminate suspects. I feel very optimistic. These results are better than I had expected and better than I hoped for.
 
"Imagine someone in your family being murdered and not being able to bring them to justice, if we can bring closure to their families that would mean a lot to them."
 
Dr Bond added: “When we saw the shell casings we were not optimistic as the calibre was smaller than we had worked with to date (7.65mm), which meant the contact area between a finger and the casing would be small because of the tight radius of the casings.
 
“This is the first 'live' case we have looked at where we have found points of identification on the enhanced fingerprint. Even if there are not enough points of identification to identify the offender, it might help to eliminate suspects.
 
“We are currently taking about one call a day - mainly from the US – interested in our technique and Detective King thought there would literally be thousands of potential cases in the US alone where this technique might help.”

Forensic science

Meet our Role Model conducting forensics investigations for Kent Police.