Development of reagent test kid for the enhancement of shoeprints at crime print

Abstract

Footwear marks constitute important trace evidence found in major crime scenes. Latent footwear marks require efficient treatments for possible shoe sole pattern identification in crime analysis. This study consisted of two parts: enhancement of footwear prints and development of reagent test kit for the enhancement of shoeprints at crime scene. Chemical enhancements were carried out on shoe soles subjected to muddy and bloodstained areas. The shoeprints were formed on nine different matrices including porous and non-porous surfaces. Eighteen reagents were tested for the enhancements of muddy and bloodstained shoeprinrs. Reagents employed on muddy prints reacted with either metal ion. amino acid or other component while reagents employed on bloodstained prints were sensitive to protein, peroxidise and amino acid, Among the eighteen reagents. leucomalachite green and patent blue \\"ere chosen as the best reagents in enhancing bloodstained shoeprints while potassium ferrocyanide and sudan black were the best enhancement technique for muddy shoeprints. All four reagents were effective on both porous and non-porous surfaces. However. the reagents were not applicable on dark background surfaces. These reagents were used for the test kit development for crime scene work. The test kit was named as SPECK (Shoeprint Enhancement Chemical Kit) and consisted of chemical reagents. instruction. safety precaution. and personal protective equipnients such 3<" • gloves and masks. The reagent test kit developed was found to be reliable for screening purposes. rapid to carry out and specific as well as reasonably cost.