Fingerprints on duct tape.

[Cindy Rennie]

Hi There!

We are about to embark on a trial where the fingerprints of the suspect were found on a piece of duct tape that had been used to bind the victim. The problem is that the suspect is the victim's ex-husband, and he had access to the roll of tape in the house. When the forensics officer seized the tape, there were several layers that had been stuck to the layer below it as the victim was bound around the wrists and ankles.

The FIS officer put the tape in the freezer and was able to separate the frozen layers and examine them for fingerprints.
One fingerprint impression was found on the grey (outside) side of the tape. It has been identified to the suspect.

Here's the question:

The latent fingerprint is far enough along the duct tape roll to say that the suspect didn't handle the roll (at one time while living in the house) and not pull any tape out. We can't tell if the latent was on the last piece of tape that was wound around the victim's ankles, or if it was somewhere in the middle of the tape. My initial thought is that the sweat and sebacious oils would not survive being trapped in a layer of duct tape, then frozen and removed, but I don't know. I'm thinking that the latent impression would have to be on the last layer of tape, and would have been deposited when the suspect was binding the victim.

Are there any tests 'out there' regarding fingerprints and duct tape?

[karen M]

Hi Cindy,
have you thought about getting physical fit comparison done between each piece of tape? then you could maybe tell if the latent were more than the circumference of the roll from the end?
Karen

[Cindy Rennie]

I don't know if that was done, Karen, but it's a great idea. I'll pass it along to the scenes of crime guy.

Cindy