CLPEX Chat Board

i am a final year archaeological and forensic science student and am currently writing up my dissertation.
for my dissertation i used various chemical and powder methods (superglue, gentian violet, DFO, ninhydrin, black powder, Alu powder and magneta flake) to attempt to enhance fingerprints on items of fruit.
Does anyone know of any cases where fruit has been used as a potential source of evidence or even tried to do this themselves. i found that some of the methods worked extremely well whereas others achieved no results at all.
A case study would be very beneficial for my dissertation and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks,
Charlie

Probably twenty years ago, I had a cat burglary investigation (night-time residential burglary of an occupied dwelling). The point of entry was an open kitchen window where the home-owner had placed several green tomatoes on the sill to ripen. The intruder cut the window screen and moved the tomatoes aside to climb through. I recall getting some nice fingerprints from the tomatoes with conventional black powder and a fiberglas filament brush. I took close-up photos and successfully lifted the prints with lifting tape. Unfortunately, I took elimination prints from the homeowner and the prints on the tomatoes turned out to be hers. Sometimes the complainants unintentionally handle everything the intruder does before you get to the scene!

Charlie, here are some articles you might be interested in:

Mushroom Prints
By: Paul T. Sahs Source: JFI (49-1) Jan.-Feb., 1999
Synopsis: Latent prints observed on Mushrooms from a drug seizure.

Fingerprints On A Banana Leaf
By: Dana Shinozoka Source: JFI (50-5) Sep-Oct, 2000
Synopsis:

Latent Print Developed on Tree Bark
By: Besonen, James Source: JFI 40(4) Jul-Aug, 1990
Synopsis:

Detection of Latent Fingerprints on Fruits and Vegetables: A Non-Destructive Approach
By: Singh, G.; Jasuja, O. and Sodhi, G. Source: FW 33(126) Dec 2006
Synopsis: Uses only different wavelengths of light with various angles of light.

The Chiquita Banana Caper
By Burl D. Bourgeois V 36 #2 August 1982
(Texas Division IAI Newsletter)

The last one was a latent print developed on a banana that was handled by the suspect in the robbery of a small grogery store and left on the check out counter.

Hi Charlie,

I have used fruit for training purposes and include it in the final processing exam for trainees in our office. On apples I've found good results with CA and conventional black powder, you can improve results even more by either using black and white photography and filters to remove the background color or adjusting color in photoshop. Oranges can be a bit more difficult due to the texture, but we've been able to capture images of ridge detail following CA and dye stain application. Most fruit with a smooth skin on it can be easily processed using basic sequencial non-porous processing techniques.

Good luck with your dissertation!

Heather

Charlie, I found another one. A latent print was developed on a Tomato in a Michigan case. Processed with Magna Powder and the print was a reversal.

I will see if I can scan it into a PDF format.

Hi Charlie. In Parramatta, Sydney Australia in 1995 as part of a murder investigation fingerprints were developed on mangoes. I believe superglue was used initially to develop the prints though there may have been powders used after this.

I think several people were identified from these mango prints and charges were laid. If you contacted the New South Wales Fingerprint Branch I'm sure someone there would give you the full story.

A Victorian fingerprint expert had his house broken into many years ago and Magna Powder was used to develop a fingerprint on a banana skin. The banana had been eaten by the offender and the peel left behind. Again an offender was identified and charged. I could find out more precise details for this one if you would like.

I'd be curious to see the collection of fruit related fingerprints you end up with.

Regards,

Thanks for all the help everyone, i have now finished my dissertation and handed it in so fingers crossed i get a good mark.
I found that magnata flake and alu powder were the best methods i used.

I would be happy to show you the photographs of the prints i enhanced George, if you just send me an email i can reply.
they arent amazing as not having access to a fully qualified fingerprint tech and it was my first time at using the techniques but some of them show a lot of detail.

Also, if anyone knows of any vacancies that are willing to offer training i wil be finishing university within the month.

Maybe we can just get a list started right here and add to it as we find more interesting things that latent prints have been found on.