Abstract
In the United States, there is no standard procedure to collect fingerprint evidence from a fire. The goal of this research is to determine if fingerprints can survive a fire and can be developed using three different techniques. In previous research studies, some fingerprints were able to be recovered. In Australia, they found fingerprints were recoverable at 300℃ and 450℃ after using a cremation oven. However, O’Hagan (2018) claims that fingerprints start to degrade after 100℃ as fingerprints are made of 98% water. For this project, six bottles consisting of 30 fingerprints were put in a fire, with temperatures reading an average of 135℃. The bottles were then put through several different methods to lift the latent prints: fingerprint brush, lifting tape, and cyanoacrylate fuming. It was found after all these methods, no latent prints were recovered.
Recommended Citation
Ross, Meg
(2026)
"Development of Latent Prints on Glass After a Fire,"
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science: Vol. 14
:
Iss.
1
, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55917/2324-6561.1157
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/themis/vol14/iss1/5
