J Forensic Sci, 2017

doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13532
TECHNICAL NOTE Available online at: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

PATHOLOGY/BIOLOGY: CRIMINALISTICS

Lee O. Morgan,1 A.A.S.; Marty Johnson,2 B.S.; Jered B. Cornelison,1 Ph.D.; Carolyn V. Isaac,1 Ph.D.;
Joyce L. deJong,1 D.O.; and Joseph A. Prahlow,1 M.D.

Autopsy Fingerprint Technique Using

Fingerprint Powder*

ABSTRACT: The collection of high-quality fingerprints is an important component of routine forensic autopsies and represents one of the
several potential methods for identifying a decedent. Fingerprint collection at autopsy frequently employs a manual method using fingerprint
ink and cards, although some offices use digital-scanning equipment. While these methodologies are adequate in most circumstances, this study
introduces an alternative method using fingerprint powder and adhesive labels. The method is quick, easy to perform, and cost-effective and
provides the additional advantage of an adhesive label that easily conforms to the finger, palm, or foot which reduces smudging of prints in
individuals with rigor mortis, skin slippage, or decomposition compared to more traditional autopsy fingerprint collection techniques. The prints
can then be easily stored, either in hard-copy form or scanned to make a digital record.

KEYWORDS: forensic science, fingerprints, forensic pathology, identification, autopsy, postmortem

The collection of high-quality, identifiable fingerprints (der- for obtaining high-quality finger, palm, and footprints on routine
matoglyphics) is an important component of routine forensic casework at autopsy, using fingerprint powder and adhesive
autopsy performance and represents one of several potential labels. The technique provides numerous advantages compared
methods for identifying a decedent (1). As such, fingerprints are to traditional inked prints.
typically retained as a part of the permanent autopsy record. His-
torically, fingerprints collected at autopsy involved a manual
Materials and Methods
method using ink and cards (2). Many offices continue to
employ this traditional method of fingerprint collection, as it is This section describes the materials required to perform the
inexpensive and relatively easy to perform. Typical equipment technique, with instructions for properly collecting fingerprints
required for taking manually inked prints at autopsy includes an using the technique. Although specific brand names are pre-
inking plate, a cardholder, printer’s ink, a roller, a “coroner’s sented/described, suitable alternatives may be substituted as
spoon,” and a fingerprint card (2). Both flat and “rolled” prints desired.
can be made of the fingers, while palm prints are also sometimes
created. Manually produced inked fingerprint cards can be pho-
Materials
tographed and/or digitally scanned, or stored in “hard-copy”
form. Some offices use fingerprint scanning machines, with the The materials required for this technique include the following
direct creation of digital prints (3,4). items, most of which are depicted in Fig. 1.
Challenges exist when attempting to take fingerprints from • Black fingerprint powder, nonmagnetic (#1028 Evident)
certain decedents. Decomposition, skin slippage, mummification, • Camel hair fingerprint brush (#1003 Evident)
finger-pad wrinkling due to water immersion, and trauma may • Adhesive address labels (#5160 Avery labels)—for finger-
cause great difficulty in obtaining suitable fingerprints at prints (include name, case #, and date)
autopsy. Although the forensic literature provides recommenda- • Adhesive labels, 4 9 6 inches (#5292 Avery labels)—for
tions regarding how best to overcome many of these challenges palm prints and infant/child footprints
(5–9), including a powder and adhesive method for decomposed/ • Plain paper copier transparency, 8 ½ 9 11 inches (Apollo)
rehydrated fingers (10–12), the authors present a simple method • Fingerprint template for transparency (include company/insti-
tution logo)
• Desiccant packages (various manufacturers)—to reduce
1 clumping/absorb moisture in powder.
Office of the Medical Examiner & the Department of Pathology, Western
Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo,
MI.
2 Methods
Kalamazoo Forensic Laboratory, Kalamazoo, MI.
*Presented at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Academy To employ this method, clean and dry the decedent’s fingers
of Forensic Sciences, February 13-18, 2017, in New Orleans, LA.
and hands (and soles of feet as necessary), as a practitioner
Received 7 Mar. 2017; and in revised form 4 April 2017; accepted 4 April
2017.
would do for traditional inking techniques. The skin surface of

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences 1

2 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

FIG. 1––Some of the materials required to employ this fingerprint tech-

nique, including, from left to right, ten small adhesive address labels, each
with pertinent case information printed on the nonadhesive side; a clear
transparency sheet (with white paper underneath, to allow better visualiza-
tion), with ten boxes marked for each of the ten individual prints; a camel
hair fingerprint brush; and a container of nonmagnetic, black, fingerprint
powder.

FIG. 4––A fingerprint viewed through the transparency sheet.

FIG. 2––Dust fingerprint powder onto the finger-pads using the camel hair
fingerprint brush.

FIG. 5––The opposite side of the label, with pertinent autopsy information.

interest is lightly dusted with fingerprint powder, using the

camel hair fingerprint brush (Fig. 2). Next, the adhesive side of
an address label is firmly applied to the powdered finger
(Fig. 3), followed by gentle removal. The adhesive side of the
label, with adherent powder print, is then applied to the trans-
parency sheet, thus preserving the powdered print, which is now
FIG. 3––Place the adhesive side of the label onto the finger-pad and firmly visible on the opposite side of the transparent plastic sheet
press the label against the finger-pad. (Fig. 4). Transparency sheets can be produced which have
 MORGAN ET AL. . AUTOPSY FINGERPRINT TECHNIQUE 3

rectangular boxes designated for specific fingerprints, and the

Discussion
nonadhesive sides of the labels can be digitally labeled with per-
tinent case information (Fig. 5). A complete, 10-print set of fin- The technique is quick and easy to perform and has the added
gerprints with labels attached to a transparency sheet is benefit of allowing the adhesive labels to be labeled with perti-
generated. Similar techniques, with larger adhesive labels, are nent autopsy information on the nonadhesive side. One signifi-
effective for obtaining palm (Figs. 6 and 7) and footprints cant advantage of the powder and adhesive label technique is a
(Fig. 8). reduction in smudging (as is common with traditional inked

FIG. 6––Use a larger adhesive label to apply to the palm, which conforms FIG. 8––A larger adhesive label is gently removed to obtain infant foot
to the contours of the palm surface. prints.

FIG. 7––A complete set of 10 fingerprints and two palm prints. Note that, by placing the transparencies over plain white paper, the prints are better
visualized. Such prints are easily digitized for computerized storage and can be sent electronically for fingerprint identification purposes.
4 JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES

prints). Folding or otherwise manipulating fingerprint cards to inexpensive, easy to perform, and offers several advantages over
avoid the card making inadvertent contact with already inked the traditional manual inked card method.
and printed fingers can pose problems with traditional ink meth-
ods. Such problems are avoided by employing the powder
References
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of the label is avoided by being careful during label removal. Additional information and reprint requests:
Joseph A. Prahlow, M.D.
After gaining experience with the method, such tearing is only
Office of the Medical Examiner & the Department of Pathology
a rare occurrence. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
This technique represents an alternative manual postmortem Kalamazoo, MI
fingerprint technique for daily autopsy casework that is simple, E-mail: joseph.prahlow@med.wmich.edu