Journal of forensic sciences最新文献

{"title":"Performance evaluation of a scent transfer unit for sampling of explosives and their residues to investigate nuisance alerts.","authors":"Himanshi Upadhyaya, Alexis Hecker, John Goodpaster","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70466","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70466","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Volatile organic compounds associated with explosives such as Composition C-4 serve as important targets for canine training as well as field analysis. In parallel, 1-bromooctane (1-BO) is a benchmark to contextualize canine performance and aid interpretation of results. Improved understanding of the collection and recovery of these odorants is important for optimizing canine training aids, interpreting canine responses, and better understanding factors that may contribute to nuisance alerts. This study highlights the first known evaluation of the SNT SKR 2000, a scent transfer unit for non-contact sampling of VOCs associated with C-4. The STU unit, along with headspace- solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS), was evaluated to collect 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), cyclohexanone, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol from C-4. Additionally, 1-BO was sampled under identical conditions to provide a simple, non-energetic reference. The sampling parameters comprising of flow rate and sampling time were optimized and it was observed that a low flow rate coupled with a sampling time of 3 min yielded highest recovery of all three VOCS. The STU unit demonstrated reliable detection of VOCs from as little as 664 mg of C-4. 1-BO produced strong, reproducible signals that served as a practical check on sampling consistency. Compound-specific behavior, along with sorption affinity to the sterile gauze pad as well as the SPME fiber, were the key factors responsible for the recovery of the analytes of interest. The STU unit was successful in recovering VOCs from both porous surfaces such as cardboard and non-porous surfaces such as metal paint cans, with higher DMNB retention observed on porous substrates. 1-BO was also recovered from both configurations, illustrating capture from a single-odor environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recording living and postmortem friction ridge patterns using image processing and a fiber-optic-inspired total internal reflection method.","authors":"Yung-Chien Yu, Li-Ling Cho","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70476","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70476","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recording friction ridge patterns is a critical step in personal identification, as only clear impressions can be reliably compared with database records. This study presents two approaches-image processing and a fiber-optic-inspired total internal reflection method (FOM)-and compares them with frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR), ink, and powder methods to identify a simple and reliable workflow for forensic evidence collection. The results indicate that no single method is suitable for all fingerprint conditions; instead, a combination of complementary techniques is required. The recommended workflow begins with photographic documentation of the native friction ridge appearance for subsequent image processing. In practice, fingerprint recording is primarily performed using the FOM, supplemented by powder when necessary. The FOM provides a simple and practical approach for visualizing ridge detail using minimal equipment and shows reduced interference from wrinkles, allowing more continuous ridge structures to be observed. However, its performance is reduced in hyperkeratotic fingerprints, which can be improved by combining the method with powder. Image processing also demonstrates considerable potential, and in some cases, processed images are comparable to those obtained using contact-based methods. When contact-based techniques fail to reveal ridge detail, image processing may still provide sufficient information for identification.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field validation of blow fly age estimation methods for determining time of placement of human remains in Tennessee, USA.","authors":"Charity G Owings, Hayden S McKee-Zech, Erin A Patrick, Dawnie W Steadman","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forensic entomology currently represents one of the best approaches for estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMI_MIN) in medicolegal death investigations given certain parameters and assumptions are met. However, validation of standard estimation methods used in this field are few and far between. Our project aimed to quantify errors associated with four aspects of a typical insect age estimation: insect species, development stage, base temperature for calculating accumulated degree hours, and reference dataset. To do this, we collected 725 larval dipteran samples from 79 human donors at the Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. Standard age estimations were performed with all blow fly larvae to estimate the time of placement of donors and assess accuracy depending on species and larval stage used, base temperature selection, and reference dataset selection. Base temperature selection did not significantly impact estimation accuracy for most (i.e., six out of seven) blow fly species (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant impact of development stage (p < 0.001), reference dataset selected (p < 0.001), and blow fly species used (p < 0.001) on estimation accuracy. Our results underscore the importance of method validation and demonstrate that not all components used for age estimations are equally informative. This dataset currently represents the largest effort to validate blow fly estimation methods using human remains, and one of the only efforts made in forensic entomology to validate developmental datasets to date.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defining overkill homicide through quantitative criteria: Evidence from a retrospective forensic study over a 34-year period in a Tunisian forensic center.","authors":"Taher Sakly, Mohamed Amine Zaara, Mariem Belhaj, Dorra Oualha, Sana El Mhamdi, Nidhal Haj Salem","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70469","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The forensic identification of \"overkill\" homicide remains challenging due to the absence of a standardized, evidence-based definition. This study aimed to address this gap by establishing a quantitative criterion and delineating the criminological profile of overkill in the Tunisian context. A retrospective study of autopsy records collected over a 34-year period in the forensic department of the University Hospital of Monastir in Tunisia. During the study period, all the autopsied homicide cases were examined and analyzed using the autopsy reports as well as medical records and court reports. A multidisciplinary operational definition was applied. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression and ROC curve analysis to identify predictive factors and determine diagnostic thresholds. Of the 297 homicides, 83 (27.9%) were classified as overkill based on a multidisciplinary operational definition integrating quantitative and qualitative indicators of excessive violence. Overkill cases were characterized by a significant overrepresentation of female victims (36.1% vs. 12.1%, p < 0.001), intimate relationships (21.7% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.002), and perpetrators acting alone with higher rates of criminal and psychiatric history. The number of fatal injuries was the sole independent predictor (OR = 16.3, p < 0.001). A threshold of ≥ 2 fatal injuries provided optimal discrimination (AUC = 0.982, sensitivity 97.6%, specificity 98.1%). This study provides an attempt to identify overkill, establishing ≥ 2 fatal injuries as a diagnostic threshold. The findings characterize overkill as distinct form of expressive violence. Despite the promising nature of our results, it is imperative that these findings be interpreted with caution and ideally correlated with other objective criteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reading between the lesions: Recognizing intent in pediatric burn injuries.","authors":"Alice Buzzelli, Alberto Amadasi, Lorenzo Franceschetti, Valentina Bugelli","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70473","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Burn injuries are common in childhood and may occur in accidental or non-accidental circumstances, making forensic interpretation challenging. Evaluation is difficult when clinical findings, reported history, and contextual evidence are incomplete or discordant. We present three pediatric cases evaluated through a structured forensic approach integrating clinical findings, lesion morphology, reported circumstances, developmental assessment, scene reconstruction, and experimental testing. The first involved a 7-year-old girl with scald burns of the buttocks and right lower limb following the reported rupture of a bag filled with boiling water; analysis supported an accidental mechanism. The second concerned a 9-month-old boy with deep partial-thickness burns of the left hand reportedly caused by accidental contact with a stove hot plate; lesion analysis, scene reconstruction, thermal testing, and developmental assessment were inconsistent with the reported history and supported abuse. The third involved a 13-year-old girl with multiple rounded burn-like skin lesions in different stages of healing; extensive clinical investigations did not identify a specific dermatologic or systemic cause, while toxicological analysis of lesional skin supported exposure to an aluminum-containing topical product, namely her deodorant. Multidisciplinary assessment indicated a deliberate mechanism, with self-infliction considered the most probable interpretation. These cases show that no single feature is diagnostically decisive in the forensic assessment of pediatric burns. Determination of injury mechanism and intentionality requires multidisciplinary integration of lesion morphology, developmental plausibility, thermal dynamics, toxicological findings, and scene reconstruction. In this case series, this structured approach supported three distinct mechanisms: accidental scald injury, inflicted contact burn, and deliberate self-inflicted burn-like injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HPLC-UV quantitation of synthetically derived THC, THCP, and HHC isomers in commercial vaping liquids and edibles (2019-2024).","authors":"Laura A Ciolino, Tracy L Ranieri","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70408","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70408","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products, including vaping liquids and edibles, are widely available in the US. Serious adverse events associated with the use of THC products are reported in large-scale studies for both adults and children and include intoxication, psychosis, encephalopathy, CNS depression, respiratory failure, and acute cardiovascular emergencies. Between 2019 and 2024, a variety of synthetically derived \"Δ⁹-THC\" and \"Δ⁸-THC\" products were submitted for quantitative THC analysis. The products contained various combinations of seven positional THC isomers: Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), Δ⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸-THC), Δ^6a10a-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ^6a10a-THC), Δ¹⁰-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ¹⁰-THC), Δ⁴⁽⁸⁾-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁴⁽⁸⁾-iso-THC), Δ⁸-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁸-iso-THC), and exo-tetrahydrocannabinol (exo-THC). Several products contained THC isomers in combination with tetrahydrocannabiphorols (THCPs) or hexahydrocannabinols (HHCs). A series of quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) methods for THCs, THCPs, and HHCs was developed and validated. The methods use ACE Excel mixed C18-aromatic 3.0-micron or Cosmocore/Cosmosil cholesterol-ligand-based 2.6/2.5-micron columns. Optimized resolution for the THC isomers was obtained using ternary mobile phases containing methanol, acetonitrile, and acetic acid buffer and a 45°C column temperature. Representative data for synthetically derived cannabinoid products analyzed over a five-year period are provided. Total THC isomer contents for vaping liquids and dabs ranged from 25 to 96% w/w. Total THC isomer contents for gummies and other candies ranged from 57-321 mg/gummy or 13-24 mg/candy piece, respectively. The highest amount of cannabinoids was found in a THC/HHC combination product with a Δ⁸-THC content of 649 mg/gummy and a total combined THC/HHC isomers content of 791 mg/gummy.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Family mass murder in the United States, 1970-2019: Perpetrator mental health characteristics and the role of domestic violence.","authors":"Ragy R Girgis, Hannah Hesson, Grace F Gallagher, Cameron K Hunterton, Matthew D Mazero, Maya G T Ogonah, Paul S Appelbaum, Gary Brucato","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70468","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70468","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Examining perpetrator characteristics of, and risk factors for, different types of mass murder, such as family mass murder-the most common type-could have important ramifications for preventive efforts. Histories of domestic violence and mental illness are of particular interest. We examined 944 cases of mass murder from the Columbia Mass Murder Database that occurred in the United States between 1970 and 2019, identifying 377 incidents (39.9%) in which at least one victim was a family member of the perpetrator. We collected information on histories of domestic violence and characteristics of mental illness among perpetrators from media reports and court and police records. Overall, 202 (21.4%) cases included histories of domestic violence. Firearms were used in four-fifths (759/944; 80.4%) of all cases of mass murder, while family mass murder was significantly less likely than other mass murder events to involve firearms (74.8% vs. 84.1%, χ² 12.5, p < 0.001). Perpetrators of family mass murder were significantly more likely to take their own lives at the time of the event than were other personal-cause mass-murder perpetrators (43.8% vs. 16.8%, χ² 82.8, p < 0.001). These data extend findings on differences between family mass murder and other types of mass murder when the three-victim definition is used. This study further supports previous reports of the limited contribution of both psychotic and non-psychotic mental health conditions to all types of mass murder, including family mass murder, and that policies focused elsewhere may be more effective at stemming the tide of all types of mass murder, including family mass murder.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid identification of blood using RT-RPA: A pilot study.","authors":"Chih-Wen Su, Li-Chin Tsai, Yu-Lin Chung, Yu-Chih Lin, James Chun-I Lee, Adrian Linacre, Hsing-Mei Hsieh","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70464","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study details the detection of blood remote from a laboratory using a direct recombinase polymerase amplification reaction integrated with a lateral flow assay. The assay targets the ALAS 2 gene; a marker used in mRNA assays for the identification of blood in body fluid assignments. The process can be used at scenes as no specialized equipment is needed; the assay is efficient between 17°C and at least at 45°C. A result can be obtained in 10 min if the ambient temperature is more than 25°C but this time increases to 40 min if cooler than 25°C. Like any test for a body fluid, the assay needs to be highly sensitive, positive results were obtained with this assay from blood dilute to 0.0005 μL. The test was found to be specific for blood as positive results were only recorded in the presence of blood and no other body fluid. The reagents as a solution were stable for 3 days at 4°C adding to their potential use outside of laboratory conditions. The assay is straightforward to perform yielding results that can be interpreted easily. While not replacing presumptive tests, this can be used to further give confidence in assigning a sample as blood.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic analysis of gasoline residues in urban soil samples: Consequences for vehicle arson investigation.","authors":"Yonit Kasherman, Erez Stier, Dan Muller, Ron Chibel, Arnon Grafit, Yaniv Y Avissar","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A substantial proportion of forensic fire investigations involve vehicle arson, where severe thermal damage often limits direct evidence recovery. Consequently, soil samples from the vicinity are frequently analyzed for ignitable liquid residues (ILRs). This study evaluates the forensic reliability of gasoline detection in common urban substrates and defines substrate-dependent detection windows. A total of 100 background soil samples from active parking areas were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); no gasoline residues were detected, indicating a low probability of detectable background contamination (<3.2% at 96% confidence). Controlled spill experiments demonstrated marked variability in persistence: up to 36 h in interlocking stone sand, 5 days in bulk sand, 3 weeks in kurkar, and up to 1 year in asphalt. The addition of water prior to sampling substantially extended detection in porous substrates, increasing the detectable time window in kurkar. Gravimetric analysis showed exponential type evaporation behavior for gasoline, with a transition toward linear profiles following water addition. These results demonstrate that gasoline persistence is strongly substrate-dependent and that moisture conditions substantially influence detectability. They improve interpretation of ILR findings in vehicle arson investigations and support further consideration of targeted pre-sampling water application as a potential approach to enhance ILR recovery from porous substrates.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing the utility of porcine and synthetic femora as nonhuman analogs in skeletal trauma research.","authors":"Lillian S Antonelli, David E Raymond, Ashley E Kendell, Eric J Bartelink, Mariyam I Isa, Mathias Brieu","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Porcine and synthetic femora were subjected to concentrated 4-point bending, modified 4-point bending, and 3-point bending to generate diaphyseal fractures. Biomechanical data and fracture patterns were systematically evaluated and compared across different femur types and loading conditions. Biomechanical and fracture data from Isa et al. [11] were employed as a comparative human sample. Loading condition did not significantly affect mechanical behavior or fracture type in porcine femora and had limited effects on synthetic femora. Further, the results of the concentrated 4-point bending tests on porcine and synthetic femora were compared to published data on human femora subjected to the same loading condition. Although some similarities in fracture type outcomes were observed between porcine and human femora, these similarities do not outweigh the substantial differences between species in detailed fracture patterning. These results suggest that neither porcine nor synthetic femora adequately replicate human fracture patterns and thus are inappropriate analogs for understanding long bone fracture patterns relevant to forensic anthropology casework. Although nonhuman analogs are commonly used in experimental trauma research, additional studies are needed to investigate the appropriateness of these analogs for modeling specific types of skeletal trauma.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}