Department Chair

M. Scott Goodman, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry

Date of Award

8-2015

Access Control

Open Access

Degree Name

Forensic Science, M.S.

Department

Chemistry Department

Advisor

Douglas Ridolfi, M.S., Forensic Chemistry Coordinator

Department Home page

http://chemistry.buffalostate.edu/forensic-science-ms-7

First Reader

Mark Henderson, M.S., Deputy Sherriff Forensic Chemist, Niagara County Sherrif's Department Forensic Laboratory

Second Reader

Maria Pacheco, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Third Reader

Joonyeong Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Abstract

Textile fibers are a valuable type of trace evidence within forensic cases. They have the ability to connect a perpetrator to a victim and or a crime scene. Some types of fibers are more prevalent than others. The purpose of this research was to conduct a target fiber study in order to determine the significance of the selected fibers in a forensic case. Two fibers were selected from two different garments, black acrylic fiber and a teal colored cashmere fiber. Unknown fibers were collected from three local clothing stores and counted. Using light microscopy, all 20,164 fibers were eliminated as a potential match to the black acrylic target fiber. Microscopic comparison of the unknown fibers to the teal colored cashmere target fiber, produced two potential matches, which were further eliminated by microspectrophotometric analysis. Therefore, of the 20,164 unknown fibers, comparison to both target fibers resulted in no potential matches. It can be concluded that these target fibers may have potential forensic evidential value within a criminal case in the Erie County area.

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