Hair and Fiber Analysis

   

    Hair is a relatively reliable piece of evidence in an investigation, depending upon how much is left at the scene. For instance, hair can tell what ethnicity the hair came from or if it is human hair at all. Each animal species has it's own unique cuticle, or scale, pattern. Investigators can use animal hairs to figure out if either the victim or the culprit has pets, which could narrow the suspect list. Also, different ethnicities have different shapes/types of hair. For example, Asians typlically have very straight black hair whereas those of african decent normally have coarse dark hair. In addition, specialists can tell what part of the body the hair is from. Scalp hair is typically show little variation in diameter and uniform pigmitation, whereas pubic hair is usually short and curly with a wide variation in diameter. Hair can also tell investigators wether or not there was a struggle if a body is not found. Hair that has follicular tissue connected to it indicates that it has been somehow forcibly removed. A hair that falls out naturally has a round, bulbous shape at the root. Probably the most valuable piece of evidence to investigators is DNA, which can be found in the roots of a piece of hair. This is a very rare occurrence, unfortunately. Typically the roots of the hair are not present when found at a scene. In most cases, investigators find and rely on fiber(s). Some examples include cotton, polyester, silk, rayon, and nylon.
    The importance of hair/fiber analysis was first recognized in the late 1800s. The first case to suposedly involve hair/fiber was the 1847 case of the murder of Duchesse de Praeslin. In 1883, Alfred Swaine Taylor and Thomas Stevenson wrote a book called The Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence, which talks about using hair in forensic investigations. The book also includes sketches of different hair samples under the microscope, labels of the different parts of a strand of hair, and references to different English cases where hair/fiber analysis was inolved. The use of the comparison microscope to perform side-by-side analysis of hairs collected from a crime scene and hairs from a suspect or victim first occurred in 1934 by Dr. Sydney Smith. This method of comparison helped solve the murder of an eight-year-old girl.
    Hairs/Fibers are classified as trace evidence, which is evidence that results from objects coming into contact with one another and can be collected by investigators. In order to collect such trace evidence, investigators commonly use tape, special vacuums, tweezers, and air-tight containers. Collection of such evidence can play a vital role in an investigation. When hair grows, traces of ingested chemicals are evident, similiar to an ice core. In cases where a victim was poisoned by substances such as arsenic or cyanide, investigaors can examine the hair to find out how much was injested prior to death.
    One of the most famous cases involving hair/fiber analysis was the Atlanta Child Murders. During the 70s in Atlanta, a serial killer was killing black children. The bodies had been strangled and left in the woods. all hope appeared to be lost until investigators discovered the same type of carpet fibers on some of the victims. When this information was released to the public, the victims were found naked along the shores of the river. The case went dry for some time, until one day officiers pulled over a vehicle that was crossing a bridge after hearing a mysterious splash. They took Wayne Williams into custody, and searched his car. His car revealed the same type of fibers that was found on the victims. Because of this and other evidence, Wayne Williams was conviced for murder and sentenced to multiple life sentences with no chance of parole.


   

Wayne Williams