Fingerprints

[Holly Goodhead]

What elements did you have in mind?

Sun/heat, rain, dirt etc, etc

[jassi]

Sun/heat, rain, dirt etc, etc

I hadn't heard it was raining and  hardly the hot season, so those can be discounted - IMO

Not too sure about the etc etc bit any more than you are.

[Holly Goodhead]

I hadn't heard it was raining and  hardly the hot season, so those can be discounted - IMO

Not too sure about the etc etc bit any more than you are.

I am actually sure as unlike many here I do carry out some research. 

We have no idea when the inadequate fingerprints were made. 

Recovering useable fingerprints is based on many factors.  I've given some.  Another is the method used which in this case was Dragon blood.  Surfaces also play a part too eg glass, aluminium and polyurethane paint.

6.1. Conclusion
The purpose of the experiments undertaken in this paper was to determine whether an
identifiable fingerprint could persist for prolonged periods of time when exposed to
environmental conditions. The findings showed that this occurred with several marks.
The longevity of a fingerprint is variable and dependant on several factors including
the substance in which it is formed. Some fingerprints are fragile and can be
relatively easily removed by environmental conditions. The sweat secreted by the
eccrine pores in the hands appears to be one of those substances that can be easily
damaged. Indeed, the older marks placed in eccrine sweat in the preliminary testing
required further powdering and were faint fitting with the CSIs and Fingerprint
Officers comments in 1.2. and 1.3. In a person’s day-to-day activities, however, they
will often touch other items and surfaces which can result in the transfer of
contaminants to their hands. For example, touching one’s own face or hair may result
in sweat from sebaceous pores being transferred to one’s hands. The constituents of
sebaceous sweat can make it more durable than eccrine sweat and it can therefore last

longer. Eating food stuffs can transfer a variety of substances to a person’s hands.
Only small amounts of contaminants are required to deposit a fingerprint, so much so
that a person’s fingers may appear relatively clean. Some of these marks persisted for
over 2½ years yet still displayed the ‘indicators’ that some CSIs and Fingerprint
Officers relied on to suggest a mark was ‘fresh’, i.e. they visualised easily, quickly,
readily and required only a minimal amount of aluminium powder.
The apparent assumptions that fingerprints are made in eccrine sweat and can be
damaged or removed by environmental conditions will only be true some of the time.
It follows, therefore, that some fingerprints will not be formed in only eccrine sweat,
will not be damaged or removed by environmental conditions and can last for
prolonged periods of time. It is generally not possible to establish what medium
latent fingerprints were left in by a visual examination.
The findings of this research show that the aging of fingerprints is neither simple nor
based on a formula. Depending on the conditions, well-defined identifiable
fingerprints can be recovered many months or years after their placement even in
harsh environments. To make an assumptive comment that a fingerprint is ‘fresh’
without scientific reasoning can bias a case, provide a false evaluation of the evidence
and mislead a court.

https://keithborer.co.uk/sites/default/files/SBCSEyeFPLongevityPaper.pdf

[Holly Goodhead]

I hadn't heard it was raining and  hardly the hot season, so those can be discounted - IMO

Not too sure about the etc etc bit any more than you are.

I believe it rained on the Wed and it was hot and sunny on the Thu (best day of the hol).  I've no idea about the Friday. 

[Holly Goodhead]

I believe it rained on the Wed and it was hot and sunny on the Thu (best day of the hol).  I've no idea about the Friday.

I would think the balcony was a sun trap.  Then there's anything blowing around in the atmosphere eg sand.

[The General]

I would think the balcony was a sun trap.  Then there's anything blowing around in the atmosphere eg sand.

But how many were taken and subsequently discounted? Could be hundreds. Could be 12.
I'm more interested in the absence of fingerprints, irrespective of the factors you mention, which are apparent even to a layman i.e. you can't get fingerprints off a duvet cover - who knew?
We are all terribly impressed with your seemingly voluminous knowledge of fingerprint harvesting and analysis, but not particularly interested. How many were taken in total, Hol?

[Holly Goodhead]

In any event what it that people find strange about the fingerprints?  All seems normal to me.

The McCanns did not say anything had been interfered with, removed etc other than MM.  It is extremely unlikely fingerprints could be recovered from bedding so that leaves doors, window and shutter.  These items were dusted with Dragons blood revealing inadequate prints from external surfaces and adequate prints from internal surfaces which pertained to KM with one other said to come from the GNR officer. 

What would anyone expect to find?

[Holly Goodhead]

But how many were taken and subsequently discounted? Could be hundreds. Could be 12.
I'm more interested in the absence of fingerprints, irrespective of the factors you mention, which are apparent even to a layman i.e. you can't get fingerprints off a duvet cover - who knew?
We are all terribly impressed with your seemingly voluminous knowledge of fingerprint harvesting and analysis, but not particularly interested. How many were taken in total, Hol?

Please refer to the report:

https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/FINGERPRINTS.htm

Relevant areas were dusted with Dragon Blood which revealed some inadequate and some adequate fingerprints.  Availability is dependent on many factors but as you said you're not particularly interested so I'm afraid I can't assist!

A similar situation exists in the Bamber case whereby the firearm used in the shooting contained a fingerprint from each of the possible perps: 1 x Bamber and 1 x Sheila Caffell.  Bamber used the rifle regularly his sister in theory had no need to handle it unless she was involved in the shooting.  All sorts of wild theories exist about this but the fact is the firearm used was coated in a substance known as 'blueing' which makes it very difficult to recover latents fingerprints from.  Therefore 1 fingerprint from each is consistent with both of them handling the firearm at some stage. 

[The General]

In any event what it that people find strange about the fingerprints?  All seems normal to me.

The McCanns did not say anything had been interfered with, removed etc other than MM.  It is extremely unlikely fingerprints could be recovered from bedding so that leaves doors, window and shutter.  These items were dusted with Dragons blood revealing inadequate prints from external surfaces and adequate prints from internal surfaces which pertained to KM with one other said to come from the GNR officer. 

What would anyone expect to find?

Lots more. A weeks worth of kids prints on every non-porous surface, for example.
Which is my point. If they found 11,000 prints from the family, then tells us about it.

[Holly Goodhead]

Why would they bother with every non-porous surface? 

Any abductor went in to remove MM not take a shower, cook a meal, watch tv etc. 

The report suggests they only fingerprinted the patio doors, MM's bedroom window and shutter.  I assume the cleaner was wiping the glass over? 

I don't know how effective Dragon's Blood is.  Instead of bringing in Grimes and his dogs they might have considered removing the doors, window and shutter and shoving them in a cyanoacrylate fuming chamber in an attempt to reveal more fingerprints.

[jassi]

I would think the balcony was a sun trap.  Then there's anything blowing around in the atmosphere eg sand.

Facing to the south, it would catch the afternoon sun, but hardly paint -blisteringly  intense by 11 in the morning in early May - IMO

[Holly Goodhead]

Facing to the south, it would catch the afternoon sun, but hardly paint -blisteringly  intense by 11 in the morning in early May - IMO

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/travel-and-events/holiday-weather/europe/portugal/algarve

I'm not even sure of what is being argued here?  Why so few adequate fingerprints?

- Items dusted?  It appears restricted to MM's bedroom window, shutter and patio doors?  What areas were dusted.  The soc lady in images just appears to be dusting around the bottom of the shutter?

- Competence of examiner

- Method used

- Surfaces

- State of hands of those depositing fingerprints eg clean dry hands will leave behind less that those sweaty and dirty

- Environmental factors eg heat, sunlight, rain

- Anything floating about in atmosphere eg dust, dirt

A couple of minutes spent Googling will reveal many factors determine whether or not fingerprints can be obtained from items handled. 

[Miss Taken Identity]

Does anyone know why so few fingerprints, useful or not, were harvested? Were there hundreds, but then whittled down by process of elimination to a few salient ones?
Surely there would be dozens all over the gaff from numerous people? Or was that part of the method, only concentrating on the likely surfaces our 'abductor' would touch?
What was the deal with the fingerprints?

[please insert random 'it was Amaral's fault' below']

That is the point, there is no deal. the finger print excersise did not flag up an abductors prints.

It was Amarals fault that he could not find any evidence of an abductor. lazy buggar-sardine muncher!

[Robittybob1]

That is the point, there is no deal. the finger print excersise did not flag up an abductors prints.

It was Amarals fault that he could not find any evidence of an abductor. lazy buggar-sardine muncher!

You said it.

[Holly Goodhead]

That is the point, there is no deal. the finger print excersise did not flag up an abductors prints.

It was Amarals fault that he could not find any evidence of an abductor. lazy buggar-sardine muncher!

How do you explain the unidentified fingerprint on the side of the patio door?  This is the fingerprint Germany said could have been made by a woman or youth but not a child.  Paperwork purporting to originate from Irene Trovao  states it originated from male GNR officer Nelson da Costa but there's no mention in his wit stat of having contact with the patio doors.  And the printed name and signature of fingerprint technician Irene Trovao is a lighter shade than the body of text suggesting all might not be what it appears at first glance.