In a significant development for the field of forensics, a study led by researchers at the Staffordshire University’s Centre for Crime, Justice, and Security claims that fibers found on victims can survive underwater for an extended period—far longer than previously believed. This breakthrough could be pivotal for criminal investigations, especially those involving water bodies.
Evidence Remains Intact
Traditionally, forensic experts believed that if objects were submerged in water for more than seven days, any valuable evidence would disappear. However, this latest research, published in the journal “Forensic Science International,” challenges this conventional wisdom. Through practical experiments, the study demonstrates that fiber evidence can, in fact, stay intact underwater for several weeks.
The Science Behind the Findings
Forensic laboratories analyze fibers collected from crime scenes using various techniques such as polarized light microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and precise UV-Visible light absorption spectroscopy. These methods offer critical insights that could lead to crucial information in an investigation.
A Novel Approach to Research
Claire Gwinnett, Professor at Staffordshire University’s Department of Crime, Society, and Environment and the lead researcher of the study, shared via email that investigators generally consider dynamic water bodies as inherently hostile to preserving evidence. “However, our study disproves this assumption, focusing specifically on fibers,” she noted.
The researchers employed an experimental mechanism known as a mesocosm to study the stability rate of polyester fibers on different types of fabrics over a span of four weeks. A mesocosm is an external experimental system that examines natural environments under controlled conditions. It is commonly used in environmental research. Claire emphasizes that this is the first time it has been used to explore forensic evidence.
By shedding light on how fibers can withstand water’s corrosive elements for an extended period, this study has the potential to alter the way criminal investigations involving water bodies are conducted. It essentially makes the case that investigators should reconsider their preconceptions about what kinds of evidence can survive in aquatic environments.
