Page 11 - Jagged Edge Glass Fragment

Glass Fragment

Identification

orensic chemistry is a major subdivision of generated at a crime scene is broken shards of
the forensic science discipline. In forensic glass. Glass shards are frequently generated at a
Fchemistry a significant amount of analysis crime scene by the breaking of windows or, in the
involves trace evidence. Trace evidence is evidence instance of automobiles, collisions. While broken
created when two objects come in contact with glass may result in additional information at a
one another, and, generally, involves the transfer crime scene, such as blood and DNA evidence in
of matter between these two objects as a result of the event of cuts, in the absence of this evidence
that contact. Examples of trace evidence collected the broken glass itself may connect a suspect or
from crime scenes frequently include items such victim to a crime scene.
as hairs, fibers, and paint chips. Trace evidence is
of great importance in forensic science because, as If broken glass is to be matched to a suspected
a result of direct contact, trace evidence can link a source, the first step in glass analysis is frequently
suspect to a victim, a victim to a crime scene, and/ an attempted physical match. If acceptable physical
or a crime scene to a suspect. characteristics exist the glass pieces may be
matched to the glass source physically by putting
One such item of trace evidence that may be the glass back together, much like the assembling of

THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE 11