Preliminary study of post mortem identification using lip prints

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Forensic Odontology
• Postmortem Investigations

Background:

• Lip print identification has been utilized in forensic science since the mid-20th century.
• Previous research primarily focused on classifying lip print patterns and developing methods for latent print recovery.
• The application of lip prints in legal proceedings is established, yet postmortem changes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize lip prints obtained from cadavers with diverse causes of death.
• To assess the impact of fixation techniques on postmortem alterations observed in lip impressions.
• To enhance the reliability of lip print evidence in forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

• Collection of lip impressions from deceased individuals.
• Analysis of lip print characteristics across various postmortem intervals and causes of death.
• Evaluation of the effects of different fixation agents on the preservation of lip print details.

Main Results:

• Distinctive changes in lip print morphology were observed postmortem, influenced by the cause of death.
• Fixation methods demonstrated varying degrees of success in mitigating postmortem degradation of lip impressions.
• Specific characteristics of lip prints from cadavers were identified, providing comparative data for forensic analysis.

Conclusions:

• Lip print analysis from cadavers is feasible, but postmortem changes necessitate careful interpretation.
• Optimal fixation techniques are crucial for preserving the integrity of lip impressions for forensic identification.
• This study contributes valuable data for the application of lip print evidence in complex forensic cases.