Impact Spatter Bloodstain Patterns on Textiles.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Textile Science
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Background:

• Bloodstain patterns on textiles are common at violent crime scenes.
• Limited research exists on impact spatter characteristics on fabric surfaces.
• Understanding spatter behavior on textiles is crucial for forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the deposition of impact spatter on knit fabrics.
• To compare bloodstain characteristics on fabrics with varying yarn sizes to paper.
• To analyze the influence of fabric structure on bloodstain formation and distribution.

Main Methods:

• Impact spatter was created at a 90° angle onto three knit fabrics with different yarn sizes and onto paper.
• Stain area and number of stains were quantified using ImageJ software.
• Statistical comparison was performed using one-factor ANOVA.

Main Results:

• The number and area of impact spatter stains decreased as yarn size increased on the knit fabrics.
• Blood exhibited directional wicking along fiber direction on fabrics, causing distorted stain shapes.
• Fabrics with larger yarns produced fewer stains than paper; smaller yarns yielded comparable stain counts to paper.

Conclusions:

• Fabric yarn size significantly affects impact spatter deposition and stain characteristics.
• The anisotropic wicking behavior of blood in textiles influences stain morphology.
• Findings provide valuable data for interpreting bloodstain patterns on fabric evidence in forensic casework.