An unusual source for postmortem findings of methyl ethyl ketone and methanol in two homicide victims

Contamination from methyl ethyl ketone and methanol utilized in a new technique to visualize fingerprints on human skin was detected postmortem in blood and vitreous humor by toxicological analysis. Two cases which represent the first field trials of the fingerprinting technique in Canada are presented. Details of the toxicological analyses and the nature of the contamination are discussed.