Impressions: Shoes, Tires, and Tools

• Author: D. P. Lyle
• Pages: 279-292

Impressions: Shoes, Tires, and Tools 279

CHAPTER 15

IMPRESSIONS: SHOES,

TIRES, AND TOOLS

Pattern evidence is evidenc e that is us eful for identification, compari son,

and matching based on its “pattern.” Fingerprints, pal m prints, footprints

(Chapter 13), blood spatters (Chapter 14), and even the braid pattern of rope

ligatures stamped in brui ses on a strangulation victim’s neck (Chapter 8)

are examples of pattern evidence that can be useful in criminal investiga-

tions. Other pattern evidence, which is the subject of this chapter, include

shoe and tire impressions and tool marks. In most cases, these yield only

class evidence, but by examining wear, tear, and damage m arks, the crimi-

nalist might be able to individualize the evidence.

For example, the tread pattern of a shoe or a tire might identify the

size, the model, and the manufacturer of the product, and these details

alone will narrow the search by focusing investigative efforts on the sellers

and buyers of that particular product. But even if this leads to a particular

suspect, wearing shoes of the sa me size and brand or driving a car with the

same brand and style of tires does not mean that his shoes or his tires left

the impressions at the crime scene. It simply means that he could have and,

along with anyone else who wears similar shoes or who drives a car with