Table Of ContentForensic Podiatry
John A. DiMaggio Wesley Vernon
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Forensic Podiatry
Principles and Methods
John A. DiMaggio Wesley Vernon OBE
Forensic Podiatry Consulting Services, PLLC Podiatry Service, Sheffield PCT
Bandon, OR 97411, USA Staffordshire University
[email protected] and Huddersfield University
Derbyshire SK23 7LH, UK
[email protected]
ISBN 978-1-61737-975-8 e-ISBN 978-1-61737-976-5
DOI 10.1007/978-1-61737-976-5
Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011
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Preface
The human foot is a complex body part composed of 52 bones, which are 25% of
all the bones in the body. Because of the foot’s unique structure it allows the human
being to stand up and walk on two feet with a stride that cannot be duplicated by
any other creature on earth. That being said however, the foot is viewed by the
public and the medical professions as a “minor” part of the body, held in low
esteem and hidden in a shoe.
Forensic Podiatry – Principles and Methods has finally been completed after
numerous requests by the podiatric community for such a work. The main premise
of Hilderbrand’s book, Footwear – The Missed Evidence, is the underutilization of
footwear evidence.
Coincidentally, the importance of pedal evidence has also been undervalued. As
footwear evidence has become more commonly utilized in forensic situations so
has pedal evidence. Over the past 20 years, the discipline of forensic podiatry has
grown and developed to become an important addition to the forensic community.
Since this field is still in its relative infancy compared with the other disciplines,
this work should be considered as capturing developments in the field to date and
these developments are expected to continue for the forseeable future. The principles
and methods utilized in this text are scientifically based, and have been accepted and
tested by the general and podiatric communities over the years. One caveat that must
be emphasized is that teamwork is important, whether it’s pedal evidence or base-
ball. The forensic podiatrist is part of the forensic team including, most commonly,
the footwear or marks examiner, laboratory personnel, criminalist, case detective,
investigator, and forensic anthropologist.
This book can be utilized in many different areas in the forensic and medical
fields. The undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and the student of
criminal justice studies should find this text an excellent resource. The podiatrist
who is well-versed in foot morphology, pathology, and biomechanics will find this
book helpful relative to the forensic sciences that must be understood fully. The
criminalists will utilize this as a review of the techniques used at the crime scene as
well as the techniques used to fabricate exemplars. The footwear examiner, forensic
anthropologist, attorneys, lawyers, and investigators will find it invaluable in
researching the field as well as understanding the methodologies and principles
used in determining the value of the pedal evidence.
v
vi Preface
This book is divided into four parts:
Part I discusses general forensic concerns, including the crime scene, from an
informative perspective as well as the tasks performed by the crime laboratory. For
the forensic podiatric practitioner this will be informative and apply to the general
knowledge that is required. It also includes forensic podiatry principles and the
subject of human identification. The basics of the forensic methodology that are
utilized for physical evidence, the method, ACE-V (R), and other aspects of human
identification are presented.
Part II deals with specific forensic podiatry concerns. Included is a chapter on
digital photographic techniques that will provide a review for some and teach the
basics to others who are interested in performing these tasks themselves. The reader
will find the chapter on bare footprint identification and footwear examination and
analysis undeniably the most important chapters in the book relative to the majority
of pedal evidence concerns. Chapter 6 on forensic gait and analysis presents what
might be considered the newest exciting addition to the podiatrist’s forensics arma-
mentarium. Chapter 7 deals with the identification of pedal remains from podiatry
records that are important primarily but not exclusively in mass disaster scenes.
Part III of the book deals with actual forensic podiatry cases from the UK and
the USA. These case summaries will give the reader a perspective of what case
work entails in different situations.
Part IV of the book concentrates on forensic podiatry practice standards that in
many instances parallel expert witness responsibilities. It is essential to understand
and comply with rulings, such as Daubert and others to integrate adequately with
the law enforcement community. The “Ten Essentials for Forensic Podiatry
Practice” should be part of any forensic expert’s standards.
Bandon, OR John A. DiMaggio
Derbyshire Wesley Vernon
Acknowledgements
Mark Hatcher: For reviewing the photography chapter.
Haydn Kelly: For pioneering forensic gait analysis. For providing additional mate-
rial for and reviewing the chapter on forensic gait analysis.
Jai Saxelby: For providing additional comments on the chapter on forensic gait
analysis.
Sarah Reel: For reviewing the bare footprint chapter.
Jeremy Walker: For support throughout the project and reviewing the chapters on
footwear, podiatry records, and case studies.
Mike Allen: For joint working on standards in forensic podiatry. For reviewing the
chapters on the crime scene and lab, the principles of forensic podiatry and the
expert witness and standards of practice.
Dr Norman Gunn: For pioneering forensic podiatry. For mentoring and support
over the past 20 years.
Dr Owen Facey: For mentoring and support over the past 16 years.
My wife, Val Vernon: For love and support over the past 28 years in this and the
many other (mainly academic) trials and tribulations I have subjected her to over
this period.
My parents, Denis and Irene Vernon: For their belief in me and support throughout
my life.
Robin Summers, R.N.: For her photographic expertise.
My wife, Andriana DiMaggio: For her continued support.
Dwane S. Hilderbrand: For his constant support, mentoring, and conviction that
Forensic Podiatry is a new and developing forensic discipline that plays an impor-
tant role with reference to footprint evidence.
Bill Bodziak and Robert Kennedy: They were helpful in offering direction and sup-
port in the early days, before Forensic Podiatry was established.
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Contents
Preface .............................................................................................................. v
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... vii
Part I General Forensic Concerns
1 The Crime Scene and Crime Laboratory ............................................... 3
1.1 General Concerns Regarding Pedal Evidence ................................... 3
1.2 Crime Scene ....................................................................................... 4
1.3 Discovery of Physical Evidence ........................................................ 5
1.4 Enhancing Bare Footprint Evidence .................................................. 5
1.5 Collecting Questioned Bare Footprint Evidence ............................... 8
1.6 Collection of Evidence ....................................................................... 10
1.7 Chain of Custody ............................................................................... 10
1.8 Crime Laboratory ............................................................................... 10
References ................................................................................................... 11
2 Forensic Podiatry Principles and Human Identification ....................... 13
2.1 The Purpose of Human Identification ................................................ 13
2.2 Forensic Podiatry Practice: Principles and Definitions ...................... 14
2.2.1 Forensic Podiatry Is a Science ............................................... 14
2.2.2 Forensic Podiatry Is Science Used for Forensic Purposes ..... 16
2.2.3 Pedal Evidence Is One Form of Physical Evidence ............... 16
2.2.4 Criteria for Usable Physical Evidence ................................... 17
2.2.5 Class and Individual Characteristics ...................................... 19
2.2.6 Class Characteristics Differ in Evidential Value .................... 19
2.2.7 Physical Evidence and the Chain of Custody ........................ 20
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