Development of Fingerprints Deposited on Papers Found at a Fire Scene

Fingerprints deposited on paper found at a fire scene are important evidence for determining a suspect’s identity. On the other hand, because the temperature at the fire scene is very high, there are many difficulties in developing fingerprints. This study compared the effectiveness of ninhydrin, DFO, and silver nitrate to develop fingerprints deposited on paper exposed to high temperatures. Using a dry heat press, heat was applied to the paper at 200 °C for various times. Silver nitrate was found to be superior to the others under all conditions. Ninhydrin developed fingerprints weakly compared to DFO and silver nitrate. In addition, the sensitivity of DFO decreased with increasing exposure time. Therefore, it is recommended silver nitrate be used to develop fingerprints deposited on paper found at a fire scene.