JFI Abstracts from 2026

Issue 1:  Jan - Mar 2026 

Murder or Suicide by Fire: Dealing With Bias In a Forensic Investigation Of a Woman's Body Found Burned in a Car Trunk

Author(s): Chibel, Ron; Shahar, Revital; Gonen, Noam; Zinger, Alex; Grafit, Arnon
Type: Case Report
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 1
Abstract: When a dead body is found in a fire scene it is examined as accident or homicide. In suspected suicide cases, factors such as the chosen location (isolated area) and the presence of necessary means (fuel, ignition devices) are examined. Cases of suicide by fire are relatively rare. In this case, forensic evidence ruled out an accident but was insufficient to determine whether it was murder or suicide. The discovery of a body in the trunk in an abandoned area strongly suggested a murder and arson scenario. The trunk door was consumed by fire, but the metal locking mechanism indicated that the trunk was closed during the fire. A metallic component of a “Clipper” lighter was found on the deceased’s body, which could support self-immolation or that the killer threw the lighter into the trunk after igniting the fire and then closing the trunk. No “fire trail” (a burn mark created when an accelerant is poured on the ground to ignite from a relatively safe distance) was found on the ground around the vehicle, but the absence of this mark does not rule out arson. However, family testimony pointed toward suicide. The challenge for the experts in this case was to deal with bias and state at the scene that the findings were consistent with both scenarios and no definitive determination could be made without additional data which came a day later. The scene findings, combined with investigative results, ultimately allowed the determination of self-immolation, making this case unique.

Detecting Scattered Human Skeletal Remains with an Alternate Light Source: Case Studies

Author(s): Speidenâ, Robert V.; Pyeattâ, Ralph L.; Russellâ, James A.; Simmonsâ, Tal
Type: Case Report
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 7
Abstract: Search and recovery organizations conduct missions around the world to find missing per-sons or their remains. Though many resources are currently employed to detect human remains, Alternate Light Sources (ALS) appear underutilized. Relying on the fluorescent properties of bone when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, members of the Search and Rescue Tracking Institute (SARTI) employed UV alternate light sources at night to search for, find, and recover surface-scattered human bones and teeth. These searches were conducted at 12 sites where law enforcement agencies in Virginia, USA, had previously recovered human remains in daylight hours. ALS search efforts resulted in a range of zero to 39 human bones found at distances of one to ten meters from the searchers, yielding an average of 12 bones per site. Bones that had been missed by other resources were found by using UV light at night. When used in combination with other resources, the detection of human remains one month to ten years after an individual’s death demonstrates the benefit of using UV light as a search tool.

More than Shooting Distance Reconstruction: Direct Interpretation of Smokless Powder Residue Marks on Vehicle Interior

Author(s): Levyâ, Ophir; Bingor, Alexey; Gilad, Yitzhak; Drepakâ, Lee-Tal;â Leviâ, Aviad
Type: Technical Note
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 29
Abstract: A fair share of shooting incidents includes vehicles. Therefore, sampling smokeless powder residue (SPR) from a vehicle is a common forensic practice as a means to shooting distance estimation. Nevertheless, interior rather than exterior parts of a vehicle are seldom sampled by crime scene investigators. Even more rarely – suspect rather than victim vehicles are examined. This paper suggests an on-scene evaluation approach to make SPR not only a means to shooting distance reconstruction, but to directly utilize it. SPR may be used: for determining the directionality of shots, as a substitute for primer gunshot residue, and as a corroborator of testimony.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Selection of Fingerprint Powder

Author(s): Nag, Kaushik; Helal, Magdy
Type: Article
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 41
Abstract: This study, conducted with the General Department of Criminal Evidence, Kuwait, aimed to identify the most effective fingerprint powders for car theft crime scenes. Four commonly encountered surfaces—glass, cardboard, painted aluminium, and varnished surfaces were tested with various powders and evaluated on multiple criteria. Based on a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), powders were ranked based on lift quality, photographic quality, ease of application, supplier rating, and cost. The results demonstrate how MCDA can structure reproducible comparisons between forensic tools and also underscore the need for further research into multicriteria evaluation within forensic science.

Back to Basics

Author(s): Siegel, Sandy CLPE Coordinator
Type: Article
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 59
Abstract: Funny finds from all over in their own words.

Note from the Editor

Author(s): Stimac, Jon
Type: Note
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 61
Abstract: Note from Editor Jon Stimac

Evolution of the RECOVER LFT System: Semi-Controlled and Pseudo Operational Experiments

Author(s): Cravenâ, Nicolas; Younglingâ, Hailey; Walthallâ, Tina
Type: Erratum
Published: 2026, Volume 76, Issue 1, Page 62