ber. A dab of superglue is placed in the chamber and
heated. The fumes from the superglue mix with water
vapor. This forms a white powder that settles on the
friction ridges of the print. Dyes can be added to make
the print more visible. This method was vital in solving
the 2004 murder of Patricia Volpenhein in Kentucky.
Among the evidence found at the scene were two tarps.
Investigators hung the tarps in a plastic-enclosed cham-
ber along with some superglue. Soon they had a nearly
complete thumbprint on one of the tarps, which they
used to identify the killer.
Once developed, or made visible, latent prints can
be photographed. If the item containing the fingerprint
is small enough to transport, it is packaged and sent to
the lab. The CSI has to be careful not to let the surface
with the fingerprint rub against any packing materials.
34
