Exam 3 Flashcards
What do we look for in handwriting
Differences! Not similarities
Letter formations
Handwriting slants
Rounded letters
Shape of letters
Letter formations
how is the letter constructed, how many strokes, one continuous stroke or many strokes combined to make the letter
Proportional size of letters
relationship between size of short and tall letters and between the height and width of a single letter
Line form
This looks at how smooth and dark the lines are, which indicates how much pressure the writer applies while writing and the speed of the writing
Formatting
This includes the spacing between letters, the spacing between words, the placement of words on a line and the margins a writer leaves empty on a page
Space between lines
do strokes from words on one line intersect with strokes in words on the line below and above it
A specific individual may form a letter differently depending on
where the letter falls in a word - beginning, middle or end, so an analyst will try to find examples of each letter in each placement
Forgery
the process used by criminals to make, alter, or falsify a person’s signature or another aspect of a document with the intent to deceive another
Forged documents
checks, employment records, legal documents, licenses, and wills
Literary forgery
This refers to a piece of writing, such as an historic letter or manuscript
Best literary forgers do what
They try to duplicate the original documents, so the materials used are similar to those used in the original document. They do this by collecting old paper or old books
It is essential for forgers to?
use aged paper to pass the microscopic examination tests
Ink in forgery
changed, so intelligent forgers would mix their own inks from material that would have been used at the time
Counterfeit money
feels different because real money is printed on special paper.
The #1 way people catch fakes is because it doesn’t feel right
COunterfeit detecting pens
inexpensive special pens/markers containing the element iodine.
When they come in contact with a counterfeit bill, the paper marked with the pen will change
color to a bluish-black.
Why do counterfeit pens work
This is because of starch, found in regular printer paper
Real money does not contain starch but has a different fiber.
When the pen is marked on real money, it will leave a pale yellow-brown line that fades quickly
Mcdonald triad
As youngsters many enjoyed torturing animals, setting fires, Bed-wetting (past toddler age)
Most serial killers exhibit at least one of these behaviors
Visionary motive type
Insane or psychotic, compelled to murder by entities such as the devil (“devil mandated”) or God (“God mandated”). David Berkowitz - “Son of Sam”
Mission oriented type
They believe that they need to “rid the world” of what they consider immoral or unworthy. Often the victims are prostitutes, young women, gay men
Green River Killer Gary Ridgway
Hedonistic killers
Derives pleasure from killing Jeffrey Dahmer
Thrill killer
primary goal is to inflict pain or create terror in the victims. The victims often are strangers, who the killer may have stalked for a period of time. These killers can go long periods of time without killing
Ted Bundy
Comfort (profit) killers
material gain and extravagant lifestyle are primary motives. The victims are usually close acquaintances or family members. Female serial killers are often this type
Ted Bundy victims
The majority of Bundy’s victims were young women with blonde/light brown hair parted in the middle
Bite mark evidence from his victims at Florida State University sealed his fate
Son of Sam David Berkowitz
During his killing spree, he sent letters to New York newspapers, signing them “Son of Sam,” a reference to a demon he believed lived inside the black Labrador retriever owned by his neighbor Sam Carr
