Fracture Match: A Validation Study of Paper Tears, Part 1

Forensic document examiners are frequently asked to analyze evidence that requires the identification of a torn document by reconstruction. The reconstruction and identification of a rip or tear is also known as a fracture match. Fracture match examinations have important forensic applications in that they may establish a relationship between 1) the suspect and the crime scene, 2) the victim and the crime scene, or 3) the suspect and victim. Be it a ransom note torn from a pad of paper, pieces of a gum wrapper containing drugs, or a spent paper match, these products are often forwarded to the forensic document examiner, who endeavors to determine if the separated items are associated.
In this study, the authors examined single sheets of paper torn under controlled conditions to investigate the uniqueness of their torn edges. The results of the study showed that the fractured edges of single sheets of paper torn under controlled conditions were unique. A 4-point measurement methodology, used to determine the tear profile, was validated statistically.