CASTING AND MOLDING

Introduction:

When a crime of violence like robbery is committed, usually the house breaker or the suspect
leaves his shoeprint or footprints on soft soil or mud just outside the window or door of the house or a
car is used in kidnapping and murder and was parked on soft ground near the crime scene will surely
leave good tire marks. These can be used as the basis for identifying the car used by the perpetrator of
the crime. Shoes, feet and tire marks sink into the soft ground will leave behind characteristic
impressions, so casting of these dimensional impressions are resorted to.

A plaster cast is a reproduction of an object that makes the impression. The cast obtained from
an impression made by an object in clay soil, dust, sand and others is a duplicate of the object that made
the impression.

Ordinarily, the purpose of making a cast is to enable a scientific comparison to be made with the
object suspected of having the impressions and thus to establish that the object and inferentially its
owner was at the scene of the crime.

The cast of the shoes or tire marks can be properly identified in terms of their class and
individual characteristics. These will provide the crime scene investigator the desired scientific
information that will lead to the successful prosecution of the suspect. By then, it is necessary that a
good cast is produced because the smallest details of the impression can be captured. The cast should
not also shrink so that when it is subjected to examination, the exact size and shape of the objects are
obtained.

Kinds of casting materials:

1. Plaster of Paris – the most widely applicable material to be used particularly in outdoor scenes.
2. Dental stone – more preferred because it is more comfortable to use and more firm in nature.

Impressions:

An impression print is made when a footprint is left in mud, sand or any other soft surfaces.
Generally, a plaster cast is made of the footprint and is then photographed. The photographed of the
cast is compared to the shoe in question. When an impression is found in the crime scene, the following
order should be followed:

1. A photograph should be made of the impression

2. A plaster cast should be made
3. A photographed should be made of the plaster cast
4. After the suspect’s shoe has been recovered, the suspect shoe should be photographed
5. A comparison should be made between the photographed of the plaster cast and the
photographed of the suspect’s shoe

Preparation of the cast:

Before the evidentiary indentation of the impression of cast, the five (5 noted order should be
observed:
 1. Spraying – if the receiving surface consist of a soft substance such as dust, sand or flour, a quick
drying fixative such as plastic spray or shellac should be applied prior to casting. The spray
should be directed against a piece of cardboard and permitted to settle over the impression.
When the fixative is quite dry, a fine layer of machine oil or used oil should be sprayed over the
surface to facilitate separation of cast from the fixative.
2. Mixing the plaster – an estimate amount of the material (Plaster of Paris) required for an inch-
thick cast should be made and a corresponding quantity of water placed in the glass, porcelain,
rubber container or basin. The plaster is then sprinkled evenly over the surface of the water. The
plaster is now stirred thoroughly until the mixture has the consistency of cream. Plaster of Paris
or water is added to achieve the proper consistency.
3. Pouring
4. Identification – before the plaster has been completely set, it should be marked by the
investigator for identification. The date, case number and the initials of the investigator can be
scratched on the upper surface.
5. Cleaning – after hardening, the cast should be removed and permitted to further dry for several
minutes or hours. It can be washed by running water to remove adhering debris without
brushing.

Moulage – is a method of reproducing impressions made on the soil.

Modeling clay:

For small impressions such as tool marks, modeling clay will be found to be satisfactory
reproduction medium. Simply pressing the clay into the indentation and removing it makes a cast of the
impression. The form of the clay is now that of the object which made the impression.

Qualities necessary for an ideal material for use in the cast:

1. Easy to obtain
2. Not so costly
3. It must be able to penetrate the entire footprints

Common terms:

1. Indentation – a cut or notch in an edge or border.

2. Impression – is a mark.
3. Crepe – a thin, wrinkled fabric of silk, cotton or wool.
4. Nick – a slight cut, chip or indentation in the surface or edge of anything.

CONCLUSION:

“SOIL ANALYSIS BECOMES AN AREA OF INTERESTS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, EXAMINATION OF

FOOTPRINTS IN PARTICULAR, SO, IT MUST BE GIVEN AN EQUAL TREATMENT AND CONSIDERATION
WITH OTHER SPECIMENS OR SAMPLES”.