ABSTRACT
Footwear evidence in criminal investigations is often the most overlooked and abundant evidence at crime scenes. Methods for documenting and capturing footwear impressions have increased over the last 20 years, and manufacturing databases allow for searches for class-level matches. However, there is limited research on sustained-wear characteristics based on a person’s gait over time. This limited study evaluates footwear characteristics related to wear patterns and their growth over time with athletic shoes used at potential crime scenes. In a case study involving two potential suspects with similar footwear, geometric and sustained-wear characteristics were found to be consistent throughout years of wear by the suspects. The investigative value of documentation of these wear patterns with potential serial suspects is discussed.
