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Questioned Documents Portfolio Entry

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160 views

Questioned Documents Portfolio Entry

Uploaded by

api-752716987
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Questioned Documents Portfolio Entry

The son of a wealthy computer guru has been kidnapped from his home and you have
been called in to evaluate the ransom note. The house includes a security system that
video monitors all activity. Four different people had access to the house on the day of
the kidnapping besides the father and mother of the child. Each of the 4 people is now a
suspect and has submitted exemplars for comparison to the ransom note. Your job is to
collect data to match the handwriting sample and catch the culprit before any harm can
come to the missing child. Your supervisor has instructed you to follow the procedure
below.

1. Obtain a copy of the exemplars from the suspects and the ransom note Links
to an external site.
2. You may prefer to print a copy so you can write on it and
make side-by-side comparisons.
3. Create a data table that compares the letters based on the following
characteristics:
1. Is the writing in cursive, print, or a combination of both?
2. Are the lines smooth or shakey?
3. Do capital letters only appear at the beginning of a sentence or
name or are there randomly distributed capital letters throughout
the text?
4. Do the capital letters “connect” to the lowercase letters that follow?
5. Are any letters left open, such as o’s or a’s? Which ones?
6. Does the pressure applied appear to be consistent or does it vary?
7. Is there a slant? Which direction, right or left?
8. Are there fancy curls or loops? If so, which letters?
9. Are all “i”s dotted? If so, how? Right, left, center? Are there any
notable features like a circle or a dash?
10. Are all the “t”s crossed? If so, how? Right, left, center? Are there
any fancy tails or circles?
4. Determine which suspect wrote the ransom note and explain which
observations were most beneficial in determining a match.
Suspect #1 wrote the ransom note. The way suspect #1 wrote their I’s and their M’s was
the biggest tell because no other suspect wrote their capital I’s or M’s the same way they
did. The ransom note handwriting was slanted to the left, at the same angle as suspect
#1’s handwriting. The I’s are also dotted slightly to the right, just as in suspect #1’s
exemplar.
5. What did you find most difficult about this case?
Going through each exemplar over and over, often missing little details that I would
notice later on.
6. Upload your data table and answers to the questions here.

Questions Suspect 1 Suspect 2 Suspect 3 Suspect 4

Is the writing Cursive Combination Cursive Combination


in cursive,
print, or a
combination
of both?

Are the lines Slightly shaky Smooth Smooth Smooth


smooth or
shaky?

Do capital Only at the Random Only at the Only at the


letters only beginning or a beginning or a beginning or a
appear at the name name name
beginning of a
sentence or
name, or are
there
randomly
distributed
capital letters
throughout the
text?

Do the capital Yes and No Yes and No Mostly No Mostly Yes


letter
“connect” to
the lowercase
letters that
follow?

Are any letters The B’s The B’s The A’s No


left open, such
as O’s or A’s?
Which ones?
Does the Slightly Consistent Slightly Consistent
pressure inconsistent inconsistent
applied appear
to be
consistent or
does it vary?

Is there a Left slant None Slight left slant None


slant? Right or
Left?

Are there The I’s and M’s None None The D’s have
fancy curls or have fancy fancy loops
loops, if so loops
which letters?

Are all I’s Yes, dotted to Yes, dotted to Yes, dotted the Not all I’s are
dotted? How? the right. No the right. And the right or dotted. The
Right? Left? notable symbol (&) is center. Dots are ones that are,
Center? Are features. used instead of slightly are dotted to
there any the word. dashed. the right. Uses
notable the @ symbol.
features such
as a circle or
dash?

Are all the T’s Yes, crossed in Yes, crossed in Yes, crossed Yes, crossed
crossed? How? the center. No the center. No and connected slightly right.
Right? Left? notable notable to the next
Center?Are features. features. letter, slightly
there any curvy.
fancy tails or
circles?

7. Create a questioned document or handwriting section or page of your


portfolio and use what you did in this assignment to demonstrate your
understanding of handwriting analysis.
1. Formatting is up to you.
2. You can insert a link to the data table and notes into the portfolio.
3. Or, you can put the data table and notes directly into the portfolio
in a creative way.
4. You can also add other information about questioned documents
and handwriting analysis to your portfolio that demonstrates your
knowledge.
5. Pictures are always great!

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