Mission Statement:

The goal of the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, Trace Evidence Unit is to assist the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner in the determination of cause and manner of death.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, Trace Evidence Unit fulfills its Mission Statement by adhering to the following:

1. Assist the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner and Deputy Medical Examiner in the identification of the Victims and in the determination of the cause and manner of death by the recognition, collection, and scientific analysis of evidence from the hands and/or clothing of Victims of violent and/or suspicious death.
2. Assist Law Enforcement Agencies, whether they reside in Cuyahoga County or out of Cuyahoga County, in their investigations by establishing an evidentiary link between Victim(s), Suspect(s), or Crime Scene(s) through the recognition, collection, and scientific analysis of evidence. The evidence may be collected by the Trace Evidence Unit in house or at a crime scene or submitted by a Law Enforcement Agency.
3. Assist in the Judicial process by testifying in a Court of Law to the results of any and all examinations conducted, and conclusions contained within the Trace Evidence Unit Final Report.

The Trace Evidence Unit performs the collection and analysis of any items of trace evidence that are recovered or collected from Medical Examiner's cases that are indicated as homicide, suicide, or suspicious.

The purpose of any forensic examination is to provide an evidentiary link between a victim and a suspect, a victim and a crime scene, or a suspect and a crime scene. Any evidentiary link obtained must be established through sound scientific principles.

Trace Evidence Methodologies

• Fibers: stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, comparison microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microspectrophotometry
• Paint: stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, comparison microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive X-ray detection
• Hair: stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, comparison microscopy
• Tape: stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, comparison microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive X-ray detection
• Gunshot Residue (primer): scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive X-ray detection
• Muzzle to Target Distance Determination: stereomicroscopy, alternate light source (infrared), chemical testing
• Impressions: 1 to 1 photography / overlay / transparency
• Physical Match: stereomicroscopy
• Unknown Materials: stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, polarized light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, comparison microscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive X-ray detection
• Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation: photography, area of convergence determination, area of origin determination
• Serology: alternate light source, chemical testing