Hello, my fellow mystery writers. How many of you use trace evidence in your crime scenes? Your story shows the protagonist working the murder scene to find clues that will lead to the killer, but what form does that evidence take.
Enter – Trace Evidence
Dr. Edmond Locard, a famed forensic scientist, developed a theorem called “Locards theory of transference.” The idea is that no one enters a crime scene that they don’t bring something with them and leave something behind—dirt, hair, DNA, fingerprints, etc.
So how does this help improve my novel, you ask?
Great question
We can use Locard’s theory to develop scenes that come across as realistic and vibrant. Hairs and fibers, dirt on the floor, tool marks where a window was forced open are all elements that can help build suspense.
I like using these elements to slowly tie my antagonist back to the scene of the crime. Some examples I’ve used include my protagonist finding a lone hair on the victim’s body. Or the killer leaves a partial print on the edge of a doorframe. I’ve also used the premise of dirt found at the scene doesn’t match the surrounding area. The options when using trace evidence are only limited by your imagination.
The National Institute of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations provide excellent overviews of trace evidence
If you’re unsure what trace evidence is, how to identify it, or collect it; please reach out via my contact page. I’d love to give you some tips and suggestions.
Remember – your suspect had to get to the scene of the crime somehow, and odds are they brought something with them and left something behind.
Happy Writing!!