Use of fecal material to associate a suspect with a crime scene: Report oftwo cases

Fecal matter analyses were applied to two cases: a homicide and a robbery. Scrapings of fecal matter removed from samples of clothing obtained from a homicide suspect were examined Tor their plant cell and cell fragment conte nt and compared with fecal matter from a rape-homicide victim and scrapings from her clothing. Scrapings were hydrated and examined microscopically, T ypes of food plants were identified from the observed cells by comparison w ith known food plants. A similar analysis was conducted on the clothing of a robbery suspect and compared with fecal material left at the crime scene. The results showed that, respectively in the two cases, the reference samp les were remarkably similar, if not identical, to those from the suspects' clothing.