Materials:

Procedures and Findings:

Both the known and questioned writing were inspected with the unaided eye and under microscope at magnifications from 7x through 25x.

Comparison of sample K1-a to sample Q1-a

The following writing characteristics were among those observed:

• The number "1"

  • The "1"s in the known sample (K1-a) are short and were created using brief strokes with consistent medium pressure throughout. This characteristic can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the numbers "+/- 1" and "10".

  • The "1"s in the questioned sample (Q1-a) are long and were created with medium pressure at the top, fading to light pressure at the bottom.

• The number "9"

  • The circular portion of the "9" in the known sample (K1-a) is clear and unobstructed and is closed with no gaps.

  • The circular portion of the "9"s in the questioned sample (Q1-a) is tight and shows a gap on the right side of the second "9".

Comparison of sample sample K1-b to sample Q1-b

The following writing characteristics were among those observed:

• The lower case "h"

  • The upper extension of the "h" in the known sample (K1-b) was created using a straight downstroke and has no loop, and the hump of the "h" is well-rounded and of medium height. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "Hugh", "shift", and "that".

  • The upper extension of the "h" in the questioned sample (Q1-b) was created using a straight downstroke and has no loop and the hump of the "h" is flattened. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in multiple occurrences of the words "the", "that", "this", and "than", as well as in the words "Although", "rather" and "Thanks".

• The lower case "e"

  • The "e" in the known sample (K1-b) is moderately open with no beginning stroke. This characteristic can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "re", "Weds", "email", "make", "movie", "even", "offered", "set", and "next".

  • The "e" in the questioned sample (Q1-b) is closed with a smooth, straight connecting stroke. This characteristic can also be seen throughout the questioned writing in words such as "apologize", "absence", "couple", "classes", "wanted", "attend", "rest", "semester" and so on.

• The lower case "t"

  • The "t" in the known sample (K1-b) has a medium height stem with no beginning stroke and some retracing. The t bar is of medium height and short length, is placed on the right side of the stem, and is lightly connected to the next letter. Similar characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "can't", "Sort", "out", "shift", "party", "next", and "that", though, in some instances, the t bar height is low on the stem.

  • The "t" in the questioned sample (Q1-b) has a retraced, medium height stem with a smooth, straight connecting stroke. The t bar is of medium to tall height and medium length, is placed primarily on the left side of the stem, and is not connected to the next letter. Similar characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in multiple occurrences of the words "the", "wanted", "to", "that", "this" and so on, as well as in the words "past", "rest", "completing", "graduate" and so on. Note that the t bar height varies widely throughout the questioned writing.

• The lower case "n"

  • The "n" in the known sample (K1-b) has a single hump with rounded top and no beginning or ending stroke. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "can't", and "next", and similar characteristics in the word "even", although that instance includes a beginning stroke connecting the "n" to the preceding letter.

  • The "n" in the questioned sample (Q1-b) two humps of equal height and rounded tops, a short, straight connecting stroke to the preceding letter, and a short, straight ending stroke. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in words such as "absence", "wanted", "know", "attend", "return", "Jackson", and so on.

Comparison of sample sample K1-c to sample Q1-c

The following writing characteristics were among those observed:

• The lower case "i"

  • The "i" in the known sample (K1-c) is short in height with no beginning or ending stroke and the i dot is missing. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "library" and "shift".

  • The "i" in the questioned sample (Q1-c) is of medium height with a short, straight connecting stroke to the next letter. The i dot is close to and directly above the i stem. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in words such as "it", "time", "will", "incomplete", and "situation".

• The lower case "g"

  • The circle portion of the "g" in the known sample (K1-c) is of medium height and width with a large gap on the right side. The lower loop of the "g" is short and very wide. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the known writing in the words "library" and "party".

  • The circle portion of the "g" in the questioned sample (Q1-c) is small and closed with a small gap on the top right. The lower loop of the "g" is long and narrow. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in words such as "getting", "my", "missing", "hoping", "being", and so on.

• The lower case "m"

  • The "m" in the known sample (K1-c) is of medium height and wide width with wavy tops and short, blunt connecting strokes. These characteristics are not seen elsewhere in the known writing. Later occurrences of the lower case "m" in the words "email", "make", "movie", and "mom" are also of medium height and wide width, but have more pointed tops and no beginning or ending strokes.

  • The "m" in the questioned sample (Q1-c) is of small height and medium width with rounded tops, the second hump smaller than the first, a short, smooth beginning stroke, and a long, smooth ending stroke. These characteristics can be seen elsewhere in the questioned writing in words such as "emergency", "some", "incomplete", "come", "semester", and so on.

Conclusion:

After a thorough examination of the questioned document, it is my expert opinion that the known writing (K1-a, K1-b, and K1-c) and the questioned writing (Q1-a, Q1-b, and Q1-c) were not written by the same person.

// Cheri A. Dinsmore

Questioned Document Examiner