Estimation of body proportion from footprints

Objective: Forensic Anthropology is a scientific discipline concerned with identifying evidence obtained from the crime scene during the resolution of a criminal case. Identification is the most critical stage of forensic investigations. Forensic examinations carried out to identify the perpetrator rely on comparing data collected by crime scene investigation experts, such as skin residues, hair strands, forensic trace examinations, blood, and body fluids, with samples taken from suspects. Footprints observed at the crime scene can provide researchers with information about the body proportions of the individual, most likely the perpetrator, who left the scene. The dimensions of the footprint can be a guiding factor in this context. This study aims to obtain estimated body proportions from footprint measurements, reduce the number of individuals involved or not involved in the crime, and ensure more accurate identification of the perpetrator, thereby establishing a database in this field. Materials and Methods: Between September 2023 and February 2024, the footprints and body measurements of a total of 100 adult volunteers, consisting of 52 women and 48 men, were prospectively evaluated. Consideration was given to ensuring that the volunteers had no congenital anomalies or surgical operations that would affect their foot and body measurements. To ensure standardization, all measurements were taken by the same researcher. A photograph of the footprint, taken using charcoal powder on a white background, was taken. A ruler was placed next to the footprint for calibration. Measurements were made on the digitized footprint photographs using the Image J measurement program. Discriminant function analysis was applied to determine whether the footprint belonged to a female or male using measurements taken from the foot. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine the morphometric relationship between foot measurements and body measurements. Linear regression analysis was performed to develop formulas for estimating body contours and morphometric characteristics using measurements taken from the foot by using variables with a high correlation among them. Results: As a result of the study, gender predictions were made using univariate and multivariate discriminant function analyses for both footprint measurements. Regression equations were created for estimating body proportions, and formulas were developed for predicting height, maximum head width, total face height, neck width, neck height, upper extremity length, arm length, span length, biacromial width, thoracic width, abdominal width, bicristal width, and lower extremity length. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it was observed that this method could be used as an additional method to those used in crime scene investigations to ensure accurate identification of individuals involved or not involved in the crime. It is believed that more multi-center, comparative, and prospective studies conducted by experienced researchers are needed for the routine implementation of body proportion estimation from footprints.