Forensics Journal - Stevenson University 2012 | Page 28

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

image, forensic detectives begin with a photo of the child and the
biological parent – a photo of just the father if it is a little boy and
a photo of just the mother if it is a little girl – at the age the child
would be when he or she disappeared. Next, the team uses Adobe
Photoshop CS4 to manipulate the photographs. The face is stretched
to approximate growth, blended with the photos of the parent(s), and
a hairstyle is placed on each child. Clothing for the appropriate age
is added (Katayama, 2009). With computer software such as Adobe
Photoshop CS4, an age progression photo can be completed in about
three hours.
FIGURE 12: [Left] Post-mortem photograph. [Right] Reconstruction
based on post-mortem photograph. (The Unidentified, 2010)

Age progression is most prominent on ADVO cards.1 ADVO cards
have an ad on the front and a picture of a missing child or victim
on the back. These cards are then distributed all over the country in
an effort broaden a search. These images are generally of children;
however age progression can also prove to be an effective tool in
the fugitive recovery process (Martin- Bailey, 2009). Figure 13 is an
example of an ADVO card:

THE ART OF AGE PROGRESSION
Computer-generated and hand-drawn age-progressions are used for
both suspect and victim identification. The primary usage for the
age-progression technique is to assist with the capture of wanted fugitives. Suspects are frequently not identified because the only available
photographs are from a younger age. In that case, the artist considers
all variables involved with the natural aging process. Data is gathered on the suspect or victim, such as lifestyle, genetics (for weight
considerations), hair loss, occupations, smoking, illicit drug usage,
alcohol consumption, allergic reactions, diet over time, psychological
trauma and sleeping patterns (Martin-Bailey, 2009). By using all this
information, the artist produces an estimation of how the individual
would look. When performing age-progressions, computer programs
are used to paint directly on a digitized photo of the suspect or victim. When a quality photograph is not available, a hand-drawn sketch
may be done in lieu of a computer-generated image.
THE USE OF PHOTOSHOP IN THE AGE PROGRESSION PROCESS
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated 800,000
children are reported missing each year (The National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, 2011). Since its inception in 1984,
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC),
a private non-profit agency established by Congress, has acted as
a resource for parents and guardians who have lost a child. One
important tool used by NCMEC is age progression. When a child
is reported missing, the NCMEC receives a photo with a report. As
time goes on, the photo becomes less valuable, especially if the child
was very young when he or she disappeared. This is where age progression comes in. In an effort to create the best possible progressed

FIGURE 13: Age Progression of Children Missing Two or More Years
Row 1: Joseph Carson: Missing at age 2; Age Progression age 7;
Recovery age 7
Row 2: Sara Eghbal-Brin: Missing at age 3; Age Progression age 7;
Recovery age 8
Row 3: Jonathan Ortiz: Missing at age 1; Age Progression age 10;
Recovery age 10 (Forensic Assistance, n.d.).

ADVO cards are printed and distributed by ADVO, a 73-year old direct marketing company based in Windsor, CT. ADVO cards are sent out to more than 77 million
homes per week. ADVO’s search for missing children began in 1984 (Tinsely, 2002).

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