Photos of hairbrush

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U.S. Government photos

White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom (circled by webmaster)
White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom (circled by webmaster)
White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom
White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom
White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom
White plastic hairbrush in east bedroom

CID Findings


ca. April 20, 1971:  USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24

USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24, page 2  Page 2
USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24, page 2


Paragraph 6:  Comparative examination of the hairs of Exhibit E321 showed same to be similar in gross color, pigmentation and structure to the dark hairs removed from Exhibits E323 and E35.

     a.  It is the opinion of the examiner that these hairs could have had the same source of origin.


USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24, page 3  Page 3
USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24, page 3


Paragraph 8:  Comparative examination of the light brown hairs from Exhibits E322, E323 and E35 showed same to be similar in gross color, pigmentation and structure.

     a.  It is the opinion of the examiner that these hairs could have had the same source of origin.

Paragraph 9:  Comparative examination of the blond hairs from Exhibit E322, E323 and E35 showed same to be similar in gross color, pigmentation and structure.

     a.  It is the opinion of the examiner that these hairs could have had the same source of origin.

ca. May 25, 1971:  USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R25

USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R25, page 2  Page 2
USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R25, page 2


Paragraph 2:  Comparative examination of the hairs from Exhibit E325 showed same to be similar in gross color, pigmentation and structure to some of the hairs from Exhibits E323 and E35 and could have had the same source of origin.

March 29, 1972:  USACIL Consolidated Report

Webmaster note:  This exhibit is described on page 1 of USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24 (April 20, 1971) and on page 1 of USACIL Report P-FA-D-C-FP-82-70-R25 (May 25, 1971) as "Hair brush from under body of Colette MacDonald." However, the word "debris" is not included, nor is this writer able to find any designation for Exhibit E35 in the USACIL Consolidated Report.

FBI Findings re: synthetic fibers


February 13, 1991:  Affidavit of Robert Webb (FBI)

     13.  In connection with this matter I examined one (1) fiber identified to me as Q49 and two (2) fibers identified to me as Q46. Each of these fibers was determined to be polyvinylidene chloride, also known as "saran".

     It is noted the Q46 fibers do differ slightly in chemical composition from the Q49 fiber. This slight difference indicated the respective fibers did not originate from precisely the same manufacturing source or batch during the manufacturing process.

     14.  In connection with this matter I examined one (1) fiber identified to me as Q48 and fibers identified to me as K47. Each of these fibers was determined to be a mixture of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride/vinylidene chrloride, also known as "modacrylic" fibers. These fibers match each other in chemical composition and did therefore originate from the same manufacturing source and particular product or from separate products composed of raw materials from the same source or batch.

     15.  In connection with this matter I examined one(1) fiber identified to me as Q43 and one(1) fiber identified to me as Q44. Each of these fibers was determined to be polyvinyl chloride mixed with a "plasticizing" material. "Plasticizing" additives are chemical substances added to soften synthetic materials.

          It is noted the Q43 fiber differs slightly in the amount of "plasticizer" present when comparing this fiber with Q44. This slight difference indicates the respective fibers did not originate from precisely the same manufacturing source or batch during the manufacturing process.

February 14, 1991:  Affidavit of Michael Malone (FBI)

     13.  In connection with this matter I examined a blue handled hairbrush, specimen Q-132 (CID Exhibit #J and E-322) (See Photo Exhibit 19) I removed a grey delustered modacrylic fiber (Q-132) (See Photo Exhibit 28) from this item. This fiber (Q-132) exhibits the same microscopic and optical properties as the grey delustered modacrylic fibers found in the composition of the previously mentioned K47 fall of Colette MacDonald, and accordingly, is consistent with having originated from the K47 fall (See Photo Exhibits 29-31).

     I also examined two black polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fibers (Q-43 and Q-44) (See Exhibits 21-27) which had previously been removed from this blue handled hair brush (CID Exhibit #J and E-322). The two black PVC fibers Q-43 and Q-44 when resubmitted to the FBI Laboratory were contained in the cardboard box described above, in slide mailers marked "Q-43 and Q-44 PMS" by Paul Stombaugh and "J-black synthetic (?)" by Janice Glisson (See Photo Exhibits 22, 25). I have been further advised by Janice Glisson that the reference J-black (synthetic) which appears in her notes (Murphy Affidavit Exhibit 1, at 36) pertains to specimens Q-43 and Q-44, as does the reference in her typed laboratory report number P-PA-D-C-FP-82-70-R24, paragraph number 7 which states: "Examination of the dark strands from Exhibit E-322 showed same to be synthetic fibers." These fibers are consistent with the type of fibers which were once used in the production of wigs. The source of these PVC fibers (Q-43, Q-44) is unknown at this time.

Related exhibits

D35 White plastic hairbrush bearing red-brown stains near body outline in east bedroom
E321 Known hairs from Mrs. Alfred KASSAB (28 Feb 71)
E322 Blue handled hair brush
E323 Clear handled hair brush
K47 Fall (hairpiece) previously owned by Colette MacDonald

Webmaster note


Exhibit E35 is described by the CID as "Hair brush from under body of Colette MacDonald (debris)."  D35 is the brush itself.

Photos, testimony and various documents seem to confirm that D35 -- the white brush -- was found near or under the green armchair in the master bedroom, near (not under) the body of Colette MacDonald.  Confusing the issue is the fact that at least one document (Government's Post-Hearing Memorandum; July 1, 2013, PDF p. 161) describes the blue brush (E322) as being found under the green armchair near the body as well as under the body: "Modacrylic fibers matching Colette's fall (K47) were also recovered from the blue-handled hairbrush (Q132/E-322) found on the master bedroom floor under the green armchair, when Colette's body was removed . . . Malone also examined two black polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fibers (Q43 and Q44) which had been removed from this blue-handled hair brush (Q132/# J/ E-322) found under Colette's body. . ."

In a filing on May 12, 1997, the government says, "Agent Malone also found black PVC cosmetic wig hairs in a blue handled hairbrush found near Colette's body . ."  Yet again, it is the white-handled brush which is repeatedly described elsewhere as the brush found near the body.

In CID chemist Janice Glisson's affidavit (February 5, 1991), she describes analyzing "hair-like substance . . . from Exhibit E35 (white-handled hairbrush). The white-handled hairbrush was identified as coming from under the right arm of Colette MacDonald; the locations in the home of the blue-handled and clear-handled brushes were unknown, then and now, to me."  Again, the CID identifies the white-handled brush as being found near -- not under -- the body.

In their notes, Glisson and FBI examiner Paul Stombaugh both describe E35 as debris from the white brush which the CID actually designated as D35.  Yet despite numerous references in other documents to the fact that D35 (white brush) was found near -- not under -- the body of Colette MacDonald, Stombaugh describes the E35 findings as being from the brush under the body.


NOTES

February 17, 1970 - April 10, 1972: Excerpts from CID Reinvestigation    

July 5, 1970: Pre-Article 32 defense questioning of William Ivory (CID)    

July 13, 1970: Dillard Browning (CID) at the Article 32 hearing    

July 14, 1970: Pamela Kalin (babysitter) at the Article 32 hearing

July 22, 1970: William Ivory (CID) at the Article 32 hearing

August 16, 1970: Jeffrey MacDonald at the Article 32 hearing    

September 11, 1970: Closing arguments at the Article 32 hearing

February 1, 1971: Excerpts from statement of Vicki Kalin

June 26, 1973: Excerpt from U.S. Attorney McNamara's memo to the DOJ    

August 16, 1974: Jeffrey MacDonald at the Grand Jury    

October 24, 1974: Dillard Browning (CID) at the Grand Jury    

January 17, 1975: Alfred Kassab at the Grand Jury

1971-1975: Excerpts from notes of Paul Stombaugh (FBI)      

August 1, 1979: Mildred Kassab at trial

August 6, 1979: Dillard Browning (CID) at trial    

October 16, 1990: Excerpts from Affidavit of John Murphy

February 5, 1991: Affidavit of Janice Glisson (CID)    

February 13, 1991: Affidavit of Robert Webb (FBI)    

February 14, 1991: Affidavit of Michael Malone (FBI)    

February 19, 1991: Excerpts from Affidavit of Brian Murtagh    

February 22, 1991: U.S. Response to Defense's Petition for Post-Conviction Relief

June 26, 1991: Hearing on defense's second petition for writ of habeas corpus