Forensic document examiner analyzing handwriting samples of Joseph Newman’s signature and traced forgeries

Joseph Newman’s family reported him missing in 1996. Law enforcement personnel suspected his roommate, David Mayle, of possibly killing Newman, but could find no proof. Mayle had previously been tied to, but never successfully prosecuted for, the disappearance of three other men. A task force created to get to the bottom of the disappearances learned that Newman’s Social Security Office disability checks were being stolen from the mails. Task force members obtained some of Newman’s original cashed checks and later documents. They sent them to the Postal Inspection Service’s Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

The examiner found carbon residue on some of the checks. That, and indications of a slow and precise formation of the letters in the signature, convinced her that the later signatures had been traced from the original.

Mayle was charged with mail fraud and forgery. He was found guilty on all counts. The judge was convinced that there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Mayle killed Newman and three other men. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.