This page shows examples of how sample submitters used great care to document their samples and keep chain of custody when possible:
Chain of Custody - Sample 36
Dr. Ketchum
The subject visited the camera on 7/25/09, I swabbed the camera on 8/26/09.
I swabbed the entire camera front and sides with swab #1, (#1 Sasquatch). I swabbed it again with #2 (#2 Sasquatch), to pick up any residual that I might have missed the first time. I then swabbed the back of the camera to get a control sample, (#1 control sample) knowing that the Sasquatch did not touch the back, as the camera was secured up against the tree.
Also included are three known human samples from, myself (#1 known human), Brian (#2 known human), and Derek (#3 known human). If there is any human contamination it should be from us individually or all of us as we all had contact with the camera, most likely it would be from me (#1 known human) as I had the most contact and collected the samples.
If it turns out that we do get a Sasquatch profile we have evidence to corroborate the collection. Derek recorded me collecting and narrating the collection on a digital video recorder at the sight. That specific camera is still at the location where it obtained the photos. The only thing I have changed about it is that I moved it a couple feet up the tree due to possible snow accumulation and I used some natural forest debris to conceal it.
Contents of package as follows;
#1 Sasquatch
#2 Sasquatch
#1 Control
#1 Human Known, Rich
#2 Human Known, Brain
#3 Human Known, Derek
Thank you for your help
Richard Germeau
10/7/09
Chain of Custody - Sample 33
To: Dr. Meldrum
From: Richard E. Germeau
RE: Possible Sasquatch hair fibers
Date 4/1/10
Steve Mattice is sending you an assortment of hair fibers that were collected. I advised him to send you a number of hair fibers, which reflect the full diversity of the fibers that we found on these two “scratching tree’s” and on the ground at their base’s. Below is a synopsis that covers how I got in contact with Steve, a bit about his history regarding this location and how I became aware of this evidence, also I will give a detailed description of the hair fibers themselves as well as a general location they were recovered. I will also inform you to whom other fibers from this scene were sent be analyzed.
On 3/30/10, I had telephone contact with Steve Mattice, who advised me that he had found numerous hair fibers located in the tributary watershed of the greater Wynoochee River drainage of eastern Grays Harbor County located within Washington State. I had been initially called by David Ellis (BFRO investigator), who put me in contact with Steve Mattice. I have been in contact with David for some time regarding Sasquatch investigation/evidence. David had told me about this location and the numerous encounters both he and Steve have had in this area with suspected Sasquatch’s over the past four years. Steve and I had never met before I called him on the 30th. I arranged to meet Steve at his residence in Montesano Washington the following day at 1000 hours. David is more of less Steve’s investigative partner for this site.
Steve has been investigating the Bigfoot phenomenon for approximately the last 10 years. Starting when he found a track line that consisted of numerous large human like tracks in this very same watershed. Since then Steve has been investigating this area and within the past four years has had four alleged sightings of at least two different subjects he believed to be Bigfoot/Sasquatch. One of which was dark in color and another was multi colored dark and light shades of brown.
On 3/29/10, in third growth stand of Douglas Fir Timber, located on a well-traveled game trail he found a small tree beneath the canopy. This tree had numerous broken/twisted branches six inches from the ground up to four feet up the trunk. Within these broken/twisted branches he observed numerous hair fibers that appeared humanlike in nature, some of which, more course and thicker in diameter than the average human hair fiber. The color of the hair fibers ranged from white/gray, numerous shades of blond to brown and shades of red. Some of the hair fibers were up to approximately six inches in length. Steve collected over one hundred fibers, which he showed me when I arrived at his residence at approximately 1000 hours, on 3/31/10.
After making contact with Steve we drove out to the location in my vehicle. We walked to the exact spot and I myself observed the same tree. I could plainly see that there were numerous additional hair fibers both on the trunk of the tree and stuck in the broken branches as well as on the ground at the base of the tree. I was able to recover numerous hair fibers that were of the same description as stated above. I also removed some of the broken branches with a small saw as to keep intact any possible DNA that was left in the exchange made by the creature and the tree. Within these broken branches are numerous twisted hair fibers, which are wrapped around the wood. On the tips of some of the fibers I could clearly see the “hair root” with the naked eye. I could not see any flesh attached. It is unknown how long the hair fibers had been there.
It appears that there could possibly be fibers from two different individuals. The darker hair fibers appear to be larger in diameter and more coarse. Although the hair has a slightly different appearance it also appears to be of the same type.
As far as I could tell these hair fibers were not consistent with any of the native animals in this area. If anything they appear to be human like when looking with the naked eye. I did stop by a taxidermist friend of mine’s residence located in Shelton Washington on my way home. We compared the hair fibers with numerous big game animal hair fibers at his shop ranging from black bear, deer, elk and cougar. None of them were even close in appearance. He advised me that he had never seen such hair on any big or small game animal from any region and he has stuffed animals from every continent. We did compare the hair fibers to human hair and they appeared the same only some of the unknown hair fibers a bit larger in diameter.
I have instructed him to go back to this location and collect as many more as he can find. I have also advised him to remove any additional broken limbs within the same range on both trees. I have advised him on how to process the evidence as to keep it form being compromised or contaminated.
I have sent the following evidence to Dr. Melba Ketchum of DNA Diagnostics for DNA analysis. In all I sent her approximately eighty to on hundred hair fibers and wood cuttings from the trees.
1. Item #1, unknown hair fibers.
2. Item #2, unknown hair fibers and wood debris.
3. Item #3, unknown hair fibers and wood debris.
4. Item #4, Cheek Swab from Steve Mattice, (human known).
Additionally I gave approximately ten hair fibers of various colors and diameter to Derek Randles to be sent to Dr. Henner Fahrenbach for analysis.
If preliminary analysis shows that the hair fibers are suspected Sasquatch hair fibers, and there appears to be viable DNA present, Steve and I will go back to the scene for additional evidence recovery/processing, such as taking the suspected contacted portion of the trees themselves and the forest debris/dirt at their bases out to about two feet from the base of each tree.
Although I have not seen them apparently Steve has collected other hair fibers he suspects to be from Sasquatch from this area over the past four years. Never has he found the quantity in one location, which were found on these two trees. If needed I am sure you could have access to these additional samples.
For information Steve is not a member or associated with any Sasquatch investigation group. This area is basically only investigated by Steve and David, it is not a “BFRO” site. Steve welcomes other trustworthy, legitimate individuals going to the site but he ask that he be kept in the loop, more or less be given common courtesy of being included. Steve has put in years of dedication to the investigation of these inhabitants and wants to the keep the exact location confidential. Both Steve and David believe that these particular Sasquatch inhabit this tributary valley on a year round basis, encounters are frequent at all times of the year and there appear to be multiple subjects. They have found/documented numerous impressions, vocalizations and hair fibers in this area over the past four years.
Regards
Richard E. Germeau
To: Dr. Ketchum
From: Richard E. Germeau
RE: Possible Sasquatch hair fibers
Date 3/31/10
Dr. Ketchum
Enclosed is what we discussed on the phone regarding the hair fibers.
On 3/30/10, I had telephone contact with Steve Mattice, who advised me that he had found numerous hair fibers located in the tributary watershed of the greater Wynoochee River drainage of eastern Grays Harbor County located within Washington State. I had been initially called by David Ellis (BFRO investigator), who put me in contact with Steve Mattice, this was the first I had spoken with Steve. Steve and I had never met before I called him. I arranged to meet Steve at his residence in Montesano Washington the following day at 1000 hours.
Steve has been investigating the Bigfoot phenomenon for approximately the last 10 years. Starting when he found a track line that consisted of numerous large human like tracks in this very same watershed. Since then Steve has been investigating this area and within the past four years has had four alleged sightings of at least two different subjects he believed to be Bigfoot/Sasquatch. One of which was dark in color and another was multi colored dark and light shades of brown.
On 3/29/10, in third growth stand of Douglas Fir Timber, located on a well-traveled game trail he found a small tree beneath the canopy. This tree had numerous broken/twisted branches six inches from the ground up to four feet up the trunk. Within these broken/twisted branches he observed numerous hair fibers that appeared humanlike in nature, some of which, more course and thicker in diameter than the average human hair fiber. The color of the hair fibers ranged from white/gray, numerous shades of blond to brown and shades of red. Some of the hair fibers were up to approximately six inches in length. Steve collected over one hundred fibers, which he showed me when I arrived at his residence at approximately 1000 hours, on 3/31/10.
After making contact with Steve we drove out to the location in my vehicle. We walked to the exact spot and I myself observed the same tree. I could plainly see that there were numerous additional hair fibers both on the trunk of the tree and stuck in the broken branches as well as on the ground at the base of the tree. I was able to recover numerous hair fibers that were of the same description as stated above. I also removed some of the broken branches with a small saw as to keep intact any possible DNA that was left in the exchange made by the creature and the tree. Within these broken branches are numerous twisted hair fibers, which are wrapped around the wood. On the tips of some of the fibers I could clearly see the “hair root” with the naked eye. I could not see any flesh attached. It is unknown how long the hair fibers had been there.
It appears that there could possibly be fibers from two different individuals. The darker hair fibers appear to be larger in diameter and more coarse. Although the hair has a slightly different appearance it also appears to be of the same type.
As far as I could tell these hair fibers were not consistent with any of the native animals in this area. If anything they appear to be human like when looking with the naked eye. I did stop by a taxidermist friend of mine’s residence located in Shelton Washington on my way home. We compared the hair fibers with numerous big game animal hair fibers at his shop ranging from black bear, deer, elk and cougar. None of them were even close in appearance. He advised me that he had never seen such hair on any big or small game animal from any region and he has stuffed animals from every continent. We did compare the hair fibers to human hair and they appeared the same only some of the unknown hair fibers a bit larger in diameter.
Most of the hair fibers being sent, were collected by me, a few of them were collected by Steve. Steve has numerous additional hair fibers collected from the same tree and another next to it currently in his possession. I have instructed him to go back to this location and collect as many more as he can find. I have also advised him to remove any additional broken limbs within the same range on both trees. I have advised him on how to process the evidence as to keep it form being compromised contaminated.
If these hair fibers are found to be consistent with other documented alleged Sasquatch hair fibers and if they contain any viable DNA, which results in any useful findings Steve deserves most of the credit for these samples as this is his research location and he initially found the evidence.
The evidence contained is listed as follows;
1. Item #1, unknown hair fibers.
2. Item #2, unknown hair fibers and wood debris.
3. Item #3, unknown hair fibers and wood debris.
4. Item #4, Cheek Swab from Steve Mattice, (human known).
I included a cheek swab from Steve in case of contamination as result of the evidence collection or packaging process. Steve did not assist me in the packaging/processing of the evidence. You already have a cheek swab from me if there is contamination from me.
P.S. for your information these hair samples were recovered within very close proximity, (no more than ten miles), of where the original footprints were found which resulted in the cast I sent you. I believe those prints were found and caste in the mid 1980’s. If these hair fibers turn out to be from Sasquatch it is highly possible that they are from the same family as the one that left the footprints in the 1980’s, maybe even the same one!
Regards
Richard E. Germeau
www.olympicproject.com
Video Documentation - Sample 38 -- Watch video below: