Actions that may constitute a personation may include:
(1) taking a certain item
(2) leaving a certain item that is out of place
(3) specific positioning of a body or items
(4) specific manner of mutilation
(5) specific acts of defamation
(6) use of a unique or unusual item to commit the crime (rather than a more suitable item)
(7) specific evidence (shoe marking, fiber. etc) which could have just as easily been removed
The actions may range from:
(1) rational, with the perpetrator taunting the authorities.
(2) reflect a mental aberration, where the meaning of the action is unfathomable.
The signature of a criminal refers to the repetitive use of a personation. This requires the personation to be unique enough so as not to occur by random chance. This is seen in a serial offender, but also may be seen in a copycat perpetuator.
Examples of a signature range from the glove left by the cat burglar in movie "The Pink Panther" to the use of a stocking tied in a bow by the Boston Strangler.
These findings can be a great help to forensic experts to trace and identify a criminal.
