What is a void pattern?

A void pattern is a specific type of bloodstain pattern that occurs when an object blocks the path of blood, creating an absence of blood in a particular shape or area on a surface. This happens when an object is removed after blood has spattered, leaving a clear outline or impression of where the object was positioned. In the context of a crime scene, these patterns can provide crucial evidence by helping investigators deduce the position of a suspect or the movement of victims during a violent event.

The other options represent different types of bloodstain patterns or mechanisms of blood transfer but do not accurately describe what a void pattern is. For instance, a bloody handprint pertains to the direct transfer of blood from a source, while a stain left by a victim's movement does not necessarily involve the absence created by an object. Similarly, patterns resulting from a gunshot involve the dynamics of blood spatter as a result of a gunshot wound rather than the absence of blood due to an object's removal. Understanding void patterns helps forensic investigators reconstruct the scene of a crime and understand the dynamics of the event that took place.