What is the term for identifying and locating a suspect through items found at the scene, such as a discarded ID?

The term that best describes identifying and locating a suspect through items found at the scene, such as a discarded ID, is tracing. Tracing involves following or uncovering a path back to the individual associated with certain evidence. In this context, when a discarded ID is discovered, investigators can trace that ID back to the owner, allowing them to locate and identify the suspect involved in the scene.

Profiling generally refers to constructing a psychological or behavioral profile of a suspect based on patterns and behaviors rather than relying on physical evidence. Identifying typically refers to recognizing or confirming a person’s identity but does not encompass the entire process of linking evidence back to a person. Locating involves finding someone but lacks the specific connection to the evidence left at the scene. Tracing captures both the act of identification and the process of linking physical evidence back to the suspect, making it the most appropriate term in this scenario.