Tire forensics expert Peter McDonald dies at 83

AKRON (June 25, 2013) — Tire industry veteran Peter McDonald, widely known for his work in tire forensics — including crime-scene examinations of tire tread tracks — died June 21 at age 83.

Mr. McDonald had a 28-year career as director of tire design for the former Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron. His career passion was tire forensics, which led him to work as an expert witness for both prosecution and defense and, along the way, produced his book Tire Imprint Evidence.

In one famous case he evaluated using his forensics expertise, Mr. McDonald concluded that there were more conspirators in the truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, that killed 168 people. He reached that deduction after looking through FBI photographs of tire tracks at two Oklahoma sites where authorities believe the conspiracy took place.

Timothy McVeigh and co-conspirator and associate Terry Nichols were convicted of the act of domestic terrorism. Subsequently, Mr. McVeigh was executed by the federal government and Mr. Nichols is serving a life sentence.

In late 1998 the tire footprint expert presented to the University of Akron some of his paintings of tire-related murder cases in which his expertise put killers behind bars.

Mr. McDonald is survived by wife Linda Sanders McDonald (Fulghum); children Macie Jordan and Andy McDonald; stepson Brad Sanders (Sharon); grandchildren Mitch and Bridget Jordan, Madison, Lucy and Chloe Sanders; sibling Brownie (Mary Ellen) Baker.

He is preceded in death by stepson Todd Sanders; brother Edward Dixon McDonald Jr.; and parents Edward Dixon and Mary McDonald.

The family suggested donations may be made to Crossroads Hospice, 3743 Boettler Oaks Drive, Suite E, Green, Ohio 44685 or The Linda and Peter McDonald Fund at Akron Community Foundation, 345 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307.

Although he wasn't involved professionally in the Nichols case, Mr. McDonald said he considered it "a shame all this evidence the FBI had on Nichols wasn't used. It might have helped clarify his involvement in the Harrington shed along with McVeigh, who already had been convicted.''

In a 1998 interview with Tire Business, Mr. McDonald said an FBI photo not only showed Mr. Nichols' GMC pickup was at the Harrington site at the same time as the rental truck used in the bombing, but also indicated the presence of at least one other unknown vehicle whose tire tracks differed from those of the McVeigh and Nichols vehicles.

Mr. McDonald received a B.A. in Architecture from Miami University in 1953. He held six utility and design patents and was a founder of Hudson (Ohio) Architecture Board of Review. He was an artist who enjoyed stained glass, watercolors, acrylics and sculpture and was the recipient of many community awards. Several years ago he mounted an exhibit of his paintings based on tire forensic cases on which he had investigated. He also appeared periodically on true-crime-type TV shows as a tire tread expert. During his career Mr. McDonald also taught tire forensics to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.