Which of the following is an example of circumstantial evidence?

• A. Video recordings
• B. Eyewitness testimony
• C. Fingerprints or DNA matches
• D. A confession

Answer: (C)

Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on inference to prove a fact rather than directly proving it. Fingerprints or DNA matches fit this well because they show that a person left physical material at the scene or matches to a person, which implies involvement, but they don't by themselves prove that the person committed the crime or that the crime occurred without additional linking facts. They become especially persuasive when combined with other evidence, yet on their own they require drawing reasonable inferences about guilt.

Video recordings, eyewitness testimony, and confessions provide direct evidence: a video captures the event as it happened, an eyewitness reports what they saw, and a confession is a direct admission of guilt. Circumstantial evidence fills in the link by showing presence or association, which investigators then connect to the crime through reasoning.