The study computed the chemical structures and energetics for three proposed mechanisms of formation for Ruhemann's Purple from ninhydrin and an alpha-amino acid, using high-level ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The results imply that under relatively high temperatures (approximately 100 degrees C), where excess energy is abundant, each chemical step in all three mechanisms is energetically feasible. The multiple-reaction paths open to Ruhemann's Purple formation help to explain the higher yields at these temperatures. Using the study's computations as a guide, researchers also determined the mechanisms for the formation of Ruhemann's Purple at a temperature of approximately 25 degrees C, which is a reasonable temperature at which ninhydrin would be applied to fingerprints in the field. The scheme basically follows that of the McCaldin mechanisms, with the primary difference being intermediate 5 of the McCaldin mechanism being replaced with 5' from the Lamothe mechanism. This work is significant for forensic science, because obtaining information about the energetics of the mechanisms of reaction between ninhydrin and amino acids could lead to the design of better analogues of ninhydrin or other alternatives. The long-term goal of these computations is to help the forensic chemistry community obtain products with stronger chromo-fluorogenic properties to aid in detecting fingerprints at crime scenes. 3 tables, 7 figures, and 36 references