Top

Published in:

01-07-2017 | Original Article

Persistence of touch DNA on burglary-related tools

Authors: Céline M. Pfeifer, Peter Wiegand

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 4/2017

Abstract

Experts are increasingly concerned by issues regarding the activity level of DNA stains. A case from our burglary-related casework pointed out the need for experiments regarding the persistence of DNA when more than one person touched a tool handle. We performed short tandem repeat (STR) analyses for three groups of tools: (1) personal and mock owned tools; (2) tools, which were first “owned” by a first user and then handled in a burglary action by a second user; and (3) tools, which were first owned by a first user and then handled in a moderate action. At least three types of tool handles were included in each of the groups. Every second user handled the tool with and without gloves. In total, 234 samples were analyzed regarding profile completeness of first and second user as well as properties like detectable major profile or mixture attributes. When second users simulated a burglary by using a tool bare handed, we could not detect the first user as major component on their handles but attribute him to the stain in 1/40 cases. When second users broke up the burglary setup using gloves, the first user matched the DNA handle profile in 37% of the cases. Moderate use of mock borrowed tools demonstrated a material-dependent persistence. In total, we observed that the outcome depends mainly on the nature of contact, the handle material, and the user-specific characteristics. This study intends to supplement present knowledge about persistence of touch DNA with a special emphasis on burglary-related cases with two consecutive users and to act as experimental data for an evaluation of the relevance of alleged hypotheses, when such is needed in a court hearing.

Available only for authorised users

Cook R, Evett IW, Jackson G, Jones PJ, Lambert JA (1998) A hierarchy of propositions: deciding which level to address in casework. Sci Justice 38(4):231–239. doi:10.1016/S1355-0306(98)72117-3 CrossRef

Gill P (2014) Definitions: contamination and interpretation. In: Gill P (ed) Misleading DNA evidence—reasons for miscarriages of justice. Academic Press, London, pp 1–19

Champod C (2013) DNA transfer: informed judgment or mere guesswork? Front Genet 4:300. doi:10.3389/fgene.2013.00300 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Taroni F, Biedermann A, Vuille J, Morling N (2013) Whose DNA is this? How relevant a question? (a note for forensic scientists). Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(4):467–470. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.03.012 CrossRefPubMed

van Oorschot RAH, Glavich G, Mitchell RJ (2014) Persistence of DNA deposited by the original user on objects after subsequent use by a second person. Forensic Sci Int Genet 8(1):219–225. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2013.10.005 CrossRefPubMed

Farmen RK, Jaghø R, Cortez P, Frøyland ES (2008) Assessment of individual shedder status and implication for secondary DNA transfer. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 1(1):415–417. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.08.015 CrossRef

Raymond JJ, van Oorschot RAH, Walsh SJ, Roux C, Gunn PR (2009) Trace DNA and street robbery: a criminalistic approach to DNA evidence. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 2(1):544–546. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2009.08.073 CrossRef

Balogh MK, Burger J, Bender K, Schneider PM, Alt KW (2003) STR genotyping and mtDNA sequencing of latent fingerprint on paper. Forensic Sci Int 137(2–3):188–195. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2003.07.001 CrossRefPubMed

Buckingham AK, Harvey ML, van Oorschot RAH (2016) The origin of unknown source DNA from touched objects. Forensic Sci Int Genet 25:26–33. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.07.015 CrossRefPubMed

10.

Breathnach M, Williams L, McKenna L, Moore E (2016) Probability of detection of DNA deposited by habitual wearer and/or the second individual who touched the garment. Forensic Sci Int Genet 20:53–60. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.10.001 CrossRefPubMed

11.

Goray M, Mitchell JR, van Oorschot RAH (2012) Evaluation of multiple transfer of DNA using mock case scenarios. Legal Med 14(1):40–46. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2011.09.006 CrossRefPubMed

12.

Meakin GE, Butcher EV, van Oorschot RAH, Morgan RM (2015) The deposition and persistence of indirectly-transferred DNA on regularly-used knives. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 5:e498–e500. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2015.09.197 CrossRef

13.

Petricevic SF, Bright J-A, Cockerton SL (2006) DNA profiling of trace DNA recovered from bedding. Forensic Sci Int 159(1):21–26. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.06.004 CrossRefPubMed

14.

van den Berge M, Ozcanhan G, Zijlstra S, Lindenbergh A, Sijen T (2016) Prevalence of human cell material: DNA and RNA profiling of public and private objects and after activity scenarios. Forensic Sci Int Genet 21:81–89. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.12.012 CrossRefPubMed

15.

Goray M, van Oorschot RAH (2015) The complexities of DNA transfer during a social setting. Legal Med 17(2):82–91. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2014.10.003 CrossRefPubMed

16.

Goray M, Mitchell RJ, van Oorschot RAH (2010) Investigation of secondary DNA transfer of skin cells under controlled test conditions. Legal Med 12(3):117–120. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.01.003 CrossRefPubMed

17.

Goray M, Fowler S, Szkuta B, van Oorschot RAH (2016) Shedder status—an analysis of self and non-self DNA in multiple handprints deposited by the same individuals over time. Forensic Sci Int Genet 23:190–196. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2016.05.005 CrossRefPubMed

18.

Cale CM, Earll ME, Latham KE, Bush GL (2016) Could secondary DNA transfer falsely place someone at the scene of a crime? J Forensic Sci 61(1):196–203. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12894 CrossRefPubMed

19.

Wickenheiser RA (2002) Trace DNA: a review, discussion of theory, and application of the transfer of trace quantities of DNA through skin contact. J Forensic Sci 47(3):442–450PubMed

20.

Phipps M, Petricevic S (2007) The tendency of individuals to transfer DNA to handled items. Forensic Sci Int 168(2–3):162–168. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.07.010 CrossRefPubMed

21.

Lowe A, Murray C, Whitaker J, Tully G, Gill P (2002) The propensity of individuals to deposit DNA and secondary transfer of low level DNA from individuals to inert surfaces. Forensic Sci Int 129(1):25–34. doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(02)00207-4 CrossRefPubMed

22.

Plaza DT, Mealy JL, Lane JN, Parsons MN, Bathrick AS, Slack DP (2015) ESDA®-Lite collection of DNA from latent fingerprints on documents. Forensic Sci Int Genet 16:8–12. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.11.011 CrossRefPubMed

23.

Sewell J, Quinones I, Ames C, Multaney B, Curtis S, Seeboruth H, Moore S, Daniel B (2008) Recovery of DNA and fingerprints from touched documents. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2(4):281–285. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2008.03.006 CrossRefPubMed

24.

van Oorschot RAH, Phelan DG, Furlong S, Scarfo GM, Holding NL, Cummins MJ (2003) Are you collecting all the available DNA from touched objects? Int Congr Ser 1239:803–807. doi:10.1016/S0531-5131(02)00498-3 CrossRef

25.

Davies C, Thomson J, Kennedy F (2015) Assessing primary, secondary and tertiary DNA transfer using the Promega ESI-17 Fast PCR chemistry. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 5:e55–e57. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2015.09.022 CrossRef

26.

Direktion Kriminalität KKO, Polizeipräsidium Köln (2012) Kölner Studie 2011 Modus Operandi beim Wohnungseinbruch. https://www.polizei.nrw.de/media/Dokumente/koelner-studie-2011.pdf. Accessed 08 December 2016

27.

Eckert M (2015) Neue Mindestanforderungen für Speicherungen in der DNA-Analyse-Datei (DAD). 01/15 edn., Wiesbaden, Germany

28.

Ulbrich W, Anslinger K, Bäßler G, Eckert M, Fimmers R, Hohoff C, Kraft M, Leuker C, Molsberger G, Pich U, Razbin S, Schneider H, Templin M, Wächter A, Weirich V, Zierdt H, Schneider PM (2016) Joint recommendations of the project group “biostatistical DNA calculations” and the Stain Commission on the biostatistical assessment of DNA analytical results. Rechtsmedizin 26(4):291–298. doi:10.1007/s00194-016-0098-x CrossRef

29.

Stouder SL, Reubush KJ, Hobson DL, Smith JL (2001) Trace evidence scrapings: a valuable source of DNA? http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/oct2001/stouder.htm. Accessed 08 December 2016

30.

van Oorschot RAH, Jones MK (1997) DNA fingerprints from fingerprints. Nature 387(6635):767. doi:10.1038/42838 CrossRefPubMed

31.

Polley D, Mickiewicz P, Vaugn M, Miller T, Warburton R, Komonski D, Kantautas C, Reid B, Frappier R, Newman J (2006) Investigation of DNA recovery from firearms and cartridge cases. Can Soc Forensic Sci J 39(4):217–228. doi:10.1080/00085030.2006.10757145 CrossRef

32.

Rutty GN (2002) An investigation into the transference and survivability of human DNA following simulated manual strangulation with consideration of the problem of third party contamination. Int J Legal Med 116(3):170–173. doi:10.1007/s00414-001-0279-2 CrossRefPubMed

33.

Raymond JJ, Walsh SJ, van Oorschot RAH, Gunn PR, Evans L, Roux C (2008) Assessing trace DNA evidence from a residential burglary: abundance, transfer and persistence. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 1(1):442–443. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2007.10.040 CrossRef

34.

Verdon TJ, Mitchell RJ, van Oorschot RAH (2014) Swabs as DNA collection devices for sampling different biological materials from different substrates. J Forensic Sci 59(4):1080–1089. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12427 CrossRefPubMed

35.

Manoli P, Antoniou A, Bashiardes E, Xenophontos S, Photiades M, Stribley V, Mylona M, Demetriou C, Cariolou MA (2015) Sex-specific age association with primary DNA transfer. Int J Legal Med 130(1):103–112. doi:10.1007/s00414-015-1291-2 CrossRefPubMed

36.

Locard E (1930) The analysis of dust traces. Part I Am J Police Sci 1(3):276–298. doi:10.2307/1147154 CrossRef

37.

Graham EAM, Watkins WJ, Dunstan F, Maguire S, Nuttall D, Swinfield CE, Rutty GN, Kemp AM (2013) Defining background DNA levels found on the skin of children aged 0–5 years. Int J Legal Med 128(2):251–258. doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0906-8 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

38.

Graham EAM, Rutty GN (2008) Investigation into “normal” background DNA on adult necks: implications for DNA profiling of manual strangulation victims. J Forensic Sci 53(5):1074–1082. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00800.x PubMed

39.

Matte M, Williams L, Frappier R, Newman J (2012) Prevalence and persistence of foreign DNA beneath fingernails. Forensic Sci Int Genet 6(2):236–243. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2011.05.008 CrossRefPubMed

40.

Cook O, Dixon L (2007) The prevalence of mixed DNA profiles in fingernail samples taken from individuals in the general population. Forensic Sci Int Genet 1(1):62–68. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2006.10.009 CrossRefPubMed

41.

Helmus J, Bajanowski T, Poetsch M (2016) DNA transfer—a never ending story. A study on scenarios involving a second person as carrier. Int J Legal Med 130(1):121–125. doi:10.1007/s00414-015-1284-1 CrossRefPubMed

42.

Zoppis S, Muciaccia B, D’Alessio A, Ziparo E, Vecchiotti C, Filippini A (2014) DNA fingerprinting secondary transfer from different skin areas: morphological and genetic studies. Forensic Sci Int Genet 11:137–143. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.03.005 CrossRefPubMed

43.

Alessandrini F, Cecati M, Pesaresi M, Turchi C, Carle F, Tagliabracci A (2003) Fingerprints as evidence for a genetic profile: morphological study on fingerprints and analysis of exogenous and individual factors affecting DNA typing. J Forensic Sci 48(3):586–592. doi:10.1520/JFS2002260 CrossRefPubMed

44.

Lehmann VJ, Mitchell RJ, Ballantyne KN, van Oorschot RAH (2013) Following the transfer of DNA: how far can it go? Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 4(1):e53–e54. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2013.10.027 CrossRef

45.

Bright J-A, Petricevic SF (2004) Recovery of trace DNA and its application to DNA profiling of shoe insoles. Forensic Sci Int 145(1):7–12. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.03.016 CrossRefPubMed

46.

Kamphausen T, Schadendorf D, Wurmb-Schwark N, Bajanowski T, Poetsch M (2012) Good shedder or bad shedder—the influence of skin diseases on forensic DNA analysis from epithelial abrasions. Int J Legal Med 126(1):179–183. doi:10.1007/s00414-011-0579-0 CrossRefPubMed

47.

Daniel R, van Oorschot RAH (2011) An investigation of the presence of DNA on unused laboratory gloves. Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl S 3(1):e45–e46. doi:10.1016/j.fsigss.2011.08.022 CrossRef

48.

Fonneløp AE, Egeland T, Gill P (2015) Secondary and subsequent DNA transfer during criminal investigation. Forensic Sci Int Genet 17:155–162. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.05.009 CrossRefPubMed

49.

Szkuta B, Harvey ML, Ballantyne KN, van Oorschot RAH (2015) DNA transfer by examination tools—a risk for forensic casework? Forensic Sci Int Genet 16:246–254. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.02.004 CrossRefPubMed

50.

Kita T, Yamaguchi H, Yokoyama M, Tanaka T, Tanaka N (2008) Morphological study of fragmented DNA on touched objects. Forensic Sci Int Genet 3(1):32–36. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2008.09.002 CrossRefPubMed

51.

Vandewoestyne M, Van Hoofstat D, Franssen A, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Deforce D (2013) Presence and potential of cell free DNA in different types of forensic samples. Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(2):316–320. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2012.12.005 CrossRefPubMed

52.

Verdon TJ, Mitchell RJ, van Oorschot RAH (2013) The influence of substrate on DNA transfer and extraction efficiency. Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(1):167–175. doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2012.09.004 CrossRefPubMed

Title: Persistence of touch DNA on burglary-related tools
Authors: Céline M. Pfeifer
Peter Wiegand
Publication date: 01-07-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1551-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Persistence of touch DNA on burglary-related tools

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2017

Advanced forensic validation for human spermatozoa identification using SPERM HY-LITER™ Express with quantitative image analysis

Secular change of sexually dimorphic cranial variables in Euro-Americans and Germans

Estimating legal age based on fusion of The proximal humeral epiphysis

Sudden death and toxic metals following ingestion of a button battery

Blood Trace Evidence on Washed Textiles - a systematic approach

Detection and quantification of 12 anabolic steroids and analogs in human whole blood and 20 in hair using LC-HRMS/MS: application to real cases