Non-destructive DNA recovery from handwritten documents using a dry vacuum technique

Investigations of many crimes such as robberies, kidnappings, and terrorism are often associated with the recovery of a paper document which has been written by the perpetrator. Paper can provide a variety of forensic evidence such as DNA, latent fingermarks, and indented writing. The focus of this study was DNA recovery from handwritten notes through a vacuum suction device while preserving the other evidence types and the integrity of the document. Copy paper was used to create handwritten documents and sheets with deliberate fingerprints, and indentations. The homemade vacuum device consists of a glass pipette blocked with a moistened swab and attached to a vacuum source. The method collected sufficient DNA amounts for DNA typing analysis with 80% of the 11 copy paper samples tested giving probative DNA profiles with five being eligible for DNA database entry. DNA recovery was also tested on other commonly encountered paper types. DNA quantities would have been sufficient for STR typing for approximately 50% of manila envelopes and notebook paper samples, but not for magazine pages and bank deposit slips. Deliberate sebaceous and eccrine latent fingermarks placed onto copy paper and developed with magnetic fingerprint developer or 1,2 indanedione were not affected by the vacuum swabbing technique. Simulated robbery notes with indented writing and processed using an Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA) demonstrated no interference through the DNA collection. This vacuum-based collection method enables laboratories to reverse the current questioned document workflow and start with DNA collection.