Estimation of human bloodstains time since deposition using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics in simulated crime conditions

Abstract

Blood in the form of stains is one of the most frequently encountered fluid in crime scene. Estimation of the time since deposition (TSD) is of great importance to guide the police investigation and the clarification of criminal offences. The time elapsed since deposition is usually estimated by modelling the physicochemical degradation of blood biomolecules over time. This work shows an ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics study to estimate TSD of bloodstains on various surfaces and under different ambient conditions (indoor and outdoor). For a period from 0 to 212 days, a total of 960 stains were analyzed. Most of the eleven partial least squares regression (PLSR) models obtained showed a good prediction capacity, with a Residual Predictive Deviation (RPD) value higher than 3, and R² higher than 0.90. Models for non-rigid supports showed better predictive capacity than those for rigid ones. A non-rigid surface model including the various non-rigid surfaces and ambient conditions was elaborated, which might be the most useful one from the criminalistic point of view. These results show that this technique can be a rapid, robust, and trustable tool for in situ determination of the TSD of bloodstains at crime scenes.