Received: 30 September 2010 Revised: 3 November 2010 Accepted: 4 November 2010 Published online in Wiley Online Library: 00 Month 2011 A novel matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging based methodology for the identification of sexual assault suspects Robert Bradshaw 1 , Rosalind Wolstenholme 1 , Robert D. Blackledge 2 , Malcolm R. Clench 1 , Leesa S. Ferguson 1 and Simona Francese 1 * 1 Sheffield Hallam University, Biomedical Research Centre, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK 2 Formerly of the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Regional Forensic Laboratory, San Diego, CA, USA An increase in the use of condoms by sexual offenders has been observed. This is likely to be due both to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and to prevent the transfer of DNA evidence. In this scenario the detection of condom lubricants at a crime scene could aid in proving corpus delicti. Here we show a novel application of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI MSI) for mapping the fingermark ridge pattern simultaneously to the detection of the condom lubricant within the fingermark itself. Two condom brands have been investigated to prove the concept. Condoms were handled producing lubricant-contaminated fingermarks. Images of the ridge pattern were obtained simultaneously to the detection of two lubricants, even several weeks after the fingermark deposition. The results therefore show the potential of MALDI MSI to link the suspect (identification through fingermark ridge pattern) to the crime (detection of condom lubricant) in one analysis. This would enable forensic scientists to provide evidence with stronger support in alleged cases of sexual assault. Copyright ß 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Sexual assault is an especially problematic crime to prosecute, as the issue of consent is central but very difficult to prove. According to the British Crime Survey 2009/10, the Police recorded 43,579 ’most serious sexual’ crimes (rapes, sexual assaults and sexual activity with children). [1] These accounted for 80% of the total sexual offences in that time. However, it has been suggested that 75–95% of rapes are not reported. [2] This is for a variety of reasons, not least that conviction rates are very low thus reducing the incentive to report and needlessly relive a traumatic experience. For example, in Scotland for 2006/7, of the 922 reported rapes, only 65 were prosecuted and only 27 convictions were obtained; a conviction rate of 2.9%. [3] One potential source of evidence that might improve conviction rates would be DNA from the assailant on the victim or their clothing but assailants are increasingly aware of forensic issues and it is common now for condoms to be used and removed from the scene. [4] In addition, one of the first instincts of a sexual assault victim is to try to expel the sense of violation by washing themselves and their clothes. [5] Despite this, a review of 75 cases found that in 86.7% there is more than just the word of the victim against the accused, i.e. there was some supporting evidence. [2] Another disincentive for reporting sexual assaults is the relationship to the assailant. A report in 2004, based on rapes recorded in the (London) Metropolitan Police District, UK, found that in 64% of cases the assailant was the victim’s partner (27%) or was an acquaintance of the victim (37%). Further, it also suggests that partner (and ex-partner) rapes are under-reported, meaning that the actual figures for an assailant known to the victim may be higher. [6] For the prosecution, the problem posed here is that the assailant may have legitimate access to the location in which the sexual assault took place; therefore, the transfer evidence is potentially of little use. The work reported here is an attempt both to improve the value of scientific evidence in these cases and, at the same time, to counter any claims of legitimate access by linking fingermarks to the use of condoms. If a condom has been used in a sexual assault, the assailant is likely to remove the condom from the scene after use. However, they are less likely to consider the possibility of lubricant transferring onto their fingertips and then into fingermarks left at the scene. If condom lubricant can be detected in fingermarks it would improve the evidence for the prosecution by establishing the assailant’s presence at the scene and, crucially, having had contact with a condom. Concurrently, this reduces the credibility of an argument for legitimate access, as non-offence use of a condom at the crime scene would in most cases be limited to very few people. This would push the forensic evidence up the levels suggested by Cook et al., source – activity – offence, [7] thereby increasing the strength of the evidence. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2011, 25, 415–422 (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4858 Research Article * Correspondence to: S. Francese, Sheffield Hallam University, Biomedical Research Centre, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK. E-mail: s.francese@shu.ac.uk Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2011, 25, 415–422 Copyright ß 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 415