The electron microprobe (EPMA or probe) is the premier instrument for acquiring quantitative compositional data on the micron scale.  EPMA was developed over 50 years ago and has since become a staple analytical instrument in a wide variety of scientific and analytical disciplines requiring high resolution compositional data such as the geological sciences, planetary sciences, material sciences and solid state chemistry.  However, the technique has not been widely used in the field of forensics, despite the instruments potential for analysis of trace evidence.<br/>We present a case study to demonstrate the potential of the EPMA for use in trace evidence analysis.  EPMA was used to analyze trace soil evidence collected from shoes and clothing.  Compositional data were then compared to soil compositions from the crime scene and surrounding areas.  A variety of geochemical data were compared and soil from the shoes/clothing was consistent only with the crime scene.  In this case, the EPMA work was the only physical evidence linking the suspect to the crime scene.  An important precedence was established, validating the potential of EPMA in trace evidence analysis.  The technique has since been used in several more cases. <br/>

Forensic use of the electron microprobe

255th National Meeting (2018)

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