Human Remains

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Forensic Entomology
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Taxonomy Classification of Things in an Orderly
Way
We are interested in the phylum, Arthropoda
class, Insecta order
Coleoptera (beetles)
Diptera (flies)
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Forensic Entomology Involves the use of insects
and other arthropods to aid in legal
investigations. Entomology is the study of
insects.
There are three areas of application
Insect damage to structures Infestation of
foodstuffs Insects that inhabit human
remains (focus of this chapter)
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The Process of Death
Algor Mortis Body cooling rate Hours
since death 98.4F internal body
temperature 1.5
Livor Mortis skin discoloration caused by
pooling of blood
Rigor Mortis rigidity of skeletal muscles
Temperature of body Stiffness of body Time since death
Warm Not stiff Not dead more than 3 hours
Warm Stiff Dead between 3 and 8 hours
Cold Stiff Dead between 8 and 36 hours
Cold Not stiff Dead for more than 36 hours
A pathologist estimates time of death from these
factors.
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The Process of Death, continued
Stage Description
Initial or fresh decay (autolysis) The cadaver appears fresh externally but is decomposing internally due to the activities of bacteria present before death (04 days).
Putrefaction or bloating The cadaver is swollen by gas produced internally, accompanied by the odor of decaying flesh (410 days).
Black putrefaction Flesh of creamy consistency, with exposed body parts black. Body collapses as gases escape. Fluids drain from body. Odor of decay very strong (1020 days).
Butyric fermentation Cadaver drying out. Some flesh remains at first cheesy odor from butyric acid (2050 days).
Dry decay (diagenesis) Cadaver almost dry slow rate of decay. May mummify (50365 days).
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Life Cycle of Insects

Metamorphosis egg larva (maggot)
pupa winged adult
The life cycle of Musca domestica
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Time of Death
Insects arrive at a decomposing body in a
particular order (succession) and then complete
their life cycle based on the surrounding
temperature. By collecting and studying the types
of insects found on a body and their metamorphic
stage, a forensic entomologist can estimate the
time of death.
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Insects of Death
Diptera
First to arrive
Then
Flies can arrive within minutes. They lay eggs
that hatch to maggots. Maggots feed on soft,
mushy body parts. More insects arrive to feed on
the body and each other.
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Insects of Death, continued
Coleoptera
In rough order of appearance, from within hours
to dry decay
Sexton beetle
Rove beetle
Clown beetle
Hide beetle
Dermestid beetle
Some beetles feed on the corpse, some on maggots,
some on other beetles.
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Variables Affecting Metamorphosis
Temperature
The higher the temperature (within limits), the
faster the growth.
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Variables Affecting Metamorphosis, continued
Habitat
Fly species can vary geographically according to
climate, season, and habitat.
Phormia regina
Lucilia illustris
For example, the fly pictured on the left prefers
shade the one on the right, sunlit areas.
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Other Applications of Forensic Entomology
Damage to structures, clothing,
foodstuffs Location of wounds on a corpse Linking
suspect to scene of crime Source of
contraband Type of insects can trace vehicle
movement Presence of drugs in corpse
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Collection of Evidence
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Human Remains
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Forensic Anthropology
Forensic anthropology is a type of applied
anthropology that specializes in the changes and
variations in the human skeleton for the purpose
of legal inquiry.
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Forensic Anthropology, continued
A forensic anthropologist may provide basic
identification information on skeletonized or
badly decomposed remains. From a whole bone or
part of a bone, the scientist may be able to
determine

• An age range
• Sex
• Race
• Approximate height
• Cause of death, disease, or anomaly

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Osteology

• Osteology is the study of bones.
• There are 206 bones in an adult human.
• Function of bones
• Provide structure and rigidity
• Protect soft tissue and organs
• Serve as an attachment for muscles
• Produce blood cells
• Serve as a storage area for minerals
• Can detoxify the body by removing heavy metals
  and
• other foreign elements from the blood

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Estimation of Height

• The height of a person can be calculated by
  measuring the length of certain long bones,
  including the femur, tibia, humerus, and radius.
  Below are the equations used to determine average
  measurements for both male and female. (All
  measurements are in centimeters.)

Male Height, H H femur ? 2.23 69.08 H
tibia ? 2.39 81.68 H humerus ? 2.97 73.57 H
radius ? 3.65 80.40
Female Height, H H femur ? 2.21 61.41 H
tibia ? 2.53 72.57 H humerus ? 3.14 64.97 H
radius ? 3.87 73.50
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Age Determination

• Most accurate estimations are made from
• Teeth
• Epiphyses or growth plates
• Pubic symphysis
• Cranial sutures The three major cranial sutures
  appear as
• distinct lines in youth and gradually close from
  the
• inside out.
• Investigators always use an age range because of
  the variation in people and how they age. The
  investigator does not want to eliminate any
  possibilities for identification.

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Age By Teeth
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Cranial sutures
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Age Determination Using Cranial Sutures
Sagittal suture

• Sagittal suture completely closed
• Male26 or older
• Female29 or older
• Sagittal suture completely open
• Maleless than 32
• Femaleless than 35
• Complete closure of all three major sutures
• Maleover 35
• Femaleover 50

Lambodial
Coronal
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Age Determination Using Basilar Suture

• Basilar suture
• Technically known as the synchondrosis
  spheno-occipitalis, closes in females as young as
  14 and in males as young as 16. If the suture is
  open, the individual is generally considered to
  be 18 or younger.

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Age Determination

• In long bones, the diaphysis, or shaft, makes up
  most of the bones length. The epiphyses are
  found at the ends of the bones their function is
  to allow for growth. The epiphyses are good
  places to look for changes in estimating age.
  Though all people are different and grow at
  different rates, there are similarities that
  allow for generalizations in estimating age.

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Definitions

• Stage 1 no epiphysis (the growth plate has not
  formed yet)
• Stage 2 non-union the epiphysis and bone are
  separate
• Stage 3 partial union the epiphysis is
  attached, but a line is visible
• Stage 4 complete union the epiphysis is
  attached and a line is not visible

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The Medial Clavicle in Stages 14
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Age Determination Using Epiphysis
Stage of Union of Medial Clavicle Male Female
Non-union without separate epiphysis 21 or younger 20 or younger
Non-union with separate epiphysis 1621 1720
Partial union 1730 1733
Complete union 21 or older 20 or older
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Gender Differences in Bones

• Determination of sex is crucial to the analysis
  of unidentified human remains. The pelvis offers
  the most definitive traits. Comparison of three
  characteristics of the os pubis gives the
  information used to identify sex.

Male Pelvis
Female Pelvis
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Gender Identification
A. The female (top) has a wider pubic body
than the male (bottom).
B. The female has a wider subpubic concavity or
subpubic angle.
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Gender Identification, continued
C. Most females have a ventral arc present.
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Human Remains
Male Female
Subpubic Angle
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Determine which are male and which are female.
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Gender Differences

• The rib cage and shoulders of males are generally
  wider and larger than those of females. In
  addition, about one person in 20 has an extra
  rib. This is more common in males than in
  females.

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Skull Gender Differences
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Gender Differences, continued

• In males, the index finger is sometimes shorter
  than the third finger. In females, the index
  finger is sometimes longer than the third finger.
  This is not often used as an indicator of gender,
  as there are many exceptions.

Is this a male or female hand according to the
above rule?
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Race

• Race is difficult to determine from most skeletal
  remains, especially since pure races are becoming
  uncommon. An experienced forensic anthropologist
  can generally place skulls into one of three
  groups
• CaucasoidEuropean, Middle Eastern, and Indian
  descent
• NegroidAfrican, Aborigine, and Melanesian
  descent
• MongoloidAsian, Native American, and Polynesian
  descent

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Race Characteristics

• Caucasoidshave a long, narrow nasal aperture, a
  triangular palate, oval orbits, narrow zygomatic
  arches, and narrow mandibles.
• Negroidshave a wide nasal aperture, a
  rectangular palate, square orbits, and more
  pronounced zygomatic arches. The long bones are
  longer, and have less curvature and greater
  density.
• Mongoloidshave a more rounded nasal aperture, a
  parabolic palate, rounded orbits, wide zygomatic
  arches, and more pointed mandibles.

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What differences do you notice among these three
skulls? Can you determine race?
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Facial Restoration

• After determining the sex, age, and race of an
  individual, facial features can be built upon a
  skull to assist in identification. Erasers are
  used to make tissue depths at various points on
  the skull. Clay is used to build around these
  markers, and facial features are molded.

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The Body Farm

• The Body Farm is the nickname of a
  two-and-a-half-acre research facility in
  Tennessee developed in 1980 by Bill Bass where
  bodies are placed in various conditions and
  allowed to decompose. Its main purpose is to
  observe and understand the processes and
  timetable of postmortem decay. Over the years it
  has helped to improve the ability to determine
  time since death in murder cases.
• Hic locus est ubi mortui viveuntes docent.
• This is the place where the dead teach the
  living.

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Anthropologist at Work

• This anthropologist is
• hard at work dusting
• away material from
• these embedded bones.
• Picture taken at
• Chicagos Museum
• of Natural History

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More Applications
Forensic experts may be called upon to give
information on the life and death of humans and
animals in unique circumstances, including
Mass murder (Oklahoma bombing, plane crashes,
World Trade Center) Earlier man (mummies, Iceman,
Lindow Man) Historical significance (Holocaust,
uncertain death of famous people) Prehistoric
animals (dinosaurs)
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Animal Facial Restoration
Determining what T. Rex looked like using the
bone formation. From this To this
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Forensic Pathology

• Death Detectives

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Forensic Pathologist

• Forensic Pathologist - investigates sudden,
  unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths. They
  usually perform autopsies to determine cause of
  death
• 4 yr. Degree Med School Residency Medical
  Pathology Training (2 years)
• Work in hospitals or as medical examiner

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Pathologist Conclusions

• Five Conclusions drawn for investigation
• Natural
• Homicide
• Suicide
• Accident
• Undetermined

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Forensic Pathologist

• Way time of death are determined
• Algor Mortis - loss of body heat
• Livor Mortis - 0-12 hours, settling of blood
• Rigor Mortis - 24-36 hours, muscles relax and
  become rigid
• Potassium levels on ocular fluid

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Livor Mortis Lividity
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Rigor Mortis
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Pathologist v Coroner

• Coroner is elected official no requirements
  exist, most funeral people
• Historically they solved crimes
• Power to call grand jury
• Being eliminated in other states
• Georgia still has position, county decision
• Fulton does not have a coroner
• Mostly shuffles paperwork, defers to medical
  examiners office

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When notice to coroner/medical examiners office
is required

• Death is
• Violent
• Suicide
• Sudden w/ apparent good health
• Unattended by physician
• Suspicious, especially under 16 yoa
• Under 7 yoa unless expected
• Execution
• Inmate of state facility

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When notice to coroner/medical examiners office
is required

• Once notified they decide if further
  investigation is needed
• Autopsy a possibility
• Required in under 7 yoa

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Autopsies

• Means - see for yourself
• Purpose is to learn the truth about the person's
  health during life, and how the person really
  died
• 2 types medical forensic
• "Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae
• "This is the place where death rejoices to teach
  those who live

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Autopsies

• Religious Issues
• Orthodox Jews usually require Rabbi present,
  very resistant to autopsies
• Muslims also resistant
• State has power to ignore religious concerns

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Autopsies Method

• examine the outside of the body
• body is opened using a Y-shaped incision from
  shoulders to mid-chest and down to the pubic
  region
• top of the skull is removed, and the brain is
  very carefully cut free
• breastbone and attached rib cartilages are
  removed
• chest organs, including the heart and lungs, are
  inspected

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Autopsies Method

• take blood from the heart to check for bacteria
• blood, urine, bile, or even the fluid of the eye
  used for chemical study and to look for medicine,
  street drugs, alcohols, and/or poisons
• After any organ is removed, the pathologist will
  save a section in preservative solution

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Autopsies Method

• Organs are all weighed
• Heart is removed
• Neck organs, large airways, and lungs are removed
  in one piece
• Liver is removed and sliced
• Digestive tract removed
• then renal/sex organs removed
• Any suspect organ is inspected closely

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Autopsies Method

• Organs returned to cavity or cremated
• Body sewn up, baseball stitch
• Head more carefully sewn
• Body washed and forwarded as requested by family