NCJ Number
206381
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 553-559
Date Published
May 2004
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Since the progression of decomposition changes to a body, along with the growth and succession rates of infesting insects, is related to temperature, forensic entomologists estimate ambient temperatures at body discovery sites; this Australian study tested the accuracy over time of retrospective weather data correction by using linear regression between weather stations and hypothetical body discovery sites.
Abstract
Temperatures were logged at six hypothetical body discovery sites during a 7-day period for which a hypothetical body lay in situ, along with a further four correlation periods. Correlation period temperatures and the Melbourne Regional Office (MRO) weather station temperatures were used to produce linear regression equations for the six sites. "Body in situ" period temperatures for each site were then retrospectively predicted by correcting MRO weather data recorded during the "body in situ" period. The accuracy of these estimates was assessed by comparing estimated temperatures with actual temperatures collected during the "body in situ" period. Two hypothetical case studies were also constructed to investigate the potential errors in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) that may occur when using weather data from each of the correlations. Weather data that were retrospectively corrected by using the correlation method usually provided a more accurate representation of site temperatures during the "body in situ" period than uncorrected data, regardless of time after body removal. Additional similar research would help to show the strengths and weaknesses of retrospective weather data correction. 6 tables, 3 figures, and 24 references