NCJ Number
44890
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 163-16
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINS OF THREE DEAD INFANTS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CHILDREN HAD BEEN BATTERED IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE EXAMINATION TOOK PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORY. HAVING RECEIVED REPORTS THAT A MOTHER AND FATHER HAD KILLED THREE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND BURIED THEM, THE POLICE RECOVERED THREE SMALL BUNDLES, WRAPPED IN BABY BLANKETS AND CONTAINING BONES, DIAPER MATERIAL, AND SAFETY PINS, FROM THE BURIAL SITES. THE LABORATORY WAS ABLE TO ESTIMATE THE AGES OF THE INFANTS AT THE TIME OF DEATH FROM THE GENERAL SIZE AND MATURITY OF THE BONES AND FROM THE MEASURED LENGTHS OF CERTAIN LONG BONES. IT WAS ALSO POSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE HOW LONG THE BODIES HAD BEEN BURIED BY THE EXTENT OF DECOMPOSITION. ALL THREE OF THE BODIES SHOWED SEVERAL FRACTURES THAT HAD OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF DEATH OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. GROUNDWATER STRAINS AT THE FRACTURE ENDS WERE USED TO DISTINGUISH FRACTURES THAT OCCURRED DURING EXHUMATION FROM OLDER FRACTURES THAT HAD OCCURRED NEAR THE TIME OF DEATH. ALL THREE OF THE SKELETONS ALSO SHOWED CLEAR GROSS AND RADIOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF FRACTURES IN VARIOUS STAGES OF HEALING. CAUTIONS OBSERVED BY THE EXAMINERS IN INTERPRETING THEIR FINDINGS ARE NOTED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.