NCJ Number
225767
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2009 Pages: 26-44
Date Published
January 2009
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the first systematic documentation of the decomposition in a cold climate (Central New York State) of three child-sized pig remains as proxies for human remains.
Abstract
The most notable observation was the significant degree of variability in the decomposition rate between two of the sites and the third site. After 1 year of exposure, stations one and two showed a similar degree of decomposition; however, station three quickly showed advanced signs of decomposition, including rupture of the abdominal and chest wall due to bloating by day 21 and subsequent deterioration of the tissues due to scavenging by at least one long-tail weasel. The scavenging behavior occurred only after the bloating and rupture of the ventral body wall. This means that scavenging cannot be considered the initial variable that influenced the speedier decomposition at station three. After 1 year of exposure, station three displayed a nearly completely skeletonized individual; some soft tissue was still intact on the remains of the limbs in the vertebral region and on the skull. The key factors association with the differing decomposition rates were not clear, so further study is underway. One hypothesis is that the microclimate of station three varied significantly from the other two stations, because there was much less direct sunlight, and the soil was more acidic at station three compared with the other two stations. Other less notable preliminary observations at the three stations pertained to the degree of insect activity during colder months, carnivore and scavenger activity, and skeletal patterns at sites after decomposition. The observations reported were documented between 2004 and 2006 at three stations in the relatively cold, regularly snowy environment of Rice Creek Field Station in Central New York State near Oswego. The context, materials, and methods are described in detail. 19 figures, 1 table, and 20 references