NCJ Number
54182
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 209-221
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A CASE STUDY ILLUSTRATING PROBLEMS AND PROCEDURES IN THE FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF REMAINS EXHUMED FROM SHALLOW GRAVES IN UNOFFICIAL BURIAL SITES IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE CASE STUDY CONCERNS AN INVESTIGATION BY TWO BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, DETECTIVES INTO THE WHEREABOUTS OF A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR 5 YEARS. THEIR INVESTIGATION, IN WHICH THEY USED DOGS AND POLICE DOG HANDLERS SPECIALLY TRAINED IN THE DETECTION OF HUMAN REMAINS, LED THEM TO A SHALLOW GRAVE IN A GARDEN. PARTIAL EXCAVATION REVEALED AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, AND FURTHER DIGGING CEASED UNTIL A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST AND AN ODONTOLOGIST ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE EXHUMATION AND AUTOPSY THAT FOLLOWED ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, TOGETHER WITH THE PROCEDURES USED BY THE FORENSIC TEAM TO IDENTIFY THE REMAINS AS THOSE OF THE MISSING WOMAN, TO GAIN INFORMATION ON THE CAUSE OF DEATH, AND TO DETERMINE HOW LONG THE BODY HAD BEEN BURIED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE ANALYSIS OF VEGETATION AROUND THE BODY FOR CLUES TO THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF DEATH. VARIOUS CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH INVESTIGATIONS OF EXHUMED REMAINS ARE CONDUCTED, INCLUDING ON CASE IN WHICH THALLIUM FOUND IN THE ASHES OF A CREMATED BODY CONTRIBUTED TO A MURDER CONVICTION, ARE NOTED. QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED IN THE EXAMINATION OF REMAINS EXHUMED FROM UNOFFICIAL BURIAL SITES ARE DISCUSSED (E.G., WHETHER THE REMAINS ARE HUMAN OR ANIMAL, WHETHER DEATH OCCURRED RELATIVELY RECENTLY, HOW MANY BODIES ARE PRESENT, THE IDENTITY OF THE BODY OR BODIES, THE CAUSE OF DEATH). THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK IN THE INVESTIGATION OF AN EXHUMATION IS EMPHASIZED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)