Postmortem Dismemberment in Two Mediterranean Countries

• NCJ Number: 231837
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 60 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2010 Pages: 557-572
• Author(s): Tzipi Kahana; Inmaculada Aleman; Miguel C. Botella; Yehuda Novoselsky; Nicolay Volkov; Jehuda Hiss
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study reviews 25 cases of dismemberment of homicide victims in 2 Mediterranean countries to provide insight into various aspects of this type of postmortem injury.

Abstract

A scrutiny of 25 cases of body dismemberment of homicide victims analyzed at the National Center of Forensic Medicine ((Israel National Police, Israel) and at the Laboratory of Anthropology of the University of Granada (Spain) provides an insight into various aspects of this type of postmortem mutilation. The common features regarding anatomical location of the severing cuts, the most commonly used tools, and the motivation behind the act of postmortem dismemberment are discussed and compared. The taphonomic changes detected in 24 percent of these cases indicate the use of some type of refrigeration associated with concealment of the body sections. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)