What is Forensic Science? Primer on the investigation of suspicious deaths Discussed how to tell if a strangulation was masked as a suicide by hanging in a corpse Still in practice today. Application of science to criminal investigation. Forensic science has an ancient history First recorded application of medical knowledge to the solution of a crime (forensic medicine): 1248 CE, Chinese book Hsi DuanYu (The Washing Away of Wrongs)
The Medical Forensic Team CORONER (legal authority to investigate deaths; may not have an MD) MEDICAL EXAMINER (ME) usually a Forensic Pathologist (MD) OTHERS: Forensic Odontologist, Forensic Botanist, Forensic Entomologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Forensic Archaeologist, Forensic Palynologist etc.
What is Forensic Anthropology? Anthropology has 4 subdisciplines: PHYSICAL(or BIOLOGICAL) Anthropology, Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Linguistics FA: a subfield of Physical Anthropology only in last 35 yrs (FArch only within the last decade!) FA: use of techniques from physical anthropology in medicolegal death investigation (i.e., deaths within the last 50 years) WHY? BECAUSE it would be difficult to prosecute otherwise (murderer, family of victim, witnesses would likely be deceased)
History of Forensic Anthropology Began in the US with the murder of Dr. George Parkman at Harvard Medical School in Solved by 2 Harvard anatomists using skeletal evidence to identify the victim. Thomas Dwight, 1883 Harvard anatomist: Founder of Forensic Anthropology- established an osteology section in anatomy dept
10 Question Protocol 10 Question Protocol DEVELOPED BY EMINENT FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST Dr. Clyde Snow Are the bones human? 2.How many individuals are represented? 3.How long ago did death occur? 4.What was the person’s age at death? 5.What was the person’s sex? 6.What was the person’s race? 7.What was the person’s height? 8.Are there any identifying characteristics, such as old injuries, disease or unusual features? 9.What was cause of death? 10. What was the manner of death? Homicide Suicide Accidental Natural Unknown
HUMAN OSTEOLOGY Skeletal System: Frontal View
LANDMARKS AND FEATURES OF THE BONES
Where does this bone fragment come from?
From the frontal (forehead)bone of the skull
First question of the Ten Question Protocol: Q1:Are the bones human?
Q3: How long ago did death occur? Remember, medicolegal interest is within the last 50 years! Teeth from prehistoric burial site
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE: Q4: What was the person’s age at death? Q5: What was the person’s sex? Q6: What was the person’s race(ancestry)? Q7: What was the person’s height?
IDENTIFICATION AND CAUSE OF DEATH: Q8: Are there any identifying characteristics, such as old injuries, disease or unusual features? ANTEMORTEM, PERIMORTEM; POSTMORTEM CHANGES TO BONE
IDENTIFICATION AND CAUSE OF DEATH (continued): Q9. What was cause of death? PERIMORTEM vs POSTMORTEM TRAUMA TO BONE
IDENTIFICATION AND CAUSE OF DEATH (cont.): Q10:What was the manner of death? HOMICIDE? SUICIDE?
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BARBIE: A classroom exercise in Forensic Archaeology
The scene of the crime
Gridding off the scene to map in evidence
Flagging, photographing, mapping and removal of evidence
Burial (bone) is visible
Burial outline from the top
Clean and exposed “in situ”
Always excavate to “sterile” ground
If possible, do detailed recovery in the laboratory or morgue
Cleaning the bones and looking for trauma
BEFORE AFTER