Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Invertebrates in General
1.2. Ants
1.3. Beetles
1.4. Maggots and Adult Blow Flies
Differentiation between Bloodstains and Fly Artefacts
- Traces with a tail–body relationship greater than 1 (Figure 11);
- Traces with a spermatozoa or tadpole-like structure;
- Traces that are similar to a spermatozoid and do not end in a small point;
- all traces without a distinguishable body and tail;
- all traces with a wavelike or uneven structure;
1.5. Snails
1.6. Wasps
2. Environmental Influences
2.1. Case 1: Influence of Clothing and Mummification
2.2. Case 2: Influence of Light
3. Conclusions
4. Impact Statement
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Haglund, W.D. Contribution of rodents to postmortem artifacts of bone and soft tissue. J. Forensic Sci. 1992, 37, 1459–1465. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Patel, F. Artefact in forensic medicine: Postmortem rodent activity. J. Forensic Sci. 1994, 39, 257–260. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ropohl, D.; Scheithauer, R.; Pollak, S. Postmortem injuries inflicted by domestic golden hamster: Morphological aspects and evidence by DNA typing. Forensic Sci. Int. 1995, 72, 81–90. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Steadman, D.W.; Worne, H. Canine scavenging of human remains in an indoor setting. Forensic Sci. Int. 2007, 173, 78–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tsokos, M.; Schulz, F. Indoor postmortem animal interference by carnivores and rodents: Report of two cases and review of the literature. Int. J. Leg. Med. 1999, 112, 115–119. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Willey, P.; Snyder, L.M. Canid modification of human remains: Implications for time-since-death estimations. J. Forensic Sci. 1989, 34, 894–901. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Asamura, H.; Takayanagi, K.; Ota, M. Unusual characteristic patterns of postmortem injuries. J. Forensic Sci. 2004, 49, 592–594. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Campobasso, C.P.; Marchetti, D.; Introna, F.; Colonna, M.F. Postmortem artifacts made by ants and the effect of ant activity on decompositional rates. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2009, 30, 84–87. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pollak, S.; Reiter, C. Vortäuschung von Schussverletzungen durch postmortalen Madenfraß. Arch. Kriminol. 1988, 181, 146–154. [Google Scholar]
- Haskell, N.H.; Hall, R.D.; Cervenka, V.J.; Clark, M.A. On the body: Insects’ life stage presence, their postmortem artifacts. In Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains, 1st ed.; Haglund, W.D., Sorg, M.H., Eds.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 1997; pp. 415–448. [Google Scholar]
- Ortloff, A.; Albornoz, S.; Romero, M.; Vivallo, G. Skin artefacts due to post-mortem damage caused by Notiothauma reedi: A insect of forensic importance in forest communities of Chile. Egypt. J. Forensic Sci. 2016, 6, 411–415. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Weimann, W.; Prokop, O. Atlas der Gerichtlichen Medizin, 1st ed.; VEB Verlag Volk und Gesundheit: Berlin, Germany, 1963; pp. 36–44. [Google Scholar]
- Benecke, M. A brief survey of the history of forensic entomology. Acta Biol. Benr. 2008, 14, 15–38. [Google Scholar]
- Von Hofmann, E.R. Lehrbuch der Gerichtlichen Medizin, 6th ed.; Urban & Schwarzenberg: Vienna, Austria; Leipzig, Germany, 1893; pp. 359–819. [Google Scholar]
- Dietz, G. Gerichtliche Medizin für Juristen, Kriminalisten, Studierende der Rechtswissenschaften und Medizin, 5th ed.; Johann Ambrosius Barth: Leipzig, Germany, 1970; p. 36. [Google Scholar]
- Bonacci, T.; Benecke, M.; Scapoli, C.; Vercillo, V.; Pezzi, M. Severe post mortem damages by ants on a human corpse. Rom. J. Leg. Med. 2019, 27, 269–271. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Benecke, M.; Seifert, B. Forensische Entomologie am Beispiel eines Tötungsdeliktes. Eine kombinierte Spuren- und Liegezeitanalyse. Arch. Kriminol. 1999, 204, 52–60. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Byrd, J.H.; Castner, J.L. Forensic Entomology. The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations, 2nd ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Payne, J.A.; King, E.W. Arthropod succession and decomposition of buried pigs. Nature 1968, 219, 1180–1181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Payne, J.A.; King, E.W. Hymenoptera associated with pig carrion. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 1971, 73, 132–141. [Google Scholar]
- Baumjohann, K.; Benecke, M.; Rothschild, M. Schussverletzungen oder Käferfraß. Rechtsmedizin 2014, 24, 114–117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Benecke, M. Leichenerscheinungen und Todeszeitbestimmung—Besiedlung durch Gliedertiere. In Handbuch Gerichtliche Medizin, 1st ed.; Brinkmann, B., Madea, B., Eds.; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany; New York, NY, USA; Tokyo, Japan, 2003; pp. 170–187. [Google Scholar]
- Kulshrestha, P.; Satpathy, D.K. Use of beetles in forensic entomology. Forensic Sci. Int. 2001, 120, 15–17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Caballero, U.; Leon-Cortes, J.L. Beetle succession and diversity between clothed sun-exposed and shaded pig carrion in a tropical dry forest landscape in Southern Mexico. Forensic Sci. Int. 2014, 245, 143–150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fiedler, A.; Halbach, M.; Sinclair, B.; Benecke, M. What is the edge of a forest? A Diversity Analysis of Adult Diptera Found on Decomposing Piglets inside and on the Edge of a Western German Woodland inspired by a Courtroom Question. Entomol. Heute 2008, 20, 173–191. [Google Scholar]
- Benecke, M.; Barksdale, L. Distinction of bloodstain patterns from fly artifacts. Forensic Sci. Int. 2003, 137, 152–159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rivers, D.B.; Cavanagh, G.; Greisman, V.; McGregor, A.; Brogan, R.; Schoeffield, A. Immunoassay detection of fly artifacts produced by several species of necrophagous flies following feeding on human blood. Forensic Sci. Int. Synerg. 2019, 1, 1–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bini, C.; Giorgetti, A.; Iuvaro, A.; Giovannini, E.; Gianfreda, D.; Pelletti, G.; Pelotti, S. A DNA-based method for distinction of fly artifacts from human bloodstains. Int. J. Leg. Med. 2021, 135, 2155–2161. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Simoes, M.H.; Guedes, A.O.; Thyssen, P.J.; Souza-Silva, M. Ecological and Forensic Implications of Social Wasps on Pig Carcass Degradation in Brazilian Savannah. Bangladesh J. Fertil. Steril. 2013, 2, 286–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Barbosa, R.R.; Carrico, C.; Souto, R.N.P.; Andena, S.R.; Urufahy-Rodrigues, A.; Queiroz, M.M.C. Record of postmortem injuries caused by the Neotropical social wasp Agelaia fulvofasciata (Degeer) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) on pig carcasses in the Eastern Amazon region: Implications in forensic taphonomy. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 2015, 59, 257–259. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mann, R.W.; Bass, W.M.; Meadows, L. Time Since Death and Decomposition of the Human Body: Variables and Observations in Case and Experimental Field Studies. J. Forensic Sci. 1990, 35, 103–111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Aturaliya, S.; Lukasewyz, A. Experimental forensic and bioanthropological aspects of soft tissue taphonomy: 1. Factors influencing postmortem tissue desiccation rate. J. Forensic Sci. 1999, 44, 893–896. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dautartas, A.M. The Effect of Various Coverings on the rate of Human Decomposition. Master Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA, August 2009. [Google Scholar]
- Dent, B.B.; Forbes, S.L.; Stuart, B.H. Review of human decomposition processes in soil. Environ. Geol. 2004, 45, 576–585. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rossi, M.L.; Shahrom, A.W.; Chapman, R.C.; Vanezis, P. Postmortem injuries by indoor pets. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 1994, 15, 105–109. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rothschild, M.A.; Schneider, V. On the temporal onset of postmortem animal scavenging. Motivation of the animal. Forensic Sci. Int. 1997, 89, 57–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Jones, A.L. Animal Scavengers as Agents of Decomposition: The Postmortem Succession of Louisiana wildlife. Master Thesis, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, August 2011. [Google Scholar]
- Spradley, M.K.; Hamilton, M.D.; Giordano, A. Spatial patterning of vulture scavenged human remains. Forensic Sci. Int. 2012, 219, 57–63. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Benecke, M. Rein einseitiges Auftreten von Schmeißfliegenmaden im Gesicht einer Faulleiche. Arch. Kriminol. 2001, 208, 182–185. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Kelly, J.A.; van der Linde, T.C.; Anderson, G.S. The influence of clothing and wrapping on carcass decomposition and arthropod succession during the warmer seasons in central South Africa. J. Forensic Sci. 2009, 54, 1105–1112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Matuszewski, S.; Fratczak, K.; Konwerski, S.; Bajerlein, D.; Szpila, K.; Jarmusz, M.; Szafałowicz, M.; Grzywacz, A.; Madra, A. Effect of body mass and clothing on carrion entomofauna. Int. J. Leg. Med. 2016, 130, 221–232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. |
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Baumjohann, K.; Benecke, M. Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions. Forensic Sci. 2022, 2, 725-740. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040054
Baumjohann K, Benecke M. Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions. Forensic Sciences. 2022; 2(4):725-740. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040054
Chicago/Turabian StyleBaumjohann, Kristina, and Mark Benecke. 2022. "Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions" Forensic Sciences 2, no. 4: 725-740. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040054
APA StyleBaumjohann, K., & Benecke, M. (2022). Mind Your Decompositional Assumptions. Forensic Sciences, 2(4), 725-740. https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci2040054