Citation

Petrik MS, Hobischak NR, Anderson GS. J. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. 2004; 37(1): 9-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Canadian Society of Forensic Science, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00085030.2004.10757565

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Water-related deaths present a very challenging evidence scene for the forensic investigator. In particular, it is often very difficult to determine whether a death was suicide, homicide, or an accident. Many factors make the underwater crime scene difficult to process; in particular, there is a lack of knowledge of the impact of different variables on a submerged body. This paper examines human decompositional data and identifies some of the freshwater factors that affect underwater decomposition. Cases used in this research were freshwater related deaths reported by the B.C. Coroners. Service from 1998 through 2000 and from actual human recoveries that were conducted by the Canadian Amphibious Search Team (CAST) from 1995 to 2003. Only cases with known postmortem interval, body decomposition traits, freshwater anthropophagy, and water limnology were used in this research. A list of observed characteristics was established and consistency of these traits was recorded in each of the cases. The goal was to determine whether any of the characteristics were consistent with time of submergence. Various aquatic factors contribute towards the decomposition of a body and a better understanding of each variable will aid forensic investigators in conducting more conclusive investigations. © 2004 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

crime; Canada; human; homicide; suicide; accident; autopsy; risk factor; review; death; forensic identification; human tissue; research; coroner; examination; autolysis; cannibalism; decomposition; fresh water; limnology