The Case
When a forensic investigation relies on skeletal remains, retrieving information can be difficult because of the absence of soft tissues. However, when that is the only evidence available, forensic experts have to obtain the maximal information they can because bones could contain signs of trauma and may even maintain the shapes of the object that was used to cause harm. This king of maximal extrapolation was used in a case in Rome to conclude a homicide. The case traces back to March 2001, where a woman was reported missing, but police were unable to trace her (Donato et al., 2016). Her partner at the time was suspected, questioned, but the case was closed without a suspect. Years later, the case was reopened, focusing on the victim's partner, who confessed to having killed and buried her. The investigation unit dug up the man's garden and recovered the woman's bones. The woman had been buried near a concrete wall, making retrieval a difficult process. However, the team managed to dig out all bones with some damage to the maxillary and zygomatic bones.
Investigations and Findings
Forensic anthropologists proceeded to examine the bones to identify the body and determine the mechanism of death. A study of the long bones identified the victim as a woman between fifty to sixty years old (Donato et al., 2016). This was based on the modification of the pubic symphysis, level of maturation of the long bones, and presence of early stages of osteoarthritis. Age can be roughly estimated from the study of long bones (Franklin, 2010). A DNA test confirmed that her bones were genetically compatible with her relative’s genetic samples, identifying the victim further (Mansour et al., 2018). Forensic anthropologists further examined the bones for evidence of previously healed lesions. They noted a lesion of a vertebral body, which they thought was vital.
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On further examination, it was ruled that the lesion was caused by a sharp object, particularly a blade. This was based on the shape of the lesion and the extent of the damage. It was concluded that the blade had damaged vascular and nervous structures at the neck on impact. Further analysis was done using CT scans, epifluorescence microscopy, and a scanning electron microscope (Donato et al., 2016). The tool was identified as a marine survival knife based on the defects on the vertebra. The case was ruled as first-degree murder based on the findings. Hence, forensic investigations can rely on extrapolated data, and analysis of skeletal remains using imaging technologies to conclude cases.
References
Donato, L. A., Vecchiotti, C., & Cipolloni, L. Study of Skeletal Remains: Solving a Homicide Case with Forensic Anthropology and Review of the Literature, J. Forensic Anthropol., 2016, 1: 105.
Franklin, D. (2010). Forensic age estimation in human skeletal remains: current concepts and future directions. Legal Medicine , 12 (1), 1-7.
Mansour, H., Krebs, O., Sperhake, J. P., Fuhrmann, A., & Püschel, K. (2018). Identification of scattered skeletal remains. Rechtsmedizin , 28 (4), 307-312.
