(HRI) Human Remains Identification Module Overview

Human Remains Identification Module Overview

Image with quote: "Mortui vivos docent" - The dead teach the living. -Anonymous
This simple Latin phrase (right) reflects the nature of death investigation in Forensic Science. Often, when trying to determine what happened to a victim, Forensic Scientists must rely on the evidence left behind both inside and outside of the body. The investigation may include the use of established timelines of insect activity, body decomposition processes, visible markings on the body and environmental clues when investigating a death. While new technologies abound in our modern world, many of the techniques used in death investigations have been in use for many years and have changed very little.

Essential Questions

  1. How are human remains identified?
  2. What clues might investigators find that indicate a homicide rather than a natural or accidental death?
  3. How can an investigator estimate the time of death?
  4. What are the phases of decomposition in human remains?

Key Terms

  1. Melanin - A substance produced by melanocytes found in the deepest layer of the epidermis protect the skin from the effects of the sun's harmful rays. Variations in skin color are a result of the level of melanin produced by each individual.
  2. Defensive Wounds - An injury received by the victim of an attack while trying to defend against the assailant.
  3. Bruise - A hemorrhage into tissues produced by the escape of blood from blood vessels.
  4. Abrasion - Friction injury removing skin or tissue.
  5. Incised Wounds - Breach of the full thickness of the skin due to contact with a sharp edge including cuts, slashes, and stabbings.
  6. Puncture - Breach in full skin thickness and depth is greater than length.
  7. Lacerations - Splitting of the skin by the direct crushing of blunt trauma. Typically over bone, e.g. scalp, eyebrow, cheekbone.
  8. Livor Mortis - A purple coloration of dependent parts, except in areas of contact pressure, appearing within 30 minutes to 2 hours after death, as a result of gravitational movement of blood within the vessels.
  9. Rigor Mortis - The stiffening of a dead body accompanying depletion of adenosine triphosphate in the muscle fibers.
  10. Algor Mortis - The reduction in body temperature and accompanying loss of skin elasticity that occur after death.
  11. Putrefaction - Decomposition of organic matter, especially protein, by microorganisms, resulting in production of foul-smelling matter.
  12. Bloat - A stage in decomposition in which the gases being produced during putrefaction begin to build and will give the body a distended appearance
  13. Active Decay - The stage in which most of the body mass will be lost mainly due to the activity of the maggots and other insects. The abdomen will burst open and will leak fluids to the surrounding soil
  14. Advanced Decay - The stage of decomposition characterized by the decomposed body beginning to dry out. The odor emanating from the decomposed body will lessen along with the activity of the insects. It is also the stage in which the decomposed body will form a wax layer known as the adipocere.
  15. Dry - Final stage in decomposition process it is also known as skeletal or remains stage. This stage is characterized by all moisture being absent from the remains and no insect activity. Generally what is left at this point is bones or connective tissues.
  16. Adipocere - A waxy substance formed during decomposition of dead animal bodies, consisting mainly of insoluble salts of fatty acids.
  17. Autolysis - Tissue breakdown by the body's own internal chemicals and enzyme.

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