FORENSIC - M1

positive, presumptive, or unidentified

The efforts to establish identity ultimately

result in one of the following identification

categories:

forensic anthropologist

• species identification

DNA ANALYSIS → hTERT or Human Telomerase Gene on Chromosome 5

if anthropologic and radiographic methods fail to differentiate species, _____ is utilized

1. visual

2. fingerprint

3. DNA

4. dental comparison

• the most common means of establishing a positive identification

The Scientific Method

the latter three are referred to as _______

Dental Comparison

can be used to establish

presumptive identification

DENTAL IDENTIFICATION

not possible without

ante-mortem records

VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

• Most commonly used method for identification

• Used to establish both positive and presumptive identification

• One of the LEAST RELIABLE forms of identification

→ Decomposition of body

→ Traumatic injuries that distort the features

Difficulty of Visual Identification

○ Location of death

○ Items at a death scene

○ Clothing size, jewelry

○ Personal effects w/ the body

○ Eyeglasses

The circumstances of death can often assist in

identifying a person

SCARS AND TATTOOS

commonly used as

identifying characteristics, especially when they are

distinct in either nature or location.

Birthmarks or nevi (moles)

• often distinct and

  can be used for identification

Occupational stigmata

though more commonly

used decades ago, may also be revealed during an

external examination.

Subungal hematomas

in dancers and athletes

Oncholysis

in occupations required. carrying heavy objects, musicians and typists

Inflammation around fingernails

in hairdressers

and gardeners

Blue scars

often seen in coal miners due to carbon dust entering skin lesions.

Small burns

on exposed skin may result from steel or foundry works

• Scars & Tattoos

• Birthmark or Nevi

• Piercings

• Occupational Hematoma

• Subungal Stigmata

• Oncholysis

• Inflammation around fingernail

• Blue Scars

• Small Burns

External Characteristics

→ Autopsy

→ Presence or absence of disease

Internal Characteristics

1. Cholelithiasis or Nephrolithiasis

2. Cancer or Coronary Artery Disease

3. Absence of organ

4. Implanted Devices

5. Inhalational Diseases

6. Toxicology Evaluation

diseases that can be helpful in establishing identity

Radiographs

when ante-mortem records are available for comparison

• varus/valgus deformity of longbones

• broken bone resulting in malunion

identifying characteristics in radiographs

→ bullet

→ shrapnel

→ surgical hardware

foreign materials in radiographs

presence or absence of growth plates

may establish whether the remains are those of a younger or older individual, though forensic anthropology can often be more specific

ANTHROPOLOGY

Most commonly used in cases of decomposed

skeletal remains

sex, race, ancestry, stature

techniques used can indicate:

PELVIS

best indicator of sex:

wider and shallower with an obtuse sub-pubic angle and oval inlet

female pelvic

receding forehead, prominent brow ridges, occipital protuberance, large mastoid process

male cranium

presence of growth plate

presence under 30

○ osteophyte formation

○ calcification of cartilaginous margines of

ribs

○ wearing of symphysis, pubis, fusion of cranial sutures

Age changes

1. negroid

2. caucasoid

3. mongoloid

3 races traditionally acknowledged by

anthropologists

negroid

crania: wide nasal

orifices, round, oval orbits, alveolar

prognathism

caucasoid

crania: narrow nasal

orifices, parabolic palate,

rectangular orbits

Mongoloid

crania: elliptical palates, complex cranial structures, square orbits

Facial Reconstruction

It can be done of the cranium is present

Positive Identification

anthropology + facial reconstruction → positive identification

NCIC → National Crime Information Center

oldest system

1975

Missing Person File

1983

Unidentified Person File

CJIS → Criminal Justice Information Services

Division's Intelligence Group of the FBI, which

oversees the databases

VICTIMS web-based database

The FBI has also launched to make the unidentified human remains portion of the NCIC database accessible to the forensic identification community to assist identifying remain

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

This system consists of two databases:

(1) unidentified decedents and

(2) known missing persons data

→ extensive photography

→ full autopsy: deceased individuals

Methodology for an unidentified person