Identification of a Deceased Person Notes

Understand the purpose of an autopsy and the circumstances that warrant a forensic autopsy investigation.
Describe the presumptive and definitive methods of identification of the deceased.
Understand the limitations for each method of identification.

Definition from dictionary.com: the act of dying, the end of life, the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism.
Other definitions include being extremely bored or frightened.
Banksy's quote: "They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time a bit later on when somebody says your name for the last time."

In South Australia, the funeral director registers the death with births, deaths, and marriages within seven days of burial.
The body is taken to the funeral home and prepared by a mortician.
Viewing for the funeral may occur, followed by a grieving process.

Two types of autopsies:
- Forensic or medicolegal.
- Hospital or medical.
Hospital autopsies often focus on specific areas, such as the heart in the case of a heart attack.
Can be done at the request of family members.
Forensic autopsies are in-depth and cover the entire body.
They fall under the jurisdiction of local governmental death investigation officers (coroner in South Australia).

Cause of death: The disease or injury that produces a physiological disruption in the body resulting in death. Examples: gunshot wound, rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery.
Mechanism of death: The physiological derangement due to the cause that results in death. Examples: hemorrhage due to a gunshot wound, ischemia due to rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque.
Manner of death: How the cause of death came about (accidental, natural, suicide, homicide, undetermined, or unclassified). Determination of murder is completed by the court, not the pathologist.

Are there any ongoing or potential criminal investigations?
Importance of collecting and preserving evidence and establishing the chain of custody.
Cultural and religious considerations, such as a timely release of the body.
Example: Christchurch mosque massacre (02/2019) where pathologists worked overtime to release bodies quickly for burial according to Islamic law.
First Nations and indigenous communities undertake sorry business, so information needs to be provided early.

Importance in cases of missing persons and drownings.
Distinction between open and closed events in disaster victim identification.
Closed events: A finite number of possible identities (e.g., airplane crashes).
Open events: Unknown number of potential identities (e.g., Bali bombings, 2004 tsunami).

Items found with the body: papers, cards, IDs, phones, jewelry, clothes, eyeglasses, contacts, dentures.
Location where the body is found. Example: older person found in their home.
Limitations: items may not match the body, items can be placed or removed, the body may have been moved.

Identification by a living human, such as a relative or friend.
Limitations: death changes appearance, disfigurement, stressful time for family members leading to false positives or negatives.

Comparison of physical attributes: sex, age, race, stature, hair color, eye color, old amputations.
Distinctive marks: tattoos, scars, bony anomalies, body piercings, bodily jewelry.
Limitations: death changes appearance, dismemberment, disfigurement, decompositional changes, animal predation, lack of initial identification details for comparison.

Individual bones possess distinctive markings or characteristics.
Configuration of cranial sinuses, orthopedic procedures, orthopedic devices in situ.
Distinctive calcified structures such as mitral or aortic valves.
Sexual dimorphisms, age, and nutrition can also be assessed.
Limitations: lack of antemortem radiographs for comparison, dismemberment, animal predation.
Types: X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images.

Second most reliable means of positive identification apart from DNA.
Comparison of antemortem records.
Antemortem radiographs are most reliable.
Reveal age, hygiene, nutrition.
Children have 20 deciduous teeth; adults have 32 permanent teeth including wisdom teeth.
Limitations: antemortem charts and radiographs may not be available, head may be missing, anti- and post-mortem disruption.

Definitive form of identification.
System based on the classification of finger patterns.
No two fingers have been found to possess the same identical ridge characteristics.
Fingerprints remain unchanged during an individual's life.
Fingerprints have a general rich pattern that permits them to be systematically classified.
Computerized systems enhance statistical accuracy but human input is still required.
Limitations: lack of antemortem record for comparison, damage to fingerprints (incineration, anti-mortem or post-mortem damage), decomposition or charred remains.

Techniques for decomposed or charred remains: hydrogen peroxide to reveal tattoos, UV or infrared light, careful examination for jewelry.
Jewelry includes earrings, necklaces, watches, and body jewelry.
Difficult situations: prolonged putrefaction, dismemberment, and commingling of remains.

Gold standard for identification.
Limitations: lack of antemortem data, or antemortem sample for comparison.
Parabon (US company) can use DNA to create a sketch to allow for visual identification.
Charred remains or severely decomposed or skeletal remains may limit the size of the DNA sample.

Moving from presumptive (circumstantial and visual) to definitive.
Physical attributes helps to confirm the identity, radiographs, dental work, or fingerprints can allow for substantiation or comparison.
DNA is the most definitive.