Article #2: Mass Grave Skeletal Trauma

• Rudnica mass grave discovered in 2013 in South Serbia

  • found on abandoned quarry next to regional motorway at the corner of a building that was later demolished for excavation

  • discovery was after 10 years of investigation and no luck

  • exhumation process commenced in April 2014 after DNA confirmation and legal process

  • was completed in June 2014

  • grave was 13.5 meters long, 13 meters wide, and a slope of a maximum depth of 3 meters

  • was a secondary burial site for most remains

• First mass grave discovered in the territory of the Republic of Serbia since 2001

• All people found in mass grave were killed/forcibly disappeared during April and May of 1999

  • All of them belonged to four separate villages: Rezalla, Cikatove e Vjeter, Zabel i Ulet and Gllanaselle

• 171 human remains (bodies and body parts) were found along with 155 forensic evidence items

  • bodies in various states of decomposition with most being skeletonized/containing little soft tissue

  • only 5 bodies were well preserved due to being wrapped in tarpaulin and blankets

1. Introduction

• Purpose of the Study

  • Analyze and interpret trauma on skeletal remains from the Rudnica mass grave in Serbia.

  • Identify patterns of trauma to determine the manner of death.

  • Compare findings with witness testimonies to establish consistency.

  • Address challenges in forensic interpretation, especially with incomplete remains.

• Context & Background

  • Mass grave discovered in 2013 in Rudnica, Serbia, near a regional motorway.

  • First mass grave in Serbia found since 2001.

  • Contained remains of Kosovo Albanian civilians killed or forcibly disappeared in April-May 1999.

  • Victims were from four villages:

    • Rezalla (Skenderaj Municipality)

    • Çikatovë e Vjetër (Drenas Municipality)

    • Zabel i Ulët (Drenas Municipality)

    • Gllanasellë (Drenas Municipality)

  • Bodies were moved from primary burial sites to Rudnica to conceal evidence.

• Discovery & Exhumation

  • First remains found in December 2013 near a road company’s building.

  • Excavation from April to June 2014, led by Serbian Forensic Team with support from:

    • Kosovo’s Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM)

    • European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX)

    • International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

  • A total of 171 human remains (bodies and body parts) and 155 forensic items recovered.

  • Bodies were in various decomposition stages; some wrapped in tarpaulin and blankets preserved better.

2. Methodology

• Data Collection

  • Based on case files from the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM), Kosovo.

  • Analyzed 54 identified individuals from the Rudnica mass grave.

  • Data sources:

    • Death certificates and identification documents.

    • DNA analysis reports from the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

    • Autopsy reports from forensic pathologists.

• Analysis Criteria

  • Demographics: Age, sex, origin.

  • Completeness of remains: Categorized as complete, almost complete, or incomplete.

  • Trauma documentation: Type, location, trajectory, and severity of injuries.

  • Cause of death: Evaluated based on forensic findings.

3. Findings

Demographics

• All victims were male, aged 14 to 96 years at the time of death.

• Age distribution:

  • 46% (25 individuals) were 45-65 years old.

  • 26% (14 individuals) were 19-44 years old.

  • 19% (9 individuals) were over 65 years old.

  • 9% (5 individuals) were under 19 years old.

Completeness of Bodies

• 56% (30 individuals) almost complete – missing only minor skeletal elements.

• 35% (19 individuals) incomplete – many skeletal elements missing.

• 9% (5 individuals) complete – all skeletal elements present.

• Bodies from Rezalla were more incomplete than those from Çikatovë e Vjetër.

  • Due to handling with heavy machinery and commingling of remains.

Type & Distribution of Trauma

• Gunshot wounds were the only trauma observed.

  • No evidence of blunt force or sharp force trauma.

• Trauma distribution:

  • Trunk (64%)

  • Limbs (60%)

  • Head/Neck (48%)

• Trajectory of gunfire:

  • Majority: Back-to-front and left-to-right, consistent with execution-style killings.

  • Fewer cases had front-to-back injuries.

• Many skulls were severely fragmented, making trajectory analysis difficult.

Cause of Death

• Determined in 56% of cases (30 individuals).

• More identifiable in Çikatovë e Vjetër victims due to better preservation.

• Rezalla victims had more incomplete remains, making cause-of-death analysis difficult.

4. Discussion

Patterns of Trauma & Execution

• Findings indicate intentional execution rather than combat-related deaths.

• Gunshot wounds targeted vital areas: trunk, head, and neck.

• No fragmenting ammunition or shrapnel wounds were found.

• Testimonies confirm that victims were shot from behind, matching forensic findings.

Secondary Burial & Concealment

• The Rudnica grave was a secondary burial site.

• Bodies were moved from their original locations to hide evidence of mass killings.

• This relocation resulted in:

  • Commingling of remains.

  • Increased fragmentation and damage.

  • Difficulty in reconstructing individual remains.

Challenges in Trauma Analysis

• Incomplete remains affected forensic interpretations.

• Missing skeletal elements may hide additional gunshot wounds.

• Category of "possible gunshot trauma" may lead to over-representation of firearm injuries.

Legal & Human Rights Implications

• Findings support claims of extrajudicial killings and war crimes.

• Pattern of execution consistent with human rights abuses observed in other conflict zones.

• Concealment of bodies in secondary mass graves suggests intent to cover up the crimes.

5. Conclusions & Recommendations

Key Takeaways

• A distinct pattern of gunshot trauma was identified, consistent with execution-style killings.

• Body completeness significantly impacted forensic analysis and interpretation.

• Secondary burial contributed to body damage and loss of forensic evidence.

Recommendations for Future Research

• Develop standardized methods for assessing completeness of remains.

• Exclude incomplete remains from trauma analysis to avoid misrepresentation.

• Enhance forensic techniques for reconstructing fragmented remains.

• Combine forensic evidence with witness testimonies for stronger legal cases.

Broader Implications

• Findings reinforce the need for accountability for war crimes.

• Further investigations into missing persons and mass graves are needed.

• International forensic teams must collaborate to ensure justice for victims.