Social Isolation and Delayed Discovery of Bodies in Houses: the Value of Forensic Pathology, Anthropology, Odontology and Entomo
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Forensic Science International 151 (2005) 259–265 www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciint Social isolation and delayed discovery of bodies in houses: The value of forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology and entomology in the medico-legal investigation M.S. Archer a,b,*, R.B. Bassed a, C.A. Briggs a,c, M.J. Lynch a a Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, Vic. 3006, Australia b Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia c Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia Received 11 May 2004; accepted 2 February 2005 Available online 23 March 2005 Abstract The bodies of socially isolated people may remain undiscovered in their own houses for prolonged periods. Occasionally the body is in situ for sufficient time to become skeletonised, or partially so. Medico-legal investigation of these cases is complicated by degradation and contamination of evidence. Thus, a multidisciplinary forensic investigation is recommended. The potential contributions of forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology and entomology are outlined here with reference to two cases that occurred in Victoria, Australia, in 2003. Forensic pathologists are often unable to determine the cause of death in skeletonised bodies, however, they may find evidence to support either a natural or unnatural mode of death, and they may describe skeletal pathology or trauma, and identify skeletal features to support radiological identification of the deceased. Anthropologists can provide supplementary evidence of skeletal trauma. Additionally, they can assess age, sex, stature and racial affiliation from skeletal remains. Odontologists can identify individuals through comparison with ante-mortem dental records; however, potential difficulties exist in identifying the treating dentist of a socially isolated person. Odontologists may also examine the teeth and oro-facial skeleton for trauma. Entomologists may estimate minimum death time and/or season of death. Entomological examination of insect remains may also confirm that a body has lain in situ for a considerable period. # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Skeleton; Social isolation; Forensic pathology; Forensic anthropology; Forensic odontology; Forensic entomology; Multi- disciplinary 1. Introduction in the deceased’s own home months, or even years after death [2]. Sometimes, these cases receive extensive media Bodies may remain undiscovered until they are wholly or coverage and the sadness of the circumstances may be seen partially skeletonised for a number of reasons. Some bodies as an indictment on society and on responsible authorities are deliberately concealed after death [1], whereas for [2]. others, death occurs in isolated or inaccessible areas. How- Long delays in the discovery of bodies in houses often ever, a proportion of severely decomposed bodies are found occur because the deceased was socially isolated in life [2]. Factors such as mental and physical illness or disability [3– * Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 9684 4469; 6], drug and alcohol addiction [7,8], or trauma from previous fax: +61 3 9682 7353. abuse [9,10] can contribute to, or accompany, a person’s E-mail address: [email protected] (M.S. Archer). disengagement from society. Modern conveniences, such as 0379-0738/$ – see front matter # 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.02.016 260 M.S. Archer et al. / Forensic Science International 151 (2005) 259–265 telephone banking, 24 h shopping and Internet access, can through the mail slot, and the rear yard was overgrown and in also help to eliminate the need for physical interaction with disarray. others. Additionally, automated payment systems can allow Upon entry the police found the skeletal remains of an rent and bill paying to continue long after death. unknown person lying supine on a lounge room couch. The The discovery of skeletonised or partially skeletonised remains were photographed in situ prior to being removed to remains in dwellings raises numerous social and legal the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for further questions that must be addressed as part of a coronial examination. Numerous media articles and editorials ques- investigation. The principal requirements of the Coronial tioned how the body remained undiscovered for so long; investigation in Victoria (Australia) are to establish the however, it appears that no agency was officially responsible identity of the deceased, and to determine the cause and for the deceased’s welfare. circumstances surrounding the death [11]. Further, the Cor- oner seeks to identify whether the death was preventable, 2.2. Case two (elderly male) and therefore whether future deaths of this nature might be averted [12]. Forensic pathology services are provided to the Staff at an inner suburban housing commission apartment Victorian Coroner by the Victorian Institute of Forensic requested that police conduct a welfare check on a resident Medicine. This facility is housed in the Coronial Services who had not been seen for several months. Enquiries with Centre together with the State Coroners Office. neighbours revealed that an unpleasant odour had emanated Many Coronial requirements are fulfilled by the medico- from the apartment for at least six months. This information legal investigation that forms part of the Coroner’s proceed- had reportedly been passed to building staff, but no action ings. However, the effects of decomposition can complicate taken. the autopsy and render some routine procedures, such as Skeletal remains were found in the apartment positioned organ histology, less useful. The passage of time can also semi-prone in bed. No next of kin details were available, and cause difficulties at other levels of the investigation since the nothing in the apartment pointed to an exact or approximate recollections of witnesses potentially fade, and death scenes time of death. The remains were taken to the Victorian may become contaminated and altered. Institute of Forensic Medicine for further examination. Given the complexity of the medico-legal investigation The delayed discovery of these remains gained less required of these cases, it is preferable for a combination of media attention than the first case; however, there was some specialists to address the major questions raised by the Coroner scrutiny of the circumstances since the death occurred in a or other relevant authority. There are a variety of techniques supervised government housing project. The media also available from forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology highlighted the fact that complaints of odours from nearby and entomology that may help to establish the deceased’s residents had been ignored for months, and that a similar identity, cause of death, factors contributing to death and the incident had occurred in the same building the previous year. timing of death [13–16]. Here, we provide the first summary of current pathological, anthropological, odontological and ento- mological investigative techniques that can be employed in 3. Forensic pathology cases involving skeletonised or partially skeletonised bodies found in houses. This paper is not intended to provide com- It is often impossible to determine the cause of death in prehensive instructions on how to employ these techniques, but cases where the body is wholly or partially skeletonised. rather it is hoped that the reader will gain an appreciation of the This is especially true if the diagnostic features of the cause questions each discipline can answer. Two recent cases from are manifested in soft tissue, as is the case with disease Victoria, Australia, illustrate the value of multidisciplinary processes most commonly associated with sudden death. investigation. The autopsy may therefore become an exercise of exclusion where it is most important to search for signs of injury, and to identify signs that death was most likely natural. 2. Case study circumstances 3.1. Skeleton and associated soft tissue 2.1. Case one (elderly female) The state of the nails and hair may indicate the deceased’s Police discovered the remains of the deceased female level of personal care. Any remaining soft tissue is usually while making a welfare check. The check was requested by a examined, and scavenger damage noted to this, and to the concerned woman who had not seen her neighbour for over skeleton. The pathologist routinely checks the integrity of 18 months. The deceased shopped in the early hours of the the hyoid bone if it is located, however, this small, delicate morning, remained indoors at other times and shunned bone frequently remains unidentified, and may be lost due to contact with her neighbours. The deceased’s home, a con- rodent scavenging. Damage to the hyoid may result from verted shop, was located in metropolitan Melbourne. The ante-mortem trauma to the neck, such as manual strangula- lobby was filled with unopened mail that had been pushed tion, although this is not always the case. The thyroid and M.S. Archer et al. / Forensic Science International 151 (2005) 259–265 261 cricoid cartilage commonly calcify in the elderly [17], and a necklace and rings. Some money and identifying papers damage to their structures may also provide evidence of were also located on the deceased’s person. The remains lay ante-mortem trauma. Radiographs of the skeleton may also intact on a couch, surrounded by a dried decomposition be taken to check for prostheses