Burned Bodies

Question 1

what are the sources/uses of forensic fires?

Answer 1

• destroy evidence
• destroy signs of homicide
• homicide
• accidents

Question 2

what are the variables of fire exposure?

Answer 2

• size of the fire
• number of items burning
• percentage of the room involved
• exposure of the body
• duration of exposure
• condition of the bone

Question 3

first stage of burned bone

Answer 3

• 100 to 500-600 C

- removal of loosely attached water

Question 4

second stage of burned bone

Answer 4

• 600 to 800 C

- collagen is lost and bone reduces in weight

Question 5

third stage of burned bone

Answer 5

• > 800 C

- rest of the organic material combusts and hydroxyapatite crystals enlarge

Question 6

what does osteological analysis focus on?

Answer 6

• tissue shielding
• color change
• thermal fractures

Question 7

how do fires affect bone?

Answer 7

• heat
• atmosphere
• duration

Question 8

the pugilistic pose

Answer 8

• pugilist = boxer

- a characteristic pose for burned bodies

Question 9

in order of least burnt to most, what are the color changes for burned bone?

Answer 9

• light brown
• black (charred)
• blue-grey
• white (calcinized)

Question 10

what are the shape changes that occur in bone?

Answer 10

• shrinkage (between 6-25%)

- warping

Question 11

what are the fracture patterns?

Answer 11

• longitudinal
• transverse
• patina

Question 12

what is the information in burned bone?

Answer 12

• state of the remains (fleshed or dry)
• position of the body (patterns of burning)
• biological profile, trauma, and individualizing characteristics (have to reconstruct)

Question 13

how can we distinguish between perimortem fractures and postmortem breakage from fire?

Answer 13

• reconstruction
• color
• location

Question 14

cremains

Answer 14

cremated remains

Question 15

what are the steps for cremains analysis?

Answer 15

• document container, label, and remains
• weighing remains
• separation by size
• radiographs
• visual inspection
• photographs

Question 16

what are the lines of evidence for the identifying the remains?

Answer 16

• bone and tooth fragments
• cremation weight
• cremation artifacts
• chemical analysis

Question 17

cremation weights

Answer 17

• related to sex, age, stature, and body weight

- do the remains fall clearly within the range of variation for males or females?

Question 18

cremation artifacts: medical

Answer 18

• vascular clips
• pacemaker components
• orthopedic hardware

Question 19

cremation artifacts: dental

Answer 19

• dental implants
• bridges, crowns
• dentures
• restorations

Question 20

cremation artifacts: artifacts

Answer 20

• jewelry fragments
• clothing
• items on the body at the time of cremation

Question 21

DNA analysis in cremated bones

Answer 21

• not substantiated within scientific literature

- bone exposed to temperatures well below those of commercial cremation does not yield DNA

Question 22

what are the complications of burned bone analysis?

Answer 22

• difficult to distinguish between ante, peri, and post mortem
• researched produced does not reflect true conditions in forensic cases
• loss of information from improper handling of remains
• difficulties with reconstructions

Question 23

hydrochloric acid

Answer 23

• found diluted in a number of household cleaners
• highly destructive
• several studies have shown that teeth have taken 19-24 hours to dissolve
• pure acid is hard to obtain

Question 24

sulfuric acid

Answer 24

• takes much longer than hydrochloric acid
• can take over a week to dissolve teeth
• found in drain cleaner

Question 25

caustic soda/lye

Answer 25

• sodium hydroxide
• requires that the chemical be heated in order to work
• if heated to approximately 300 F, it can take 3 hours to liquify a body
• easy to obtain and cheap

Question 26

bleach

Answer 26

• wont destroy but can damage

- used rarely when cleaning bone