Medicocriminal entomology has been defined as the study of necrophagous insects associated with human remains. The major goal of this discipline is to contribute to the determination of the cause, time, manner and site of the investigated death with the support of all the elements which can be inferred from arthropods found on the cadaver or nearby. In death investigation the potential usefulness of insects is largely documented in specific literature, especially in determining the time since death. After death bodies undergo putrefaction that is the most important destruction process of organic matter. The sequence of post-mortem changes in soft tissues usually gives only an approximate landmark of how long an individual has been dead; in fact, the assessment of death chronology is always a challenge for the forensic pathologist since the numerous variables interfering with the putrefaction process. Furthermore, bodies recovered in both indoor or outdoor enviroments are sometimes subjects to depredation by various types of animals among which insects can have a predominant role in accelerating the decomposition rate. In such cases properly trained forensic entomologists can provide reliable information concerning the period of insect activity based on the composition of arthropod community found on the cadaver (as it relates to expected successional patterns) or on the age of developing immature insects (mainly Diptera), according to all variables that affect insect invasion of remains and their development. The purpose of this retrospective study is to determine the efficacy of the entomological method in estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) compared to traditional putrefaction changes and circumstancial evidence (eventual witness statements). The paper will be also extended to examine the distribution and frequency of necrophagous species in various seasonal periods in two different geographical area of Italy (Northern and Southern Italy). Preliminary results show no substantial differences in insect population and confirm that the uncertainty of assessment increases particularly for late post-mortem intervals. Necrophagous insects can provide an invaluable alternative to classical medico-legal approaches especially in cases involving irregular, premature or disproportional decomposition as in badly decomposed corpses, charred or skeletonized human remains where lividity, rigor mortis, postmortem cooling and changes in the chemical constituents of the body are no more useful for a reliable determination of the time since death.
A 3-year retrospective study in medicocriminal entomology: a review of 100 cases concerning insects associated with human remains.
CAMPOBASSO, Carlo Pietro;
2002
Abstract
Medicocriminal entomology has been defined as the study of necrophagous insects associated with human remains. The major goal of this discipline is to contribute to the determination of the cause, time, manner and site of the investigated death with the support of all the elements which can be inferred from arthropods found on the cadaver or nearby. In death investigation the potential usefulness of insects is largely documented in specific literature, especially in determining the time since death. After death bodies undergo putrefaction that is the most important destruction process of organic matter. The sequence of post-mortem changes in soft tissues usually gives only an approximate landmark of how long an individual has been dead; in fact, the assessment of death chronology is always a challenge for the forensic pathologist since the numerous variables interfering with the putrefaction process. Furthermore, bodies recovered in both indoor or outdoor enviroments are sometimes subjects to depredation by various types of animals among which insects can have a predominant role in accelerating the decomposition rate. In such cases properly trained forensic entomologists can provide reliable information concerning the period of insect activity based on the composition of arthropod community found on the cadaver (as it relates to expected successional patterns) or on the age of developing immature insects (mainly Diptera), according to all variables that affect insect invasion of remains and their development. The purpose of this retrospective study is to determine the efficacy of the entomological method in estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) compared to traditional putrefaction changes and circumstancial evidence (eventual witness statements). The paper will be also extended to examine the distribution and frequency of necrophagous species in various seasonal periods in two different geographical area of Italy (Northern and Southern Italy). Preliminary results show no substantial differences in insect population and confirm that the uncertainty of assessment increases particularly for late post-mortem intervals. Necrophagous insects can provide an invaluable alternative to classical medico-legal approaches especially in cases involving irregular, premature or disproportional decomposition as in badly decomposed corpses, charred or skeletonized human remains where lividity, rigor mortis, postmortem cooling and changes in the chemical constituents of the body are no more useful for a reliable determination of the time since death.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
