Inorganic elemental analysis of decomposition fluids of an in situ animal burial

Dick, Henry C.; Pringle, Jamie K.

Abstract

In homicide investigations, it is critically important that post-mortem (PMI) and post-burial interval (PBI) of buried victims are determined accurately. However, clandestine graves can be difficult to locate; and the detection rates for a variety of search methods can be very low. This paper presents elemental analysis results of 18 months of decomposition fluids from an in situ buried animal cadaver used as a human clandestine burial proxy. Study results showed potassium, sulphate and sodium are key detectable elements which mirror observed conductivity temporal changes from this and other studies. Seasonal rainfall has a strong influence on both fluid generation and subsequent concentration which needs to be accounted for. Study implications suggest inorganic elements could provide both detection and potential dating of discovered clandestine burials.

Citation

Dick, H. C., & Pringle, J. K. (2018). Inorganic elemental analysis of decomposition fluids of an in situ animal burial. Forensic Science International, 289, 130-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 22, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 30, 2018
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Publicly Available Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: Forensic Science International
• Print ISSN: 0379-0738
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 289
• Pages: 130-139
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.034
• Keywords: Forensic science, Clandestine burial, Grave fluid, Element concentration, Post-mortem interval
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.034