Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
Fires can alter human remains in various ways; however, complete destruction of a human body by burning is impossible and skeletal remains can almost always be recovered. Fatal fires produce a range of physical alterations to the body, from blistering of soft tissue to the calcination of bones.Theses physical alterations leave patterns that can be studied and analyzed to interpret perimortem events. A variety of forensic professionals interact with and analyze these remains postmortem, which can lead to variation in how remains are described.
Currently, the forensic community lacks a consistent, objective, and detailed scale to describe burn injuries or patterns in a variety of settings and conditions. There is a need to create a scale based on quantitative experimental data (e.g. duration and temperature of fire) that provides insight into the nature of the fire and cause of injuries contributing to the condition of the remains. This research develops a new standardized method that would encompass all physical alterations of burned remains and be more applicable to the broader forensic community.
The new classification system is based on observational experiments conducted as part of the Fatal Fire Death Investigation Course by the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team. Observational experiments consisted of 11 to 12 different scenarios covering a wide range of fire environments. The range of fire environments provided through the training course, make it possible to collect a wide range of data that may be more representative of burned forensic cases. All physical alterations to both soft and skeletal tissues were documented with digital photography and thermocouples. Temperature data was collected through use of thermal couples and thermal imaging devices placed on multiple locations and depths directly on the human remains. Time was also recorded manually while each temperature was being read from the data logger. Statistical analyses were performed to identify patterns between physical alterations of remains, environment, time, and temperature. Additionally, the new scoring system and model was tested on a separate sample of case studies provided by medical examiner/coroners’ offices to test and validate the method created. This new model provides investigators with a tool for developing a more precise timeline of death events, and aids in narrowing down a perpetrator. Information gained from the model can also be used to better predict when and at what temperatures these physical alterations may occur on the human body. It can also prove important in reconstructing events involved in fatal fires and aid investigators building a legal case.
A New Classification System for Analyzing Burned Human Remains
UC 333
Fires can alter human remains in various ways; however, complete destruction of a human body by burning is impossible and skeletal remains can almost always be recovered. Fatal fires produce a range of physical alterations to the body, from blistering of soft tissue to the calcination of bones.Theses physical alterations leave patterns that can be studied and analyzed to interpret perimortem events. A variety of forensic professionals interact with and analyze these remains postmortem, which can lead to variation in how remains are described.
Currently, the forensic community lacks a consistent, objective, and detailed scale to describe burn injuries or patterns in a variety of settings and conditions. There is a need to create a scale based on quantitative experimental data (e.g. duration and temperature of fire) that provides insight into the nature of the fire and cause of injuries contributing to the condition of the remains. This research develops a new standardized method that would encompass all physical alterations of burned remains and be more applicable to the broader forensic community.
The new classification system is based on observational experiments conducted as part of the Fatal Fire Death Investigation Course by the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team. Observational experiments consisted of 11 to 12 different scenarios covering a wide range of fire environments. The range of fire environments provided through the training course, make it possible to collect a wide range of data that may be more representative of burned forensic cases. All physical alterations to both soft and skeletal tissues were documented with digital photography and thermocouples. Temperature data was collected through use of thermal couples and thermal imaging devices placed on multiple locations and depths directly on the human remains. Time was also recorded manually while each temperature was being read from the data logger. Statistical analyses were performed to identify patterns between physical alterations of remains, environment, time, and temperature. Additionally, the new scoring system and model was tested on a separate sample of case studies provided by medical examiner/coroners’ offices to test and validate the method created. This new model provides investigators with a tool for developing a more precise timeline of death events, and aids in narrowing down a perpetrator. Information gained from the model can also be used to better predict when and at what temperatures these physical alterations may occur on the human body. It can also prove important in reconstructing events involved in fatal fires and aid investigators building a legal case.