NIJ conference Gill-King€¦ · force, blunt force, and ballistic injuries • Identify...
Transcript of NIJ conference Gill-King€¦ · force, blunt force, and ballistic injuries • Identify...
ForensicForensic AnthropologyAnthropologyForensic Forensic AnthropologyAnthropologyA Resource for InvestigatorsA Resource for Investigators
H. GillH. Gill--King, Ph.D., DKing, Ph.D., D--ABFAABFA
CCENTER ENTER FFOR HOR HUMANUMAN IIDENTIFICATIONDENTIFICATIONUUNIVERSITY OFNIVERSITY OF NNORTHORTH TTEXASEXASUUNIVERSITY OF NIVERSITY OF NNORTH ORTH TTEXASEXASLLABORATORYABORATORY OF OF
FFORENSIC ORENSIC AANTHROPOLOGYNTHROPOLOGYLLABORATORYABORATORY OFOF
MMOLECULAR OLECULAR IIDENTIFICATIONDENTIFICATION
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UNT Center for H
uman Identification
Laboratory of F
orensic Anthropology
Center for Human Identification
Providing a multidisciplinary approach to Providing a multidisciplinary approach to remains analysis and identificationremains analysis and identification
Laborator for Molec larLaboratory for Molecular Identification
University of North Texas H lth S i C tHealth Science Center Fort Worth
Laboratory of Forensic A h lAnthropology
University of North Texas Denton
F i Od t lForensic Odontology
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What is Forensic Anthropology?
Analysis of skeletal remains, using Analysis of skeletal remains, using techniques derived from physical techniques derived from physical anthropology and skeletal biologyanthropology and skeletal biologyanthropology and skeletal biology, anthropology and skeletal biology, within a within a medicolegalmedicolegal contextcontext
Includes the application of Includes the application of archaeological techniques to archaeological techniques to search and recovery efforts search and recovery efforts sea c a d eco e y e o ssea c a d eco e y e o s
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Types of Case Involvement
Individual identification and analysisIndividual identification and analysis•• Majority of cases for most forensic Majority of cases for most forensic
anthropologistsanthropologists•• Primarily from law enforcement agenciesPrimarily from law enforcement agencies•• Primarily from law enforcement agencies Primarily from law enforcement agencies •• Involve both identification and analysisInvolve both identification and analysis
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Types of Case Involvement
Mass disastersMass disasters•• Political, accidental, Political, accidental,
naturalnaturalP i ilP i il•• Primarily an Primarily an identification effortidentification effort
Atrocities / War crimes / Atrocities / War crimes / Crimes against humanityCrimes against humanity
•• Mass identificationsMass identifications•• Analysis Analysis –– differentiation differentiation
from ‘normal’ conflictfrom ‘normal’ conflictfrom normal conflict from normal conflict traumatrauma
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Anthropological Services •• Location/Recovery of remainsLocation/Recovery of remains
E h tiE h ti•• ExhumationsExhumations•• Decomposed, scattered, burned, buried, Decomposed, scattered, burned, buried,
b d f t ib d f t isubmerged, fragmentary remainssubmerged, fragmentary remains•• Examination of skeletal remainsExamination of skeletal remains•• Skeletal identificationsSkeletal identifications•• Submissions to the Missing Persons Submissions to the Missing Persons
DNA DatabaseDNA Database•• VictimologyVictimology•• Expert testimonyExpert testimony
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Anthropological Services, cont.
Skeletal RemainsSkeletal RemainsSkeletal Remains Skeletal Remains ExaminationsExaminations•• Forensic significanceForensic significance•• Postmortem intervalPostmortem intervalPostmortem intervalPostmortem interval•• Biological profile: Sex, Ancestry, Age, Biological profile: Sex, Ancestry, Age,
Stature/physiqueStature/physiqueStature/physiqueStature/physique•• Unique identifiers: skeletal Unique identifiers: skeletal
features pathology medical historyfeatures pathology medical historyfeatures, pathology, medical historyfeatures, pathology, medical history•• Antemortem and perimortem traumaAntemortem and perimortem trauma
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Forensic Odontology
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Anthropological Information
The forensicThe forensicThe forensic The forensic anthropologist’s primaryanthropologist’s primaryanthropologist s primary anthropologist s primary
mission is to providemission is to providemission is to provide mission is to provide informationinformation to the to the
investigating agency!investigating agency!
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Location and Recovery
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Determination of Forensic SignificanceSignificance
Is the case a matter of legal interest?Is the case a matter of legal interest?
In other words, Is this a case that In other words, Is this a case that investigative agencies need to investigative agencies need to pursue?pursue?pursue?pursue?
•• Human vs. NonHuman vs. Non--humanhuman•• Contemporary vs. Historical or Contemporary vs. Historical or ArchaeologicalArchaeologicalArchaeologicalArchaeological
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Human vs. Non-human•• Differences in gross anatomical structureDifferences in gross anatomical structure•• Greatest differences found atGreatest differences found at articulararticular endsends•• Greatest differences found at Greatest differences found at articulararticular endsends•• Differences in microscopic structureDifferences in microscopic structure
U ll i k i l l iU ll i k i l l i•• Usually very quick, simple analysisUsually very quick, simple analysis•• EE--mail submissions may save TIMEmail submissions may save TIME
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Non-Human and Children
•• Potentially the most difficult Potentially the most difficult yydistinction between animal and distinction between animal and humanhumanhumanhuman
•• Small mammals and infants can Small mammals and infants can b il f db il f dbe easily confusedbe easily confused
•• Distinctive features of boneDistinctive features of boneDistinctive features of bone Distinctive features of bone have not fully developed in have not fully developed in childrenchildrenchildrenchildren
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Which are Human?
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Forensic Significance
Modern vs. Historical / ArchaeologicalModern vs. Historical / Archaeological
Things that are normally notThings that are normally not
Modern vs. Historical / ArchaeologicalModern vs. Historical / Archaeological
Things that are normally not Things that are normally not forensically significant:forensically significant:
Archaeological RemainsArchaeological Remains•• Archaeological Remains Archaeological Remains •• Cemetery RemainsCemetery Remains•• Medical Specimens Medical Specimens •• “Trophy” Remains“Trophy” RemainsTrophy RemainsTrophy Remains
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Modern Aesthetic Modern Aesthetic ModificationModificationModificationModification
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Modern Medical Intervention
Orthopedic appliancesOrthopedic appliances•• Replacement surgeries Replacement surgeries
(hip, knee, etc.)(hip, knee, etc.)•• Fracture stabilizationFracture stabilizationFracture stabilization Fracture stabilization
Surgical proceduresSurgical proceduresDental restorations orDental restorations orDental restorations or Dental restorations or
appliancesappliances
All of these may have antemortem records whichAll of these may have antemortem records whichAll of these may have antemortem records which All of these may have antemortem records which could be used to make an identification!could be used to make an identification!
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Taphonomy and Postmortem IntervalPostmortem Interval
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Biological Profile
Basic Identification ParametersBasic Identification Parameters1.1. SexSex2.2. AncestryAncestryyy3.3. Age Age 4.4. StatureStature4.4. StatureStature
Information to narrow the search for Information to narrow the search for possible missing individualspossible missing individuals
Data to filter potential DNA matchesData to filter potential DNA matchesData to filter potential DNA matchesData to filter potential DNA matches
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Determination of Sex
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Sex Determination
Based on the premise that humans are Based on the premise that humans are somewhatsomewhat sexually dimorphicsexually dimorphic
•• PelvisPelvisPelvis Pelvis •• Cranium Cranium •• Areas of muscular attachment tend to be more robust in Areas of muscular attachment tend to be more robust in
males males (although secular occupational trends may represent a change)(although secular occupational trends may represent a change)
•• Postcranial bone other than the pelvis Postcranial bone other than the pelvis •• Metric analysis (population must be known)Metric analysis (population must be known)•• Metric analysis (population must be known)Metric analysis (population must be known)•• Discrete nonDiscrete non--metric traits (metric traits (olecranonolecranon perforation, perforation, suprascapularsuprascapular
notch, etc.)notch, etc.)
Potential evidence of childbirth Potential evidence of childbirth
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Ancestry (Race, Biotype)
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Ancestry and “Race”
“Race” is a term with a multitude of “Race” is a term with a multitude of d fi iti d lt l i li tid fi iti d lt l i li tidefinitions and cultural implicationsdefinitions and cultural implications
LongLong--term evolutionary characteristics term evolutionary characteristics i t d ith hi i di t d ith hi i dassociated with geographic regions and associated with geographic regions and
population groups population groups –– we are not evaluating we are not evaluating culture or where an individual was bornculture or where an individual was bornculture or where an individual was born culture or where an individual was born
Admixture and variation make ancestral Admixture and variation make ancestral assessments somewhat problematicassessments somewhat problematicassessments somewhat problematicassessments somewhat problematic
Investigators need to know how others Investigators need to know how others would view the individualwould view the individualwould view the individualwould view the individual
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Evaluation of Ancestry
•• Craniofacial characteristics vary between Craniofacial characteristics vary between groups (esp. groups (esp. midfacemidface morphology)morphology)
–– Discrete (genetically unique features)Discrete (genetically unique features)–– NonNon--metric traits (metric traits (suturalsutural patterns, hair, patterns, hair,
prognathism, etc.) prognathism, etc.) –– Metric discriminant function analysis (biologicalMetric discriminant function analysis (biologicalMetric discriminant function analysis (biological Metric discriminant function analysis (biological
distance)distance)
•• Postcranial metric differences and Postcranial metric differences and os c a a e c d e e ces a dos c a a e c d e e ces a dappendicularappendicular proportionsproportions
•• Dental characteristicsDental characteristicsDental characteristicsDental characteristics•• Genetic polymorphismsGenetic polymorphisms
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Age Estimation
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Age EstimationSkeletal age estimations must be given Skeletal age estimations must be given
as a as a rangerangeUsually, the estimation range is more precise Usually, the estimation range is more precise
ith i di id lith i di id lwith younger individualswith younger individualsMethods used to estimate age differ for Methods used to estimate age differ for
diff tdiff tdifferent age ranges:different age ranges:•• Infants and children Infants and children –– bone development and bone development and
dental formation/eruptiondental formation/eruptiondental formation/eruptiondental formation/eruption•• Adolescents Adolescents –– dental completion and final dental completion and final
bone developmentbone developmentbone developmentbone development•• Adults Adults –– age related changes to mature boneage related changes to mature bone
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Stature and Physique
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Biological Profile & VariationThe anthropologist is attempting to categorize the The anthropologist is attempting to categorize the
remains based on variation in the population andremains based on variation in the population andremains based on variation in the population and remains based on variation in the population and differences between groupsdifferences between groups
Some classifications will be made with more Some classifications will be made with more certainty than others depending on where that certainty than others depending on where that individual is in the variation….individual is in the variation….
When using a biological profile to search various When using a biological profile to search various databases:databases:
Individuals falling somewhat outside of the Individuals falling somewhat outside of the reported profile should not necessarily be reported profile should not necessarily be
excluded without further investigation excluded without further investigation –– if in if in doubt, call your anthropologistdoubt, call your anthropologist
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Individualizing Features
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Skeletal Analysis - Trauma•• Distinction between antemortem, Distinction between antemortem,
i t d t t ti t d t t tperimortem, and postmortem traumaperimortem, and postmortem trauma•• Possible identification from antemortem Possible identification from antemortem
trauma (given appropriate records)trauma (given appropriate records)•• Possible determination of cause and/or Possible determination of cause and/or
manner of deathmanner of death•• Recognition and interpretation of sharpRecognition and interpretation of sharpRecognition and interpretation of sharp Recognition and interpretation of sharp
force, blunt force, and ballistic injuries force, blunt force, and ballistic injuries •• Identify dismemberment or attempts toIdentify dismemberment or attempts to•• Identify dismemberment or attempts to Identify dismemberment or attempts to
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Reconstruction
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Blunt Force Trauma
Impact with a blunt object with sufficient Impact with a blunt object with sufficient jjforce to damage boneforce to damage bone
Moving object Moving object –– Baseball bat, vehicleBaseball bat, vehicleM i i di id lM i i di id l F lli b dF lli b dMoving individual Moving individual –– Falling body, Falling body,
thrown against an objectthrown against an objectConsiderations: Mass, velocity, shape Considerations: Mass, velocity, shape
of objectof objectof objectof object
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Blunt Force Findings
•• Number of impactsNumber of impacts•• Sequence of impactsSequence of impactsq pq p•• Evidence transferEvidence transfer•• Time (anteTime (ante-- periperi-- postmortem)postmortem)•• Time (anteTime (ante--, , periperi--, postmortem), postmortem)•• Type(s) and number of weaponsType(s) and number of weapons•• Occasional individualization of weaponOccasional individualization of weapon•• Confusion with atypical GSWConfusion with atypical GSWyy•• Energy delivered (may exclude suspect)Energy delivered (may exclude suspect)
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Defensive Fracture
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Intracranial Trauma
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Healed Blunt Force Trauma
Healed radiating Healed radiating fracturefracture Impact siteImpact site
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Ballistic Trauma
Blunt object impacting bone over a Blunt object impacting bone over a j gj gsmall area with high velocity, creating small area with high velocity, creating a unique set of characteristicsa unique set of characteristicsa unique set of characteristicsa unique set of characteristics
Factors affecting the defectFactors affecting the defect::•• CaliberCaliber•• Projectile constructionProjectile construction•• VelocityVelocity•• Stability of projectileStability of projectile•• Stability of projectileStability of projectile•• Contact injuries Contact injuries –– expansive gassesexpansive gasses
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Potential Ballistic Findings
Presence of ballistic injuries in bonePresence of ballistic injuries in bone•• Gross observation: classic entry/exitGross observation: classic entry/exit•• XX--rays / SEM / EDXrays / SEM / EDX
N b f h tN b f h tNumber of shotsNumber of shotsOrder of shotsOrder of shotsClass of weaponClass of weaponProjectile path / angle through the bodyProjectile path / angle through the bodyApproximate caliber (exclusions)Approximate caliber (exclusions)Position of barrelPosition of barrelHard / soft ammunitionHard / soft ammunition
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Typical Ballistic Injuries
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Reconstruction of Wound TrackTrack
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The wound track The wound track describes thedescribes thedescribes the describes the relationship relationship between the between the projectile and the projectile and the victim. victim.
It does NOT place It does NOT place the victim or the victim or assailant at a assailant at a particular location particular location
ithi th iithi th iwithin the crime within the crime scene.scene.
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Antemortem Ballistic Injuries
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Atypical Ballistic Injuries
Oval aperture Oval aperture pp•• low angle or tumbling roundlow angle or tumbling round
Keyhole defectsKeyhole defectsKeyhole defects Keyhole defects •• Very low angle of incidenceVery low angle of incidence•• Beveling internally and externallyBeveling internally and externallyBeveling internally and externallyBeveling internally and externally•• Round may not enter the cranial vault!Round may not enter the cranial vault!
Irregular defectsIrregular defects Unstable projectilesUnstable projectilesIrregular defects Irregular defects -- Unstable projectilesUnstable projectiles•• Intermediate targets: brush, glass, other Intermediate targets: brush, glass, other
tissue etctissue etctissue, etc.tissue, etc.Shored exitsShored exits
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Exit Exit –– from right parietal injuryfrom right parietal injury
E tE tEntry Entry –– exits right temporalexits right temporal
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Atypical – Intermediate Target
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Atypical Locations
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Sharp Force Trauma
StabStab•• Typically greater in depth than lengthTypically greater in depth than length•• Produced by a thrusting action (force Produced by a thrusting action (force
roughly perpendicular to the surface)roughly perpendicular to the surface)Incised (cut)Incised (cut)( )( )
•• Typically greater in length than depthTypically greater in length than depth•• Produced by a slashing actionProduced by a slashing action•• Produced by a slashing action Produced by a slashing action
(movement along the surface)(movement along the surface)
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Sharp Force Trauma
ChopChopChopChopSomewhat sharp cutting object that is Somewhat sharp cutting object that is p g jp g j
heavy (axe) and/or moving at high heavy (axe) and/or moving at high velocity (mower blade)velocity (mower blade)y ( )y ( )
Potential characteristics of both sharp Potential characteristics of both sharp d bl t f td bl t f tand blunt force trauma and blunt force trauma
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Sharp Force Findings
•• LengthLength / width issues/ width issuesLength Length / width issues/ width issues•• Backed vs. doubleBacked vs. double--edgeedge•• ClassClass characteristicscharacteristics•• Class Class characteristicscharacteristics•• Associated Associated garmentsgarments
A t i lA t i l “l i ”“l i ”•• Anatomical Anatomical “learning” “learning” •• Toolmark transfer (possible Toolmark transfer (possible
i di id li ti )i di id li ti )individualization)individualization)•• Confusion with scissoid mouth parts (Confusion with scissoid mouth parts (ieie
i l i t t)i l i t t)animal vs. instrument)animal vs. instrument)
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Common Sites
Ribs and VertebraeRibs and Vertebrae•• Vital organsVital organs
H dH dHandsHands•• Lateral aspect and flexor surfaceLateral aspect and flexor surfacepp•• Defensive posture / grasping bladeDefensive posture / grasping blade
Joint surfaces / marginsJoint surfaces / marginsJoint surfaces / marginsJoint surfaces / margins•• Typical of dismembermentTypical of dismemberment
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Sharp Force - Stab
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Sharp Force - Incised
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Sharp Force - Chop
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Sharp Force - Chop
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Sharp Force Toolmarks
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Thermal Effects•• Burned Burned “green” or dry“green” or dry
T tT t / ti ti t/ ti ti t•• Temperature Temperature / time estimates / time estimates (address accelerant issues)(address accelerant issues)H tH t ff t i th tiff t i th ti•• Heat Heat effects in prosthetic effects in prosthetic materials (dental, orthopedic, materials (dental, orthopedic, other)other)other)other)
•• Flash Flash and and barotraumabarotrauma vs. vs. positionpositionpositionposition
•• “Red “Red flag” flag” observationsobservations•• supinesupine // pronepronesupine supine / / proneprone•• Cranial blowout vs. thermal Cranial blowout vs. thermal
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Thermal Effects, cont.
•• Obscured Obscured perimortem injuryperimortem injury•• AAnimal nimal vs. humanvs. human•• SShrinkage hrinkage distortion vs. biological profiledistortion vs. biological profilegg g pg p•• WWho ho burns fastest ?burns fastest ?•• CCanan a body be burned up ?a body be burned up ?CCan an a body be burned up ?a body be burned up ?•• DNA extraction issuesDNA extraction issues
SSpecialpecial handling and lab protocol applyhandling and lab protocol apply•• SSpecial pecial handling and lab protocol apply handling and lab protocol apply (significant damage to evidence possible at (significant damage to evidence possible at several steps)several steps)several steps)several steps)
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Multiple Classes of Trauma
Blunt and Sharp Force
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Multiple Trauma Classes
Blunt Force ImpactBlunt Force ImpactBlunt Force ImpactBlunt Force Impact
Ballistic Entry SitesBallistic Entry SitesBallistic Entry SitesBallistic Entry Sites
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DismembermentUsually blade and/or sawUsually blade and/or sawP i f l i i bl dP i f l i i bl dProgression of learning in blade Progression of learning in blade
disarticulationsdisarticulations•• Fewer trial marks in later attemptsFewer trial marks in later attempts•• More preciseMore precisepp
Use of multiple instrumentsUse of multiple instrumentsCharacterization of saw cutsCharacterization of saw cutsCharacterization of saw cutsCharacterization of saw cuts
•• Type of sawType of sawK f bl d h t i tiK f bl d h t i ti•• Kerf, blade characterization Kerf, blade characterization
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Bladed Disarticulation of Hand
Cut ulnar Cut ulnar head with head with vital reactionvital reaction
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Decapitation with Trial Cuts
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Hand Saw Dismemberment
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Saw Cut InterpretationDirection of cut
Kerf width and di t t thdivergent tooth profile
Fracture spike
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Direction of CutDirection of Cut
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Laboratory of F
orensic Anthropology
For information or assistance, please call (800) 279-1339
UNT Center for H
uman Identification
Laboratory of F
orensic Anthropology
Attempt to Obscure IdentityAvulsion of TeethAvulsion of Teeth
Note: intact rootsNote: intact roots
For information or assistance, please call (800) 279-1339
UNT Center for H
uman Identification
Laboratory of F
orensic Anthropology
The Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology The Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology would like to acknowledge the followingwould like to acknowledge the followingwould like to acknowledge the followingwould like to acknowledge the following
National Institute of JusticeNational Institute of JusticeNational Institute of JusticeNational Institute of JusticeUNTHSC Office of Professional and UNTHSC Office of Professional and
Continuing EducationContinuing EducationFor information or assistance, please call (800) 279-1339
UNT Center for H
uman Identification
Laboratory of F
orensic Anthropology