Burial of Piglet Carcasses in Cement

Abstract

Scarce experimental data exist describing postmortem effects of burial in cement. The scanty literature presents several case reports, but no experimental study. To perform a pilot study, the following experimental system was designed: 4 piglet corpses, who died of natural causes, were encased in concrete. After 1, 2, 3, and 6 months, a block was opened, and autopsy and microscopic analyses were performed. At the first month, initial putrefaction had started, and hindlegs were partly skeletonized. At the second month, both forelegs and hindlegs were partly skeletonized, and the abdomen and back showed advanced putrefaction. At the third month, the samples showed areas of mummification at the abdomen within a general context of initial putrefaction. At the sixth month, the sample showed wide adipocere formation. Histological findings revealed in some analyzed tissues (epithelium, dermis, adipose, and subcutaneous muscular tissues) a well-defined histological pattern even at 3 months after encasement in concrete: this means that microscopic changes may be delayed in concrete and that it may be worth performing histological analyses even in such kind of decomposed material.

A “concrete” identification in a dismemberment case

“…As the concrete is initially curing, the exothermic reaction that occurs tends to accelerate the putrefactive rate. After the concrete has cured, the resulting barrier between the remains and the air ultimately decreases rate of decomposition [1]. Our case exhibited significant decomposition changes, likely due to incomplete encasement and a decreased postmortem interval that disallowed complete curing of the concrete.…”

“…These all involved female or preadolescent homicide victims, three of whom were dismembered prior to their interment in concrete [6]. Interestingly, even beyond the Los Angeles case reviews, it has been observed that human remains concealed in concrete are often dismembered [1]. Internationally, cases involving dismemberment and encasement also seem highly unusual.…”

“…Homicide victims are sometimes subject to postmortem mutilation, including dismemberment [1]. Dismemberment is defined as the use of sharp or blunt force to separate body parts, such as limbs or internal organs.…”