Chromatic Variation of Soot Soiling: A Possible Marker for Gunshot Wounds in Burnt Bone

Abstract

Soot soiling is a crucial forensic parameter around gunshot lesions. Carbonization, however, can severely alter human tissues and mimic such clues. This study aims at evaluating the survival of soot soiling even after carbonization in bone. A total of 36 bovine ribs (half fleshed and half defleshed) were shot with two types of bullet (both 9-mm; full metal-jacketed and unjacketed) with a near-contact range. With unjacketed bullets, the shot left in every case a clear, black, and roughly round soot stain around the entrance wound, whereas full metal-jacketed bullets left no signs of soot. Every specimen then underwent calcination in an oven at 800°C. The analysis of the charred samples clearly showed the survival of the soot soiling in both fleshed and bony samples, with a clear correspondence with the former position, but with a different color (yellow). Thus, soot soiling may survive, although with a different color, even after charring.

Comparison of Different Swabs for Sampling Inorganic Gunshot Residue from Gunshot Wounds: Applicability and Reliability for the Determination of Firing Distance

“…In the latter case, only lower amounts of the residue remain on the surface after the firing, as they can be lost during the manipulation between firing and sampling. Although the use of dry bones may not perfectly resemble real cases in which the skin over the bone can keep residues after the shooting, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the sampling method also on skeletal remains, since it is widely demonstrated that GSR can persist on bone even after advanced decomposition of the surrounding skin .…”

“…As the ratio of the considered elements follows within a narrow range in the case of IGSR , this investigation may discriminate between IGSR and elements derived from human activities, such as from brake residues . Indeed, Ba/Pb, Ba/Sb, and Sb/Pb ratios occur in the range of 90–140, 1.9–2.4, and 40–60, respectively, in the case of IGSR.…”

Forensic investigation of burnt human remains

“…Amadasi et al experimentally burnt bovine ribs after they were shot with a firearm and found that the soot stains could be identified even after being burnt at 800°C despite their color having changed to be more yellowish. 73…”

A scanning electron microscopy study of projectile entry fractures in cortical bone; genesis and microarchitectural features

“…To date, the majority of investigations have been conducted in the first category, and the detection of GSR on bone has proven to be quite a powerful diagnostic technique [13][14][15]21]. However, the presence of trace signatures on bone is dependent on projectile type [22], firing distance [23] and taphonomic exposure [13,21], and an absence of GSR does not rule out bullet involvement. The exacting requirements of proof in legal settings also dictate that GSR is of no use if environmental contamination cannot be ruled out [15].…”