Comparing Solved and Unsolved No-Body Homicides in Australia: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract

Factors that are both within and outside of police discretion can pose challenges to solving homicides generally. There has been little study of no-body homicides, nor why some remain unresolved. This analysis compares solved and unsolved no-body homicides in Australia using Pearson’s chi-square tests of independence. Coroners’ findings, case law, and media reports from 1983 to 2017 were examined. Cases ( N = 55; 42.4% solved) differed based on the victim’s age, who reported them missing, reward money, Coronial inquests, who determined homicide, availability of evidence and confessions, suspects lying, establishing crime scenes, and motivations.

Detection avoidance and mis/unclassified, unsolved homicides in Australia

“…Similar findings have been observed in the literature on DA and CSS. For example, research by Ferguson and Pooley (2019a, b) revealed “no-body” cases in Australia commonly involved homicides where the victim was reported missing and deemed a low-risk of harm initially. Cases such as these were commonly unclassified as homicides for a significant period.…”

“…Cases such as these were commonly unclassified as homicides for a significant period. The delays created by initial perception of the missing person as low-risk, the complexity added by the absence of a victim’s body and lies told by POIs resulted in numerous examples like the WA case, where perpetrators could not be prosecuted and the homicide remained unsolved (Ferguson and Pooley, 2019b).…”

Death and Disposal Locations of Serial Homicides: The Effect on Recovery Timeframes

“…Some prosecutors decline progressing cases to trial without a body, placing significant importance on physical evidence in court trials (Godwin, 1998; Reale & Beauregard, 2019). The absence of a body, or limited evidence on it when found, may be due to several factors regarding the location in which it was disposed of, including the rate of decomposition, weather conditions, or submersion in water (Ferguson & Pooley, 2019). Without the identification of a body and subsequent disposal site, there are limitations for evidence collection.…”

“…Without the identification of a body and subsequent disposal site, there are limitations for evidence collection. Even if these sites are located, they may have already suffered from tampering or contamination (Ferguson, 2011; Ferguson & Pooley, 2019; Reale & Beauregard, 2019).…”

“…The environment in which a body is found has a marked effect on its rate of decomposition, with temperature and moisture being significant contributors to the biochemical processes of decomposition (Ferguson & Pooley, 2019). In addition to temperature and humidity, exposure to insect activity and larger victim body weight will hinder interpretation of details such as wound analysis and time of death estimation.…”