Dismemberment and Body Encasement—Case Report and an Empiric Study

Abstract

The mutilation and encasement of corpses are rare in daily forensic work, but when they occur, close cooperation between different disciplines, such as legal medicine and forensic anthropology, is necessary to obtain the most valuable results. One forensic examination method is the radiological evaluation of victims or body parts by postmortem CT (pmCT) and X-ray images. In relation to a case described in this paper, an empirical study was conducted to figure out the value of radiological imaging and the ability to visualize and temporally classify changes in a corpse encased in concrete. For this purpose, the head and paw of a pig were encased in concrete and scanned regularly over a period of one year. Body parts such as the head and paw are clearly visible on X-ray images. Although decay-related changes are shown, a specific minimum time interval cannot yet be found, as these changes occur continuously in lesser amounts.

A “concrete” identification in a dismemberment case

“…This preservation of evidence is especially important in relation to fingerprints or facial impressions, which can be used for the identification of the decedent. It has been recognized that concrete encasement generates a negative cast of the body, producing a mold that could be utilized for identification, as exemplified in this case [7]. Crayola® Model Magic®, the modeling medium used in our case to make a cast from the concrete molds of the fingers, proved very effective.…”

“…Internationally, cases involving dismemberment and encasement also seem highly unusual. According to Matzen et al [7], this occurred only once over a 20-year period (2000-2020) based on cases in Hamburg, Germany.…”

“…According to Matzen et al. [7], this occurred only once over a 20‐year period (2000–2020) based on cases in Hamburg, Germany.…”