Human identification: a review of methods employed within an Australian coronial death investigation system

Blau, Soren; Graham, John L.; Smythe, L.E.; Rowbotham, Samantha K.

doi:10.1007/s00414-020-02461-3

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…This is similar to that reported at the Salt River Mortuary in Cape Town (9.2%) [ 17 ]. A similar trend has been reported internationally, such as in Australia’s Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine who reported that 9% of their cases require primary and secondary methods of identification, since visual identification was not possible [ 9 ]. The Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology (University Hospital R. Poincaré, Garches, France), who performs forensic autopsies of the west area of Paris, reported 9.1% of their cases as unidentified or of “dubious identity” [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…The deceased may be visually identified by a spouse, partner, major child, parent, guardian, major brother, major sister, caregiver, or any person with personal knowledge of the deceased. Visual identification is considered an acceptable method of identification and is the most commonly used method internationally [ 9 – 11 ]. This is due to the pragmatic and time-saving benefits of visual identification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human Decedent Identification Unit: identifying the deceased at a South African medico-legal mortuary

2022

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The Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Services medico-legal mortuary perform postmortem examinations on all cases of unnatural deaths in the greater Johannesburg metropolitan area, in South Africa. Unidentified decedents can comprise up to 10.0% of the total number of annual admissions at this medico-legal mortuary. To address the identification of the deceased, the Human Decedent Identification Unit (ID Unit) was created to perform secondary examinations for identification purposes. The aim of this study was to report on the identification methods and success rate of the ID Unit. Over a period of 31 months (January 2018–July 2020), unidentified decedents comprised 8.1% ( n = 693) of all cases at the Johannesburg mortuary. The ID Unit processed 385 (55.6%) unidentified individuals during this period, who were mostly adult (100%), Black (94.5%), males (91.7%). DNA samples were successfully collected from most cases in the form of hair (96.4%; n = 371), blood (92.2%; n = 355), and nail samples (90.1%; n = 347). Fingerprints retrieved in 65.5% of cases ( n = 252). Ultimately, 87 persons (22.6%) were positively identified. Fingerprinting was the most successful method of identification (98.9% of cases; n = 86). One positive identification was facilitated through DNA analysis. The nationalities of the positively identified decedents were from South Africa (52.9%; n = 46), Zimbabwe (5.7%), Uganda (1.1%), Mozambique (1.1%), Malawi (1.1%), South Sudan (1.1%), and undisclosed in 36.8% of cases. Through the collaborative efforts of all the agencies involved, the impact of the work of this ID Unit is vast—not only for South African authorities but most importantly for the decedents and their families.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Decedent Identification Unit: identifying the deceased at a South African medico-legal mortuary

2022

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“…In a recent review of human identification methods employed within the Australian coronial death investigation system, 91% of individuals admitted to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) between 2015 and 2020 (comprising 30,054 cases) were visually identified. The remaining 9% required identification using other primary methods, DNA being the second most common form of identification (Blau et al, 2021). Relative to forensic identification, Bennett (2020) recently questioned whether DNA is "always the answer" and provides an important reminder that there are frequently situations where DNA analyses are unavailable or inappropriate due to lack of technical and logistical expertise, financial constraints, degraded material and cultural sensitivities (among other factors).…”

Section: Genetic Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In attempting to achieve the positive identification of skeletal remains, the specific type of DNA targeted [nuclear and mitochondrial] is largely dependent on availability of the family reference sample and the preservation of the postmortem remains. There are two main sources of the former: (i) biological samples from the unidentified/missing person(s), such as blood (including neonatal screening cards), skin or hair follicles; and (ii) biological samples, such as blood or buccal swabs, from biological relatives (Blau, 2020;Blau et al, 2021). DNA can be acquired from soft tissue if decomposition is not advanced, or from skeletal tissues (bone and/or dental) and not compromised peri-or postmortem (Goodwin et al, 2020;Higgins & Austin, 2013;Owen et al, 2013;Turingan et al, 2020).…”

Section: Genetic Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The professional practice of forensic anthropology: Contemporary developments and cross‐disciplinary applications

Franklin

Marks

2021

WIREs Forensic Science

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The modern practice of forensic anthropology is focused on the quantification of skeletal variation based upon a qualitative prowess developed according to theory and method in the parent discipline of biological anthropology. Such morphological variances allow estimates of biological attributes, for example, age, sex, population affinity, stature, pathology of disease processes-among others, that collectively may resolve the identification of unknown forensic human remains.The latter is a basic human right under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) afforded to descendants who go missing in armed conflicts and other violence-base situations. The specific traditional methods applied by the forensic anthropologist are well established in the published literature and routinely supported by global research that guides graduate programs designed to train the next generation of practitioners. Important in that cornerstone literature and graduate training regimen are aspects of our practice that are increasingly cross-disciplinary, especially those grounded in the molecular, chemical, and histological sciences. These upper-tier endeavors supplement and many times, validate, the traditional approaches as dictated by case context. This review focuses on evolving cross-disciplinary developments and novel research trends in the analysis of human remains that involve the specific expertise of the forensic anthropologist.

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“…During the medical-legal investigation of a death, the post-mortem identification process is carried out in an integrated way. Its results have great legal and humanitarian importance both when major catastrophes occur and in routine forensic practice [ 1 ]. One of the top priorities is the identification of human remains, which must be carried out using a strict scientific-technical procedure to allow their identity to be established accurately.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic age estimation: comparison and validation of the Iscan method in 3D reconstructions using a surface scanner in a Spanish population

et al. 2023

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When investigating a death, post-mortem identification provides with results of great legal and humanitarian significance. The effectiveness of the methods used to estimate age depends on the reference population, considering variables such as sex and ancestry. The aim of this study was to validate the Iscan method to estimate age in a Spanish forensic population, comparing the estimates obtained in dry bones and 3D reconstructions created with a surface scanner. We carried out a cross-sectional study on 109 autopsied corpses (67% male), scanning the sternal end of the right fourth rib in a 3D mesh, using an EinScan-Pro® surface scanner (precision: 0.05 mm). Two observers estimated the phases in dry bones and 3D images according to the Iscan method and to the sex of the subject. The mean age was 57.73 years (SD = 19.12 years;18–93 years). The intra-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.877–0.960) and 3D images (κ = 0.954), while the inter-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.813) and substantial in 3D images (κ = 0.727). The correlation with the Iscan phases was very strong in bones (Rho = 0.794–0.820; p < 0.001) and strong in 3D images (Rho = 0.690–0.691; p < 0.001). Both sex-adjusted linear regression models were significant (dry bones: R2 = 0.65; SEE = ± 11.264 years; 3D images: R2 = 0.50; SEE = ± 13.537 years) from phase 4 onwards. An overestimation of age was observed in the first phases, and an underestimation in the later ones. Virtual analysis using a surface scanner in the fourth rib is a valid means of estimating age. However, the error values and confidence intervals were considerable, so the joint use of different methods and anatomical sites is recommended.

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Human identification: a review of methods employed within an Australian coronial death investigation system

Cited by 18 publications

References 58 publications

Human Decedent Identification Unit: identifying the deceased at a South African medico-legal mortuary

Human Decedent Identification Unit: identifying the deceased at a South African medico-legal mortuary

The professional practice of forensic anthropology: Contemporary developments and cross‐disciplinary applications

Forensic age estimation: comparison and validation of the Iscan method in 3D reconstructions using a surface scanner in a Spanish population

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