Recovery, Analysis, and Identification of Commingled Human Remains (eBook)

Preface 5
Contents 10
1 Methodology in Commingling Analysis: An Historical Overview 15
Separation of Bone and Tooth from Other Materials 16
Recognition of Nonhuman Animal 16
Separation of Ancient and Modern Remains 17
Sorting Procedures 17
References Cited 18
2 Spatial Analysis of Mass Grave Mapping Data to Assist in the Reassociation of Disarticulated and Commingled Human Remains 21
Introduction 21
Materials and Methods 23
Results 32
Discussion 33
Survey Codes 34
Conclusion 41
References Cited 42
3 Pieces of the Puzzle: FBI Evidence Response Team Approaches to Scenes with Commingled Evidence 44
Introduction 44
FBI Evidence Response Team Protocols and Responsibilities 45
Recovery of a Multiple Victim Burial 55
Recovery of Multiple Victims from an Airplane Crash 60
Conclusions 65
References Cited 66
4 Commingled Remains and Human Rights Investigations 69
Introduction 69
Skeletonized Remains and Standards of Practice 70
El Salvador 71
Zimbabwe 75
Argentina 79
General Discussion 84
Recovery and Recording of Findings 85
Osteological Analysis 85
Conclusions 90
References Cited 91
5 Anthropological Investigations of the Tri-State Crematorium Incident 92
The Investigation 92
Legal Ramifications 105
Conclusions 106
References Cited 107
6 Approaches to Commingling Issues in Archeological Samples: A Case Study from Roman Era Tombs in Greece 108
Kenchreai and the Koutsongila Cemetery 108
The Skeletal Assemblage and Its Depositional Context 111
Analysis of the Commingled Human Remains 113
Conclusion 132
References Cited 133
7 Anthropologist-Directed Triage: Three Distinct Mass Fatality Events Involving Fragmentation of Human Remains 134
Introduction 134
Triage 134
The Three Disasters 135
The World Trade Center Disaster Open vs. Closed Population and DNA Testing Decisions 138
Crash of American Airlines Flight 587 147
The Staten Island Ferry Crash 151
Conclusion 154
References Cited 154
8 The Use of Radiology in Mass Fatality Events 156
History 156
Uses of Radiology for Analysis and Human Identification 157
Imaging Modalities 165
Radiation Protection 176
Application of Radiographic Methods to Mass Fatalities 178
Case Studies 185
Conclusion 190
References Cited 190
9 Detection of Commingling in Cremated Human Remains 195
Introduction 195
The Inevitability of Commingling in Cremation 196
Factors That Lead to Excessive Commingling 197
How Commingling Becomes a Legal Issue 198
How Commingling Is Detected 199
How Is Commingling Described to a Jury? 204
Case Study 204
Conclusion 206
References Cited 207
10 Models and Methods for Osteometric Sorting 208
Data Sources and Analytical Methods 210
Models for Osteometric Sorting 211
Assessment of Results 217
Conclusion 223
References Cited 224
Appendix 225
11 Patterns of Epiphyseal Union and Their Use in the Detection and Sorting of Commingled Remains 230
Reference Materials 231
Sequence of Epiphyseal Union 232
Open Versus Complete Union 234
Testing for Commingled Remains 240
Implications of the Test 246
References 248
12 How Many People? Determining the Number of Individuals Represented by Commingled Human Remains 250
Introduction 250
Factors Affecting Quantification: Bone Preservation and Scale of the Incident 251
Quantification Techniques 252
Lincoln Index and the Most Likely Number of Individuals 254
Test for the Accuracy of Pair-Matching 256
Test Application of the MNI and MLNI: Larson Village 259
Summary and Conclusions 262
References Cited 262
13 Assessment of Commingled Human Remains Using a GIS- Based Approach 265
Introduction 265
Issues of Fragmentary and Commingled Human Remains 265
Walker-Noe (15Gd56) 267
Walker-Noe Skeletal Analysis 269
GIS Analysis 270
Conclusion 275
References Cited 276
14 The Application of Traditional Anthropological Methods in a DNA- Led Identification Process 278
About ICMP 278
The Podrinje Identification Project1 279
A Challenging Task 280
Taphonomy 280
The Missing 283
Lack of Information 283
Techniques 285
Essential Uses of Classical Methods 286
References Cited 290
15 Marrying Anthropology and DNA: Essential for Solving Complex Commingling Problems in Cases of Extreme Fragmentation 292
Introduction 292
Part I: Overview ofWTC Identification Process 293
Part II: WTC Case Examples Defining Case 298
Conclusion 305
References Cited 305
16 Sorting and Identifying Commingled Remains of U. S. War Dead: The Collaborative Roles of JPAC and AFDIL 307
Introduction 307
Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) 307
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) 308
Kiska Island, Alaska 316
Conclusion 319
References Cited 320
17 Resolving Commingling Issues During the Medicolegal Investigation of Mass Fatality Incidents 322
Identification 322
Fragmentation, Reassociation, and Identification: Influencing Parameters 323
Managing the Identification Process: Applying Human Remains Triage Principles 327
Establishing Human Remains Triage Guidelines 328
Mass Fatality Morgue Operations 332
Case Study: United Airlines Flight 93 333
Additional Triage Considerations: Staffing, Quality Assurance, and Quality Control 335
Family Assistance Considerations 336
Ethical Perspectives on Identification 337
Conclusions 338
References cited 339
18 Data Management and Commingled Remains at Mass Fatality Incidents ( MFIs) 342
Introduction 342
MFI Data 343
Identification Errors at an MFI 344
Example: Commingling 345
Example: Investigative Mistakes 345
Example: Administrative Error 346
Summary of Identification Errors at an MFI 347
AM Information Intake Dynamics 348
Case Numbers 349
Summary of AM Intake Dynamics 350
Challenges in the AM Interview Process 350
Error Rates in the AM Records 355
Error Rates in the PM Records 356
Addressing the Problems 357
Summary 361
Index 362
Notes on Editors 365