Advanced Scientific Methods and Procedures in the Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Graves

Our goal is to discuss the new technologies and procedures that we have developed for the discovery and recovery of buried victims. We argue that forensic investigations of clandestine graves must be grounded in the most advanced scientific methods and evidence-collection techniques available. A structured program that includes an interdisciplinary team of forensic scientists and law enforcement experts is proposed to facilitate all aspects of the investigative and legal process. Such issues are of great relevance because most legal jurisdictions have a number of cases each year and present operating procedures are not standardized. There is a clear need for national dialog to improve our investigative efforts and insure best practices in forensic science across legal jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies.

[1]  K. Popper.  Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Approach , 1972 .

[2]  Arpad A Vass,et al.  The elusive universal post-mortem interval formula. , 2011, Forensic science international.

[3]  K Püschel,et al.  Cadaver dogs--a study on detection of contaminated carpet squares. , 2008, Forensic science international.

[4]  J. Wynn,et al.  9. Resistivity, Induced Polarization, and Complex Resistivity , 2005 .

[5]  V. J. S. Grauch,et al.  6. Magnetic Methods in Near-Surface Geophysics , 2005 .

[6]  Terry Melton,et al.  Forensic mitochondrial DNA analysis of 691 casework hairs. , 2005, Journal of forensic sciences.

[7]  Carsten Wiuf,et al.  Diverse Plant and Animal Genetic Records from Holocene and Pleistocene Sediments , 2003, Science.

[8]  W M Bass,et al.  Time since death determinations of human cadavers using soil solution. , 1992, Journal of forensic sciences.

[9]  Steven L. De Vore,et al.  Ground‐penetrating radar: An introduction for archaeologists , 1998 .

[10]  R. Swinburne.  OBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE: AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH , 1973 .

[11]  Stephen A Smith,et al.  Controlled research utilizing a basic all-metal detector in the search for buried firearms and miscellaneous weapons. , 2010, Forensic science international.

[12]  P. Cheetham.  FORENSIC GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY , 2005 .

[13]  Arpad A. Vass,et al.  Microbial Community Analysis of Human Decomposition on Soil , 2009 .

[14]  Andrew Rebmann,et al.  Cadaver Dog Handbook: Forensic Training and Tactics for the Recovery of Human Remains , 2000 .

[15]  Richard P. Evershed,et al.  Identification of a disinterred grave by molecular and stable isotope analysis. , 2009, Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society.

[16]  T. Thompson,et al.  Forensic Archaeology: Advances in Theory and Practice, Hunter, Cox. Routledge (2005), Paperback Price £24.99 Hardback Price £65.00 ISBN 0415273129 Paperback ISBN 0415273110 Hardback , 2006 .

[17]  Virginia Hughes,et al.  Science in court: Head case , 2010, Nature.

[18]  Shana Hertz Hattis.  Crime in the United States , 2013 .

[19]  Elizabeth L. Ambos,et al.  Verification of virtual excavation using multiple geophysical methods: Case studies from Navan Fort, County Armagh, Northern Ireland , 2002 .

[20]  Vernon J. Geberth,et al.  Practical Homicide Investigation Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques , 2015 .

[21]  Deborah J. Daniels,et al.  Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases JULY 02 NCJ 194197 , 2002 .

[22]  Daniel Coleman.  Crime in the United States, 2005 , 2007 .

[23]  Thomas L Bohan.  Strengthening Forensic Science: A Way Station on the Journey to Justice , 2010, Journal of forensic sciences.

[24]  Philip L. F. Johnson,et al.  A Draft Sequence of the Neandertal Genome , 2010, Science.

[25]  L. Donnelly,et al.  Locating Concealed Homicide Victims: Developing the Role of Geoforensics , 2009 .

[26]  Madeleine Hinkes,et al.  Forensic Anthropology in Cold Cases , 2006 .

[27]  Sheldon Breiner,et al.  Applications Manual for Portable Magnetometers , 1999 .

[28]  Robert D. Blackledge,et al.  Forensic Analysis on the Cutting Edge , 2007 .

[29]  Law. Policy.  Executive Summary of the National Academies of Science Reports, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward , 2009 .

[30]  Constance Holden.  Forensic Science Needs a Major Overhaul, Panel Says , 2009, Science.

[31]  J. P. Shalloo.  Crime in the United States , 1974 .

[32]  Richard Walton,et al.  Cold Case Homicides : Practical Investigative Techniques , 2006 .

[33]  Edward W. Killam.  The Detection of Human Remains , 1990 .

[34]  E Balka,et al.  Getting the Big Picture , 2003, Methods of Information in Medicine.

[35]  C. Barden,et al.  Proficiency Testing Trends Following the 2009 National Academy of Sciences Report, “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward” , 2016 .

[36]  Ron C. Michaelis,et al.  A Litigator's Guide to DNA: From the Laboratory to the Courtroom , 2008 .

[37]  C Holden.  Science in court. , 1989, Science.

[38]  Douglas H. Ubelaker.  Review of: Forensic Methods: Excavation for the Archaeologist and Investigator , 2008 .

[39]  John J. Schultz,et al.  Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches , 2005 .

[40]  Hans H Maurer.  Forensic analysis on the cutting edge—New methods for trace evidence analysis Robert D. Blackledge, Editor , 2008, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.

[41]  Peng Liu,et al.  Real-time forensic DNA analysis at a crime scene using a portable microchip analyzer. , 2008, Forensic science international. Genetics.

[42]  Terry Melton.  Mitochondrial DNA Examination of Cold Case Crime Scene Hairs , 2006 .

[43]  Lauren O'Neill,et al.  The Impact of Daubert on Forensic Science , 2004 .

[44]  K m Waggoner,et al.  Handbook of Forensic Services , 2008 .

[45]  Arpad A Vass,et al.  Odor Analysis of Decomposing Buried Human Remains * , 2008, Journal of forensic sciences.