ForensicProject_ExpertReports_pt2_10242023

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Forensic Reports Case #H03-034 & H03-152 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
Report Report Number Anthropological Report #E03-152-01 Serology Report #E03-034-02 Serology Report #E03-034-03 Serology Report #E03-034-04 Serology Report #E03-034-05 Entomology Report #E03-152-06 Autopsy Report #A03-034-01 Assault Report #M03-034-01 Assault Report #M03-034-02 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY REPORT: E03-152-01 JPAC CENTRAL IDENTIFICATION LABORATORY DESCRIPTION OF REMAINS Skeletal elements designated E03-034-01 include both cranial and postcranial remains as well as dental remains (Figures 1 and 2). Elements represented include a fairly complete calvarium; maxillary and mandibular alveolar fragments; left and right humeri; right innominate; left fibula; left calcaneus; left talus; left and right naviculars; left cuboid; left medial, intermediate, and lateral cuneiforms; left metatarsals I through V; left proximal foot phalanx I; left distal phalanx I; two proximal foot phalanges; two distal foot phalanges; two sesamoid bones; and one non-diagnostic bone fragment. Ten teeth (six maxillary and five mandibular) and two dental appliances are present. Overall, the remains are in fair to poor condition, with surface erosion and delamination of the outer cortex occurring on nearly all skeletal elements. The cranium and the head of the left third metacarpal have been reconstructed using an acetone-soluble adhesive. Figure 1. Skeletal remains designated E03-034-01. Scale is in decimeters. Figure 2. Dental remains designated E03-034-01. MINIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ANALYSIS SEX Male. Gross morphological and metric analyses were used to determine sex. Non-metric cranial characteristics include a small supraorbital ridge, a blunt supraorbital margin, and a large mastoid process. These traits, with the exception of the first, are more consistent with male morphology (Bass 1995; Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994; Rogers 2005). Postcranially, the pelvic region provides the most diagnostic traits for sex determination. Although most of the key areas for observation in this region are eroded or absent due to postmortem damage, a few diagnostic traits are present that suggest probable male morphology (Bass 1995; Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994). Analysis: The male pelvis is characterized by narrower pelvic bones that are anatomically fashioned resembling a heart. The sciatic notch in males is characterized by its short width. The sub- pubic angles in males are comparatively narrower, indicating the meeting point of the two pubic bones. Additionally, DNA typing can be employed as an application in this context. It is worth noting that males possess both x and y chromosomes. Consequently, when subjected to a conventional amelogenin test, males typically produce two distinct peaks. Six postcranial measurements were taken and evaluated against a discriminant model in FORDISC 2.0 (Ousley and Jantz 1996). The discriminant model has a correct classification rate of 95.0% when applied to the reference sample of 339 individuals. The remains were classified by the model as male with a posterior probability of 0.997 and a typicality of 0.580. Overall, the evidence indicates that this individual’s size and morphology are consistent with males. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
AGE Adult, ≥36 years of age. The estimation of age is based on dental development and overall appearance of skeletal elements. ANALYSIS Upon examination of the skeletal remains and subsequent analysis, discernible signs of degeneration consistent with an individual in their late thirties became apparent. The examination of skulls provides valuable insights for differentiating between adults and children. In children, the brain is protected by cranial bones that fuse together, whereas in adults, the process of skull remodeling gradually obscures these sutures at various periods throughout life. The depicted pubic symphysis exhibits a potential formation of a central plateau on its symphyseal surface, which may serve as an indicative characteristic of individuals aged 35 years and older. RACE Indeterminate. Gross morphological observations and metric analyses were used to assess race. Only part of the skull, the cranial vault, was available for analysis. The presence of an inion hook, absence of wormian bones, and rugged muscle markings are common in caucasoids (Rhine 1990). Small brow ridges, elliptic external auditory meatus, and complex cranial sutures are common in mongoloids (Rhine 1990). The lack of more diagnostic cranial elements for the determination of ancestry and the distribution of observed features between caucasoids and mongoloids results in an indeterminate assessment. Six postcranial measurements were taken and evaluated against a discriminant model including White and Black male populations in FORDISC 2.0 (Ousley and Jantz 1996). The discriminant model produced a correct classification rate of 77.6% when applied to the reference sample of 210 individuals. The remains were classified by the model as a White male with a posterior probability of 0.774 and a typicality of 0.718. Determination of ancestry using postcranial remains is less reliable than that based on the cranium, and the analysis is further weakened given the paucity of postcranial remains. Only measurements from the humerus and calcaneus were available for metric analysis. Thus, an analysis of ancestry for this individual is indeterminate. STATURE The total length of the right humerus (338 mm) was used to estimate stature using the White male model of Trotter and Gleser (1952), which was calculated using FORDISC 2.0 (Ousley and Jantz 1996). The White male equation was selected because it provides a more robust model due to the larger sample size. ANALYSIS The selection of the White male equation was based on its higher sample size, which enhances its reliability and accuracy as a model for stature estimation. The estimation of an individual's stature can be obtained by inputting the length of their right humerus into the calculation. The aforementioned technique is frequently employed within the field of forensic anthropology for the purpose of approximating the stature of an individual by analyzing their skeletal remains. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
TRAUMA Perimortem trauma was identified through fracture angle, shape, edge color, and edge morphology (Galloway 1999; Ubelaker and Adams 1995). The left distal humerus exhibits a complete fracture that originates at the trochlea and terminates superior to the medial supracondylar crest (Figure 3). On the posterior aspect of the bone, the fracture follows the morphology of the olecranon fossa (Figure 4). On the anterior aspect, the fracture follows the morphology of the coronoid fossa. The fracture line aligns with the bone grain, which can be another indicator of perimortem trauma. The fracture edges are sharp and exhibit the same color patterns as the surrounding cortical bone. Overall morphology suggests that the fracture is a Type II or high medial condylar fracture (Galloway 1999). This fracture is most common in falls but can be the result of a direct blow to the joint surface. Additional perimortem trauma was identified through the parietal bone, causing it to be shattered at the edges. Additional fracture lines are noted through the orbital region of the skull. Large portions of the skull are missing, however, making analysis incomplete (Figure 3). Postmortem trauma is noted to the ilium, which has been significantly damaged, consistent with rodent marks (Figure 3). Figure 3. (TOP - L) Fracture of the left distal humerus. View is anterior. (TOP - R) View is posterior. (BOTTOM-L) Skull with obvious injury. (BOTTOM-R) Shallow grooves on the ilium indicative of rodent gnaw marks. OBSERVATIONS Specimens sampled for mtDNA include teeth (#I, #2, #9, #11, #15, #20, and #22), the right humeral diaphysis, and the petrous portion of the right temporal bone. For analytical purposes, each element or fragment in the assemblage has been labeled in pencil with a code that corresponds to its original field provenience. CONCLUSIONS ANALYSIS Perimortem trauma denotes injuries that transpire in close temporal proximity to the moment of death. In this particular instance, the identification of perimortem trauma was accomplished by considering several parameters, including the angle, shape, color, and morphology of the fractures. A complete fracture is observed in the distal humerus on the left side, originating from the trochlea and extending to a point above the medial supracondylar crest. The line of fracture aligns with the anatomical features of the olecranon fossa on the posterior side and the coronoid fossa on the anterior side. The fracture edges have a distinct sharpness and display identical color patterns to those observed in the adjacent cortical bone. The fracture is characterized as a Type II or high medial condylar fracture based on its overall shape. This type of fracture is frequently observed in cases of falls or direct impacts to the joint surface. The parietal bone exhibited supplementary perimortem damage, resulting in fragmentation around its periphery. Furthermore, there exist supplementary fracture lines within the orbital region of the cranial structure. Nevertheless, the study of these fractures remains inadequate as a result of significant pieces of the skull being absent. Evidence of postmortem trauma was observed on the ilium, displaying notable damage and exhibiting shallow grooves that are consistent with rat gnaw marks. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
Samples were collected for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, which included teeth, the diaphysis of the right humerus, and the petrous part of the right temporal bone. Every individual element or fragment has been assigned a code that corresponds to its original field provenance. Forensic Expert 1, PhD Anthropologist FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY – PRIVACY SENSITIVE Any misuse or unauthorized disclosure may result in both civil and criminal penalties.
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