Human DNA extraction from empty puparia

Abstract

Empty puparia, as well as larvae at different developmental stages, are potentially useful in the identification of a victim where a corpse has been removed from the scene of a forensic investigation. To evaluate the relevance and the reliability of this substrate to be used as forensic evidence, the authors report for the first time the extraction and typing of human DNA from empty puparia using STR analysis, in two actual cases where the bodies of the victims were still present thereby enabling validation of the typing.