Common and much less common scenarios in which botany is crucial for forensic pathologist and anthropologists: a series of eight case studies

Abstract

It is commonly accepted that crime scene recovery and recording are key moments of any judicial inspection in which investigators must decide on the correct strategies to put into place. Complex outdoor scenarios, presenting partially or entirely skeletonised remains, can benefit more than others by the intervention of environmental specialists (forensic anthropologists, archaeologists, entomologists and botanists). These experts are capable of singling out, correctly recording and recovering environmental evidence that can lead to a more comprehensive reconstruction of a given criminal episode. If human remains are discovered in an outdoor scenario, the on-site presence of a botanist will guarantee a correct approach to the identification, recording and recovery of any botanical evidence. If an on-site botanist is not available, the operators must be capable of both the botanical evaluation of a scene and the implementation of correct botanical sampling protocols.The following collection of unusual case histories that aim at underlining the efficacy of forensic botany will examine the determination of post mortem or the post depositional interval, evidence for a victim's post mortem transfer, evidence for the identification of a primary crime scene and evidence for the identification of a victim's dismemberment site. In another two cases, one, we will illustrate the important role that forensic botany played in the discrimination between botanical material used to voluntarily conceal a victim and vegetation that had grown naturally above a disposal site, whereas the other will highlight the protocols implemented for the identification of a murder weapon.

Keywords: Concealment locations; Dendrochronology; Forensic botany; Murder weapon; PMI; Skeletonised human remains.

Fig. 1

Human remains partially covered by plant components a, the Prunus laurocerasus leafs and branches collected during the on-site inspection b and close-up of the severed extremities of two branches c

Fig. 2

Bone fragment belonging to the frontal region of the victim’s skull a splinters of wood associated with the fracture in the victim’s skull; the fragment circled in red was microscopically analysed and identified as Castanea sativa b

Fig. 3

The right side of the skull with a large root penetrating the acoustic meatus a, the right shoe containing skeletal remains and encircled by a Phytolacca Americana root b, and close-up shot of the sampled root c

Fig. 4

Inferior, left portion of the skull colonized by moss and, below, close-up shot of a recovered moss sample a, one of the recovered moss sample that colonized the left portion of the skull b, and SEM image of the victim’s sweater in which two diatoms are visible c

Fig. 5

The surface beneath the victim’s body: in contrast to the adjacent areas, the seedlings of Epilobium hirsutum were absent. a Diagram illustrating the detailed analysis of the distribution of botanical elements associated with the victim and the surrounding area b

Fig. 6

Image of the victim’s skull found in a black plastic sack a and diagram illustrating the three possible dismemberment locations: environment no.1 b, no. 2 c and no. 3 d

Fig. 7

The comparison between macroscopic (left) and the × 400 microscopic (right) characteristics of a charred fragment of the pinewood found in the plastic sack (above) and a similar fragment found during the on-site inspection (below)

Fig. 8

Comparison between the cellular characteristics belonging to the recovered piece of cuticle found in the victim’s colon a, those of a tomato b and a persimmon c