Forensic Anthropology in the identification of human remains found at sea: History of two judicial cases connected by the same marine context of discovery.

Abstract

Background: Calculating the immersion time at sea of human skeletal remains is a challenge for forensic investigations and the answer to this question would solve many court cases in the shortest possible time. Remains in water create profound structural changes due to countless variables that lead to difficulties in interpretation during investigations.

Case report: In this paper, two forensic cases found at sea were analysed, Case A, an extensively skeletonised corpse, and Case B, an isolated, intact foot with soft tissue, both found only 9 km away from the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Southern Italy). A preliminary radiodiagnostic examination was performed for both cases. Subsequently, macroscopic observation of two tattoos found on case A was carried out. Autopsy examination was then carried out with subsequent anthropometric analysis to reconstruct the biological profile of both subjects, (case A) and (case B). Finally, histological and genetic analyses were performed.

Conclusions: The examinations carried out made it possible to determine two compatible biological profiles, despite the taphonomic difference, and these examinations were corroborated by the anthropometric and genetic correlation, which led to the solution of a single judicial case. In conclusion, all the investigations carried out made it possible to state that the skeletonised corpse (Case A) and the isolated foot (Case B) belonged to the same individual in life. This result made it possible to identify the victim, thus establishing the profile of an individual who had disappeared in the previous two months due to a shipwreck.