{"title":"Estimating the postmortem interval: applications of forensic acarology, palynology, and taphonomy.","authors":"John Oladapo Obafunwa, Amanda Roe, Leon Higley","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-00954-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Determination of the minimum postmortem interval remains an important factor in the investigation of deaths, especially homicides. It is important for near-accurate reconstruction of the fatal event, especially after putrefaction has commenced. It helps to weigh the alibi of suspects, and to include or exclude these individuals. The science of forensic entomology, acarology, palynology and taphonomy have been applied with varying degree of accuracy depending on a plethora of biotic and abiotic factors. Each of these specialties is most useful at specific times during decomposition and depending on local environmental factors. As decomposition progresses, the estimation of the PMI becomes more difficult. Here, we review how different forensic techniques are most appropriate for estimating the postmortem interval at different times since death. Ultimately, the determination of the interval is a difficult task requiring a multidisciplinary approach comprising many forensic specialists.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-025-00954-4","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Determination of the minimum postmortem interval remains an important factor in the investigation of deaths, especially homicides. It is important for near-accurate reconstruction of the fatal event, especially after putrefaction has commenced. It helps to weigh the alibi of suspects, and to include or exclude these individuals. The science of forensic entomology, acarology, palynology and taphonomy have been applied with varying degree of accuracy depending on a plethora of biotic and abiotic factors. Each of these specialties is most useful at specific times during decomposition and depending on local environmental factors. As decomposition progresses, the estimation of the PMI becomes more difficult. Here, we review how different forensic techniques are most appropriate for estimating the postmortem interval at different times since death. Ultimately, the determination of the interval is a difficult task requiring a multidisciplinary approach comprising many forensic specialists.
期刊介绍:
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology encompasses all aspects of modern day forensics, equally applying to children or adults, either living or the deceased. This includes forensic science, medicine, nursing, and pathology, as well as toxicology, human identification, mass disasters/mass war graves, profiling, imaging, policing, wound assessment, sexual assault, anthropology, archeology, forensic search, entomology, botany, biology, veterinary pathology, and DNA. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology presents a balance of forensic research and reviews from around the world to reflect modern advances through peer-reviewed papers, short communications, meeting proceedings and case reports.