Medicolegal entomology in an elder neglect investigation: A case study from South Korea

Abstract

Medicolegal entomology, once primarily utilized for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI), now serves an expanding role in evaluating abuse and neglect in vulnerable populations. This case study examines a pivotal 2022 ruling by the Busan District Court, where forensic entomological evidence led to a conviction for negligent homicide by abandonment. The victim, an 82-year-old woman with dementia and multiple chronic conditions, was discovered in a severely unsanitary environment. Numerous third-instar larvae of Lucilia sericata were retrieved from necrotic pressure ulcers, and developmental analysis indicated colonization had begun at least 72 h before death. These findings underscore the need for routine integration of entomological expertise into medicolegal protocols, particularly in jurisdictions where the discipline is still underutilized.