Lara Indra, Valentin Moser, Marco Milella, David Errickson, Sandra Lösch
{"title":"Of rodents and foxes: Faunal activity and scavenging at carcasses in a Central European (Swiss) forest.","authors":"Lara Indra, Valentin Moser, Marco Milella, David Errickson, Sandra Lösch","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vertebrate activity can significantly affect forensic investigations. Trauma interpretation is impaired when vertebrates scavenge on injuries and inflict damage, and scavengers can hinder the recovery of human remains through dispersal. However, forensic scavenging research is scarce in Europe and lacking for Switzerland. We conducted a 2-month baseline study followed by a 5-month experiment with six domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses in a Swiss forest during summer through fall. We monitored each three caged and uncaged carcasses with camera traps and documented vertebrate activities and taphonomic signatures on the remains and calculated the scavenging rate. Rodents (Apodemus sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) scavenged and dispersed the remains. All carcasses and ca. 4% of the recovered bones exhibited scavenging marks, including wet bone scavenging (rodents) mainly on small bones and protruding features, and scoring (red fox) on a rib. The presence of a carcass, decomposition stage, sun exposure, and use of cages significantly influenced the number of vertebrate visits at the plots. Rodents preferentially scavenged caged, skeletonized remains at tree-covered plots and modified perimortem wounds beyond recognition. The few carnivore sightings focused on uncaged specimens. The generally low scavenger participation was likely season-related, due to the rapid maggot infestation, or human presence. Future studies should evaluate the influence of these variables, including sun exposure. Our study informs forensic casework by highlighting the importance of rodents and to a lesser degree foxes as vertebrate scavengers and dispersal agents in central European temperate forests.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Olivia L Thompson, James A Russell, Stephen K Stockman, Jenise L Swall, Tal Simmons
{"title":"Assessing the effectiveness of alternate light sources in the search for skeletal remains.","authors":"Olivia L Thompson, James A Russell, Stephen K Stockman, Jenise L Swall, Tal Simmons","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many search and recovery operations for human skeletal remains are unsuccessful due to difficulties recognizing bones in outdoor environments even when evidence indicates the last known whereabouts of missing individuals. Though the collagen component of bone is known to emit fluorescence, this property has not been leveraged consistently during skeletal remains searches. Thirty-six mock searches were completed in 5000 ft<sup>2</sup> zones of eastern deciduous forest by volunteers associated with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Pig and deer bones were scattered and partially concealed under brush and leaf cover. Pairs of volunteers were allowed up to 1 h to conduct searches in their usual pattern. Nighttime searches were conducted with handheld alternate light source (ALS) devices (uvBeast™, Crime-lite<sup>®</sup>, ForenScope, and Labino AB), which produced ultraviolet (385-395 nm), violet (395-425 nm), blue (~455 nm), cyan (~510 nm), or green (~530 nm) lights. Filtered safety glasses were paired with appropriate ALS. Daytime searches were conducted under the same parameters, without ALS. Results indicated that (1) nighttime searches with ALS produced a recovery rate more than triple that of daytime searches (p < 0.0001) and that they were often completed more quickly, and (2) the violet Crime-lite<sup>®</sup>, due to breadth of illumination and strength of fluorescent response, consistently produced the highest recovery rate (95%). Data suggest that nighttime searches with ALS can be used both as the primary search method for locating and recovering human skeletal remains, and as a secondary method for recovering any bones expected to be present but not found during daylight searches.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144059140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to \"Sickle cell trait in non-firearm arrest-related deaths of Black persons\".","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70051","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144033299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of composition C-4 odor signature on a novel sorption training aid substrate.","authors":"Juliet DeNapoli, Paola A Prada-Tiedemann","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The need for reliable non-detonable training aid systems within explosive canine detection applications is imperative for optimal operational performance. This study utilized Getxent polymer technology for the creation of Composition C-4 training aid material. The objectives of this research were to (1) evaluate target volatile odor concentration emitted from tubes following mass (1 g, 10 g, and 20 g) and impregnation time (24 h, 72 h, and 1 week) variations and (2) monitor training aid shelf-life over a period of up to 4 months. Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) coupled with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) was a viable way to measure target C-4 odorants (2-ethyl 1-hexanol (2E1H), cyclohexanone, 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB)) from Getxent tubes. On average, the Getxent tubes absorbed 8% mass of total target VOCs within bulk C-4 headspace. The 20 g, 72-h impregnated Getxent tubes yielded detection of all three targeted odor volatiles while concurrently depicting the highest average mass amount of 2E1H and cyclohexanone. A shelf-life study over a four-month period depicted that DMNB yielded higher mass amounts across all impregnation and bulk mass variations while 2E1H and cyclohexanone had lower mass amounts, losing detection levels of 2E1H after a period of 3 months. The study demonstrated the capability of the Getxent tubes in the impregnation of C-4 explosive target odor volatiles, exhibiting differences in odor mass amounts and shelf-life across the distinctive odor volatiles monitored.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144015406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening kits for the detection of nitazene analogs.","authors":"Amanda L Pacana, Britni N Skillman","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nitazene analogs are a highly potent class of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) that were first identified in forensic casework in the United States in 2019. While enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) remains a prevalent screening tool in forensic toxicology laboratories, no nitazene-specific ELISA kits are commercially available, supporting the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methods as a more adaptable alternative for screening. However, even with the growth in popularity of HRMS techniques, it is important to understand the cross-reactivity of novel substances, such as nitazenes, with routinely used ELISA kits. Cross-reactivity is particularly important for forensic toxicology casework since it can impact the reliability of screening results, potentially leading to non-detection of novel substances or false-positive identifications in the presence of non-target analytes. This study tested the cross-reactivity of seven nitazene analogs (4'-OH nitazene, 5-methyl etodesnitazene, isotonitazene, metodesnitazene, N-piperidinyl etonitazene, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene, and protonitazene) in whole blood using 13 commercial ELISA kits from three manufacturers. Various drug/class kits were selected based on reported or potential co-positivity with nitazenes (opiates, opioids, fentanyl) or by structural similarities (LSD, zolpidem). Across tested concentrations for the seven selected analytes, none of the tested kits produced a signal sufficient for a positive result, confirming that their presence at these levels does not compromise the screening specificity of the target analytes. However, these findings highlight the need for laboratories to adopt mass spectral-based screening methods like HRMS or advocate for the development of nitazene-specific ELISA kits for effective nitazene analog screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144036039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas Scurich, Thomas D Albright, Peter Stout, Donna Eudaley, Maddisen Neuman, Callan Hundl
{"title":"The Hawthorne effect in studies of firearm and toolmark examiners.","authors":"Nicholas Scurich, Thomas D Albright, Peter Stout, Donna Eudaley, Maddisen Neuman, Callan Hundl","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Hawthorne effect refers to the tendency of individuals to behave differently when they know they are being studied. In the forensic science domain, concerns have been raised about the \"strategic examiner,\" where the forensic examiner uses different decision thresholds depending on whether in a test situation or working on an actual case. The blind testing conducted by the Houston Forensic Science Center (\"HFSC\") in firearms examination presents a unique opportunity to test the hypothesis that the rate of inconclusive calls differs for discovered vs. undiscovered blind tests of firearm examination. Over 5 years, 529 test item comparisons were filtered into casework at the HFSC. The inconclusive rate for discovered items was 56.4%, while the inconclusive rate for undiscovered test items was 39.3%. Thus, the percentage of inconclusive calls was 43.5% higher among discovered test items than among undiscovered test items. This pattern of results held for bullet comparisons (83% vs. 59%) and cartridge case comparisons (29% vs. 20%) and for both same-source and different-source bullet and cartridge case comparisons. These findings corroborate concerns that examiners behave differently when they know they are being tested and demonstrate the necessity of blind testing if the research goal is to evaluate the performance of forensic examiners conducting casework.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144045415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Identifying factors that help improve existing decomposition-based PMI estimation methods.","authors":"Anna-Maria Nau, Phillip Ditto, Dawnie Wolfe Steadman, Audris Mockus","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurately assessing the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a challenging task in forensic science. Existing regression models use the decomposition score to predict the PMI or accumulated degree days (ADD) but are often imprecise and rely on small sample sizes. This study explores if we can construct more accurate outdoor PMI estimation models using (a) a larger sample, (b) more sophisticated statistical models, and (c) additional predictors derived from demographic and environmental factors. Using a sample of 213 human subjects from a human decomposition photographic dataset collected at the [removed for double-blind review], we evaluated existing outdoor PMI and ADD formulae developed by Gelderman et al. [Int J Legal Med, 2018, 132, 863] and also developed more sophisticated models that incorporate additional predictors. Models using the total decomposition score (TDS), demographic factors (age, sex, and BMI), and weather-related factors (season and humidity history) reduced PMI and ADD prediction errors by over 50%. The best PMI model, incorporating TDS, demographic, and weather predictors, achieved an adjusted R-squared of 0.42 and an RMSE of 0.76. It had a 15% lower RMSE than the TDS-only model to predict PMI and a 54% lower RMSE than the pre-existing PMI formula. Similarly, the best ADD model, using the same predictors, achieved an adjusted R-squared of 0.54 and an RMSE of 0.73. It had a 10% lower RMSE than the TDS-only model to predict the ADD and a 55% lower RMSE than the pre-existing ADD formula. These results demonstrate that significant improvements in accuracy can be achieved using readily available predictors.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mehmet Doğan, Muhammed Emin Boylu, İlker Taşdemir, Sefa Saygılı
{"title":"Exploring female sexual offending with the concepts of hypersexuality and atypical psychotic disorder.","authors":"Mehmet Doğan, Muhammed Emin Boylu, İlker Taşdemir, Sefa Saygılı","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual offending is often perceived as predominantly a male behavior. However, due to growing public interest in female criminality, research on female offenders is increasing. Sexual offending can be influenced by various factors, such as hypersexual disorder (HSD), or may be associated with psychiatric conditions like borderline personality disorder (BPD). In this case, a 46-year-old woman was charged with a sexual offense for engaging in sexual intercourse with four underage male adolescents. She had a medical history of mood disorder and alcohol abuse. During her psychiatric evaluation in our unit, it was observed that she exhibited poor self-care, appeared older than her age, had an inappropriate affect, and impoverished thought content. She was subsequently diagnosed with \"atypical psychosis\" and deemed not criminally responsible by the decision of the committee by majority vote. This case highlights that sexual abuse against children is much rarer among women compared to men. As the number of studies on this topic increases, our understanding will improve, providing guidance for preventing recidivism, and aiding in the treatment and appropriate reintegration of women who perpetrate sexual offenses into society.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144045375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ricochet of 9-mm luger bullets off plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and melamine board: An empirical investigation in aid of shooting reconstruction.","authors":"Chamuddika Gamage, Bandula Nishshanka, Chris Shepherd, Randika Ariyarathna, Gayan Aravinda Abeygunawardane, Aruni Wijayath, Ridmi Maddumage","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ricochet is the glancing rebound of fired bullets from surfaces and is regularly reported during shooting incidents worldwide. Although existing scientific literature presents many ricochet-related empirical works in aid of shooting incident reconstructions, studies focusing on commonly used bullets ricocheting off modern target surfaces found in contemporary urban environments are still limited and continuously in demand. This empirical-based ricochet study presents exciting findings about the ricochet behavior of 9-mm luger bullets with the three most popular engineered wood types present in modern society: plywood, melamine, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). To evaluate the ricochet behavior and impact evidence, two different mounted firearms, each discharging 9-mm luger bullets, were used to fire at engineered wood targets held at low angles to the impacting bullets. This study reports the first documented observation of a strong statistical relationship between the angles of incidence and ricochet during 9-mm luger bullet ricochet on plywood, melamine, and MDF. Evidence is also provided of a relationship between a bullet's angle of incidence and its corresponding ricochet marks on tested wood targets, not previously highlighted in wood-based bullet ricochet studies, and the critical angles reported for these engineered wood types ranged between 14 and 18 degrees. Additionally, the first observation of \"wood spalling\" during a ricochet event is presented, offering important insight into the process of bullets ricocheting off layered structures and being of great forensic significance for future scene reconstructions.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143813000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tanya Ram, Merav Amiel, Michal Shenfeld, Nurit Bublil
{"title":"The October 7 forensic DNA identification operation: Lessons learned from the management of the largest mass causality event in Israel.","authors":"Tanya Ram, Merav Amiel, Michal Shenfeld, Nurit Bublil","doi":"10.1111/1556-4029.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>On October 7, 2023, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a surprise, violent attack on Israel, resulting in the largest mass casualty event in the country's history. A total of 1438 Israelis were murdered, and 255 individuals were taken hostage. Additionally, over 1600 perpetrators who infiltrated Israel were killed during defensive operations. The scale of the massacre, number of victims, severity of body damage, and sheer volume of remains posed an unprecedented forensic challenge. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Police, and the National Center for Forensic Medicine led a multi-agency effort to identify the deceased. With thousands of remains from both victims and perpetrators intermingled, DNA played a pivotal role in the identification process. Between October and December 2023, forensic teams analyzed 4500 tissue samples, 630 bone samples, and 2600 reference samples, with all genetic profiles uploaded to the national DNA database for matching. The efficiency of this forensic operation is reflected in the 96% identification rate achieved within 3 weeks. However, the condition of the remains significantly impacted the complexity of the process, as severely burned and fragmented samples required multiple rounds of sampling and repeated DNA extractions to obtain viable genetic profiles. This article presents key lessons learned from managing DNA identification in the aftermath of October 7. It highlights the unique challenges faced and outlines strategies for effectively navigating mass casualty events. Our experience offers guidance for forensic agencies worldwide, aiming to enhance and refine DNA identification processes for handling complex Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operations.</p>","PeriodicalId":94080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143805147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}