[Determination of duration of fresh water exposure on corpse's skin by dispersion value of its electrical conductivity].

Abstract

Forensic medical examination of the body of a dead person found in water gives the expert an additional task to determine the duration of his stay in the water. The answer to this question is of fundamental significance for the investigative authorities, since a dead person could have been submerged in the water to conceal the crime.

Objective: Objectification of experts' conclusions about the duration of corpse's stay in the water on indicators of dispersion of electrical conductivity of its skin.

Material and methods: Research aimed at objectifying the conclusions of experts about the duration of corpse's stay in the water on the indicators of dispersion of electrical conductivity of its skin was conducted using the experimental material from the corpses of 68 persons of different sex and age, who died for different reasons.

Results: Three temperature ranges (1-24, 25-30, 31-40 °C) have been identified on the basis of regression analysis and mathematical models, describing the dynamics of electrical conductivity dispersion coefficient change depending on the duration of corpse's skin contact with the water of specified temperatures, have been created.

Conclusion: Formulas for calculating the period of interest for the researcher have been developed and the boundaries of confidence intervals for each temperature range have been determined, taking into account its diagnostic applicability. A computer program has been written to facilitate routine calculations on the proposed method in order to simplify the practical application of the suggested procedure.