Journal of forensic sciences最新文献

Cigarettes are addictive in nature and smokers over time develop a preference toward smoking a particular brand. Therefore, identification and discrimination of different brands could be important during forensic investigations. It could serve as corroborative evidence not only in cases of physical and sexual assaults, theft, burglary, and dacoity but also in cases of illegal trading and smuggling of illicit and counterfeit cigarettes. Whenever a cigarette (smoked or unsmoked) is recovered as evidence, the tipping paper would always be present as it is a part of cigarette butts. Thus, in the present study, 21 brands of cigarette tipping paper have been analyzed by conjugating attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with chemometrics for brand discrimination and determination of geographical origin. Brand discrimination was performed using the support vector machine method and samples were discriminated with 100% training and validation accuracy. External validation was also performed where normal white and brown papers have been differentiated from tipping paper with 100% accuracy. Additionally, the geographical origin of samples was determined through PLS-DA with an R-square value of 0.998. Smoked samples were successfully linked with the unsmoked sample when projected to the already-built SVM model. 100% accuracy was achieved till 1 week; however, the accuracy was reduced to 71.42% after 1 week. This study proposes an alternative approach for analyzing cigarettes in a nondestructive and eco-friendly manner to highlight and amplify the potential of cigarettes as evidence.

Colchicine, a highly toxic alkaloid, has been frequently employed as a poisoning agent in criminal cases. Toxicant source tracing represents a critical research direction in forensic science, where the discrimination of colchicine origins holds particular significance for chemical fingerprint identification in poisoning incidents. The stable isotopic signature of colchicine serves as a crucial indicator for source comparison and traceability. However, its complexity of structure and high molecular weight present substantial challenges for precise stable isotope analysis. To enhance traceability capabilities, a method for the analysis of carbon stable isotope of colchicine was established using gas chromatography–combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). Through systematic optimization of experimental conditions, we resolved incomplete oxidation issues in the combustion reactor caused by inherent chemical properties of colchicine, achieving precise measurements with a standard deviation below 0.3‰. Method validation confirmed that storage conditions and matrix effects exerted no significant impact on carbon stable isotope ratio determinations. Applied to colchicine from three distinct sources, this method demonstrated effective source discrimination through δ¹³C values. The established analytical protocol proves reliable and robust for colchicine stable carbon isotope analysis, thereby significantly increasing its traceability potential in forensic science.

Testicular cancer is the most common solid organ malignancy among young males, with a good survival rate if detected in a timely manner. We describe a case where a previously well young adult male died suddenly due to previously undiagnosed metastatic testicular cancer with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, resulting in compression and invasion of the inferior vena cava and development of pulmonary thromboembolism. This was attributed to both mechanical compression of the inferior vena cava and the prothrombotic effect of cancer. This is an unusual presentation of seminoma, where diagnosis was only made upon discovery of the pulmonary thromboembolism at autopsy.

Homicide rates in infants (under 1 year of age) and neonates (under 1 day of age) are greater than in any other childhood age group. Using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for the years 2018–2021, we sought to determine the demographics of infanticide and neonaticide perpetrators and victims, the incidence of both crimes, how often these victims were concealed, and the most common means of concealment. Here, we report that perpetrators of infanticide were predominantly male, while perpetrators of neonaticide were most often female. For infanticide, victims were most often male, whereas in neonaticide, there was no significant difference in the sex of the victims. Infanticides were far less likely to be concealed than neonaticides. When combining infanticides and neonaticides, we found that perpetrators were most often Black, aged 21–30, the parent, and also the caregiver at the time the crime was committed. Victims were most often concealed by being placed in bags or in the trash, respectively. By identifying which individuals are most likely to offend, intervention strategies can be developed for the highest risk populations. When these crimes cannot be prevented, knowing how the deaths are often concealed can be used to focus investigations to obtain justice for the young victims.

Bone composition is affected during the lifetime of the organism by the nutrition of the individual, whereas postmortem bone composition is affected by the surrounding burial environment. Additionally, the presence of certain elements in a buried environment can affect the structural composition of bone. The accumulation of these elements can indicate various pollutants in the working environment, both past and present. Forensic archaeologists may be exposed to contaminants that include chemical as well as biological hazards. By reconstructing the land use history of this World War II-era aircraft crash site, it is possible to preliminarily identify specific occupational hazards. The aim of the current study is to identify and characterize fragmentary (non-human) bone specimens found in forensic archaeological site in northeast India. This research also examines the presence and distribution of heavy metals within these archaeological bone samples and, therefore, within the excavated work environment. The study utilizes a multidisciplinary approach combining archaeological, anthropological, radiographic, and elemental analysis techniques. Radiographic analysis indicated altered bone mineral density in four fragmented bone samples. Whereas, elemental analysis techniques viz.; energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) showed altered concentration and distribution of the heavy metals across all the specimens. Our results demonstrate the presence of heavy metals in the recovered non-human bone specimens, implying that the burial environment was affected by the hazardous pollutants and fuel, thereby posing a significant health and occupational hazard to the forensic archaeologists.

Although the post-mortem descriptor of cardiomegaly is an important component of understanding a sudden death, there is no unified definition. A recent survey reported the usage of heart weight correction models of Molina or Kitzman, for example, or simple step cutoffs such as 350, 400, 450, or 500 g in common use. The goal of the present study was to determine how a diagnosis of cardiomegaly relates to these definitions and heart weight using a database of sudden deaths using 1071 autopsy reports from across the USA in which the heart weight and the presence (n = 373) or not (n = 698) of cardiomegaly were recorded. We found that medical examiners appear not to use corrections for body weight but instead rely on step weight cutoffs, predominantly of 350, 400, 450, and 500 g. The decedent's age, weight, ethnicity, and toxicology did not tend to influence a diagnosis of cardiomegaly. The term cardiomegaly is being used with increasing frequency with an average increase of 3.6% per year. Consistency in the post-mortem use of cardiomegaly is lacking.

Biological evidence from sexual assaults frequently includes few male cells (i.e., spermatozoa) and numerous female cells (i.e., epithelial cells). In practice, their genetic analysis typically involves separating the victim's cells from the perpetrator's sperm using conventional differential extraction or advanced cell enrichment/capturing techniques. A descriptive study on simulated sexual assault samples was carried out by the recruitment of 10 heterosexual, monogamous couples. Post-coital swabs were collected before and after consensual sexual intercourse, with a sampling period of up to 96 h, and subjected to analysis to detect, quantify, and genotype adhering sperm by three distinct cell-separation techniques: differential extraction, laser capture microdissection, and DEPArray™. Methods differed in sperm detection and genotyping efficacy, while foreign DNA was identifiable up to 96 h. Time since intercourse and individuals were statistically significant factors (p ≤ 0.05) on male DNA yields, while hygienic behavior was not. Prior sperm enrichment was pivotal for cell capture technologies to counteract the abundance of epithelial cells, achieved by a prior mild digestion step for laser microdissection. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of standard and advanced methods provided a novel, comprehensive understanding of their merits, postulating that modern applications can assist conventional ones in challenging crime samples.

Forensic mycology and palynology are emerging disciplines that offer valuable tools for solving crimes, particularly in cases of enforced disappearances and clandestine burials. This study, conducted in Bogotá, Colombia, aimed to explore the potential contributions of mycology and palynology in forensic investigations. Using a controlled experimental setup, we simulated clandestine graves and studied the fungal and pollen communities at different soil depths, aiming to identify decomposition markers and estimate burial times. Samples were taken from soil at 30 and 50 cm depths from both control graves and those with pig cadavers. Mycological analysis revealed differences in fungal diversity, with graves containing cadavers showing higher species richness, which is linked to cadaveric decomposition. Palynological analysis indicated that pollen grains in deeper soil layers (50 cm) correspond to species, such as Borago officinalis, Poa sp., and Croton sonderianus, linked to dry seasons, indicating the burial timeframe. On the other hand, pollen from 30 cm depth was consistent with species from the wet season, corroborating the exhumation period. This study highlights the utility of combining mycology and palynology in forensic investigations, especially in tropical or equatorial regions like Bogotá, where decomposition dynamics may differ significantly from other global contexts.

Great Stuff™ is presented as an alternative material for the casting and preservation of three-dimensional footwear impressions located in snow and sand. This method generates a detailed, 1:1 foam cast of questioned footwear imprints. Great Stuff™ is a readily available commercial grade construction foam, normally used to fill voids and cracks in walls and interior window installations. The spray foam is applied by squirting the compound from the can into the footwear impression. A compression tool made from a wood plank fitted with two handles and covered on its base with a sheet of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic is placed over the foam-filled impression. The wood plank is gently pushed downward onto the impression. After a short period, the foam cast hardens. The cast is then removed, cleaned, and trimmed. It is then placed into an evidence box and marked for I.D. The resulting questioned impression can be directly compared to the outsoles of known suspected items of footwear or impressions of known items of footwear made with Great Stuff™ foam.

Addressing calls for transparency regarding errors and limitations in forensic processes is an ongoing concern for the forensic science service provider community and the stakeholders it serves worldwide. Foundational to this goal is developing a consistent approach to the identification of issues that have, or could have, an impact on the quality and reliability of forensic results. A standardized approach to the classification of quality issues detected within forensic agency management systems may be the strategic key to supporting consistent identification and disclosure, along with enhancing a positive quality culture throughout forensic service providers and building understanding of “error” in forensic science with end users of forensic information. A survey of international forensic science service providers was conducted to gain deeper insights into current systems of issue identification, classification, management, and disclosure along with perceptions on quality issues, their use and communication by forensic agency staff. The survey results demonstrate that development of a standardized approach would be of significant value to the forensic science community and its stakeholders, with potential benefit not only to improved communication and use of quality issue data but also in advancing a positive culture of quality and credibility in forensic service provision to support justice outcomes.