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Seasonal decomposition and the effect of clothing in Cape Town, South Africa

Unidentified, unclaimed human remains are a substantial problem in many developing nations, including South Africa. Most forensic cases in Cape Town involve clothed individuals found in thicketed environments. To assist in local medico‐legal death investigations, we gathered taph...

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Examining the effects of 3D printed projectiles on firearm identification

In recent years, 3D printers have become more affordable for the average consumer to purchase, and new printers require less user input, making the process accessible to anyone who can download files online. Due to these factors, these printers are being used to manufacture firea...

The dermestid beetle (Dermestes maculatus) as a biotic taphonomic agent: Further...

The dermestid beetle (Dermestes maculatus) has become renowned in the laboratory as an aid to skeletonization of remains. However, little attention has been paid to the potential effects these insects can have on hard tissues and whether their traces may be mistaken for trauma or...

Lab‐based evaluation of first‐ and second‐generation gamma‐hydroxybutyrate test strips and...

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been used as a drug to facilitate sexual assault. Commercial testing devices are available for bars and patrons to test drinks that may have been spiked with GHB. In this study, six first‐generation GHB test devices were evaluated for the detection...

From theory to practice: Protocol adaptations for swift victim identification in the...

The October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel posed unprecedented challenges for disaster victim identification (DVI), requiring adaptations to international forensic protocols to address extreme conditions, including active conflict, fragmented remains, and cultural and religious cons...

Characteristics and toxicology of adult deaths due to quetiapine toxicity in Australia,...

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic that has been associated with both intentional and unintentional deaths. We aimed to determine, stratified by intentionality: (1) The characteristics and circumstances of adult deaths attributed solely to quetiapine toxicity in Australia, 2...

Digital otoscopic examination of tympanic membranes in confirmed suicidal hanging deaths:...

A crucial factor in cases of apparent hanging deaths is establishing whether an antemortem hanging or postmortem suspension has occurred. Hanging diagnosis relies upon the history, scene investigation, and gross examination of the body including the ligature furrow and possible r...

Authentication of forged inked fingerprints utilizing silicone molds

Although the use of forged inked fingerprints is not common in criminal cases, it is gradually increasing in civil cases. This study introduces a rapid and nondestructive method for detecting forged inked fingerprints using Raman spectral, morphology, and deep learning. To develo...

Phosphatidylethanol in post‐mortem blood: A comparative study of blood matrices and its...

Determination of alcohol markers in post‐mortem cases can be useful to classify drinking habits and potential alcohol habituation prior to death. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct alcohol marker and is already commonly used in a variety of contexts. However, its use in the f...

Micro‐CT for the differentiation between live birth and stillbirth: A pilot study

The distinction between live births and stillbirths is crucial for determining the appropriate legal consequences. Historically, researchers have operated under the principle that an infant's lungs will be filled with air upon death, whereas a fetus's lungs will not. Th...

Study on efficiency of the half‐volume GlobalFiler™ PCR protocol: Internal validation,...

Due to its versatility, the GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit is commonly used in forensic analyses. The half‐volume protocol used in our laboratory was validated by manually and automatically assembled PCRs involving increased number of PCR cycles. Validation parameters include...