Personal identification by complex study of characteristics of the teeth and dentition structures

A multimodality dental examination was made and anatomomorphological features of teeth and tooth sequences were studied in 200 policemen using clinical examination, morphological investigation of plaster jaw models, analysis of x-rays and statistics, intraoral videocamera pictures, computer processing. The scheme of creation of dental data bank applicable in personal identification is offered.     

Criteria of personal identification by the hyoid bone

We studied 16 sizes of the hyoid bone (HB) from 158 corpses of known gender, Russians, who had died at the age over 15 years by the K. Miller et al program (1998) and 205 back projection electroroentgenograms of the neck of patients of the traumatological hospital in the town of Kirov. HB skeletization was made by the enzymatic drug enzyme. SPSS package and multidimentional statistics (regression and discriminant analyses) were used for data processing. It was established that HB is an informative object of forensic medical personal identification allowing determination of the body length and gender as well as anatomical, x-ray and osteometric individual features. Precision of human body length diagnosis by HB is 6.71-7.26 cm. Therefore, this method should be used in combination with the diagnosis by long tubular bones. Diagnosis of human gender by osteometric signs of HB based on one-dimentional discriminant analysis is feasible in 80-85%, based on canonical discriminant analysis--in 91.1% cases. The method of anatomic, osteometric and roentgenological assessment of HB individuality can be used in personal identification by intravital x-ray of cervical organs and in traumatic defects of HB. The methods may be applied in forensic medical practice in expert examination of body fragments or isolated bone fragments.     

Cognitive processes in criminal profile construction: a preliminary study

This study undertook an empirically based examination of the cognitive processes associated with the accurate construction of a criminal psychological profile. This was accomplished by comparing the abilities of profilers and nonprofilers in two simulated profiling exercises that measured both profile accuracy and an individual's performance on various tests of memory and comprehension related to the case materials presented in each exercise. The results of these experiments suggest that an incremental relationship exists between comprehension of the case materials and accuracy of the profiles generated. In addition, the findings provide some tentative indications that the comprehension of case material in a narrative (i.e., written) format is an integral cognitive function to proficient profiling.     

A case of commingled remains from rural South Africa

In the spring of 2003, bush cutters discovered a large grain bag filled with human skeletal remains in a forest in South Africa. Differential taphonomic processes observed on the bones suggested that the individuals had not died at the same time or had decomposed under different circumstances. The remains were sorted using gross morphological techniques which included assessing the number of skeletal elements present, visual pair matching, articulation, process of elimination and taphonomy. Standard techniques were used to estimate age, sex, racial affinity and stature. A minimum number of individuals (MNI) of 10 was established, which included 7 adult males, 1 adult female and 2 juveniles. Trauma was observed on only one individual. Approximately, 80% of the skeletal remains were missing. These various skeletal elements may have been lost by accident, normal taphonomic processes or taken by scavengers. Possible origins for these skeletal remains include removal from a formal grave, found in the veldt or murdered.