Genetic Identification of Communist Crimes’ Victims (1944–1956) Based on the Analysis of One of Many Mass Graves Discovered on the Powazki Military Cemetery in Warsaw,Poland |
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| Authors: | Andrzej Ossowski Ph.D. Marta Diepenbroek Ph.D. Tomasz Kupiec Ph.D. Milena Bykowska‐Witowska M.Sc. Grażyna Zielińska Ph.D. Teresa Dembińska Ph.D. Andrzej Ciechanowicz Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland;2. The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Szczecin, Poland;3. Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow, Kraków, Poland;4. Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland;5. Department of Forensic Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland;6. Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Molecular Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland |
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| Abstract: | As the result of the communist terror in Poland, during years 1944–1956 more than 50,000 people died. Their bodies were buried secretly, and most places are still unknown. The research presents the results of identification of people buried in one of many mass graves, which were found at the cemetery Pow?zki Military in Warsaw, Poland. Exhumation revealed the remains of eight people, among which seven were identified genetically. Well‐preserved molars were used for the study. Reference material was collected from the closest living relatives. In one case, an exhumation of victim's parents had to be performed. DNA from swabs was extracted with a PrepFiler® BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit and organic method. Autosomal, Y‐STR amplification, and mtDNA sequencing were performed. The biostatistical calculations resulted in LR values from 1608 to 928 × 1018. So far, remains of more than 50 victims were identified. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science
DNA
STR
Exhumation war graves
DVI
HID
victims of totalitarianism communism |
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