Exhumation of a juvenile body. Identification and marks of battered child

Abstract

The body of a young child buried in an undergrowth was exhumed with the help of DVI Belgium before being taken to the autopsy room. Radioscopic examination revealed no visible traumatic lesions in the skull, thorax or lower limbs. A fracture line to the distal third of the left humerus was observed. The body was strongly altered by putrefaction process and covered entirely with soil. The victim's body was completely naked. No personal effects were found on the body; no scarring or tattooing was visible, and there was no alteration of the skin surface. Based on the thanatological observations, the post mortem interval was estimated to be several months (5 to 6 months). No wounds or other evidence of traumatic or ballistic origin were found. After examination of the trunk cavities, complete extraction of the child's skeleton was carried out for examination and anthropological measurements. Biological sex was determined during the autopsy and age estimation was carried out by examining the stages of fusion of various bone parts (CI, CII), measurements of different bones (length of the femur and radius, width of scapula, etc.) and the stages of ossification of long bones. The estimated age was 5 years. However, macroscopic examination of the child's skeleton and thorough autopsy demonstrated the presence of dummy lesions in radioscopic and radiological examinations. These specific lesions are undeniable evidences that this child has been physically abused due to the various traumatic lesions highlighted.