The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses.

Chee Hau Teo,Sri Pawita Albakri Amir Hamzah,Hiang Lian Hing,Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah

doi:10.21315/mjms2021.28.4.11

Chee Hau Teo, Sri Pawita Albakri Amir Hamzah + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2021.28.4.11

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Abstract

BackgroundExamination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies. Nonetheless, studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system.MethodsTwenty-seven rabbit carcasses were divided into: (i) No Clothing; (ii) Thick Clothing and (iii) Plastic Wrapping groups, and buried into individual shallow graves. One subject was exhumed from first to ninth post-burial week and assessed by using TBS system.Results and DiscussionThere are significant differences among TBS between different coverings while controlling the time factor, F (2, 23) = 4.80, P < 0.05, partial η2 = 0.294. TBS score for Plastic Wrapping group is significantly lower than No Clothing group over times at α = 0.05, P < 0.05. The slightly delaying effect of thick clothing is caused by design of jacket, which allows arthropods access and microbial activity. Relatively strong delaying effect by plastic covering could be caused by impermeable property that caused accumulation of decompositional products and slow down the degradation.ConclusionIn conclusion, TBS system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia.

Highlights

The Greek word ‘taphe’ means grave or tomb, which reflects the focus of forensic taphonomy on how the dead body degrades into basic components in the decomposition process and the interactions between the decomposition process and surrounding ecology system variables [1–5]
In conclusion, Total Body Score (TBS) system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia
The development of the decomposition process and the post-mortem changes observed were aligned with the scoring table used in TBS system

Summary

Introduction

The Greek word ‘taphe’ means grave or tomb, which reflects the focus of forensic taphonomy on how the dead body degrades into basic components in the decomposition process and the interactions between the decomposition process and surrounding ecology system variables [1–5] Potential information such as the presence of injuries, manner of death and post-mortem interval could be estimated by observing the pattern and extent of degradation that had occurred, which helps in criminal case investigation [6, 7]. Examination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies Studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system

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Conclusion