Forensic entomologists face several challenges in determining the post-mortem interval (PMI) while dealing with burnt remains. It is important to consider the succession and colonization patterns of insects on such remains while arriving at minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the decomposition rate and insect succession pattern on burnt and unburnt pig carcasses during the spring season (March-May 2022) in a semi-arid region of Haryana with replication in the subsequent year. A total of eight pig carcasses were used during the study, out of which six pig carcasses were burnt at the Crow-Glassman Scale (CGS) level 1, 2, and 3, while two were left unburnt (Control) during both the years. The average ADD for control carcass was estimated 1232.1, while for burnt level 1, 2, and 3 carcasses it was 1392.5, 1524, and 1943.9 respectively. Chrysomya megacephala was the earliest visitor on the control carcasses, whereas Vespa orientalis was the first one to visit on all the burnt carcasses. As the only Indian study focused on burnt carcasses, this study reveals that more severe the burns, the longest is the dry stage and slowest is the decomposition rate. The abundance of coleopterans on burnt carcasses may hold potential value in exploring their effectiveness for estimating an approximate post-mortem interval (PMI).

This paper presents a retrospective analysis of reported cases and examinations conducted by the Document Division of a prominent forensic science laboratory covering six districts in Himachal Pradesh, India, over the five years (2018–2022), additionally, we provide updated data for 2023–2024 limited to case intake and disposal at RFSL Dharamshala to reflect recent forensic case handling trends. The data collection process involved reviewing case files and examination reports to identify commonalities and deviations in cases related to document alterations. The dataset includes information on the types of document alterations, techniques used, and legal provisions applicable to each case. The analysis aims to provide insights into evolving trends in white-collar crimes involving document alterations within the jurisdiction. The dataset's reuse potential lies in its ability to inform future forensic investigations, policy development, and educational initiatives aimed at combating document-related fraudulent activities. This study contributes to the forensic science community's understanding of regional trends in document-related white-collar crimes and underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptation to emerging threats. By elucidating patterns and methods employed by perpetrators, the dataset facilitates the development of proactive strategies for prevention, investigation, and prosecution. The establishment of robust forensic databases is advocated to effectively combat the persistent threat of document-related fraudulent activities. The insights gained from this study are anticipated to guide future forensic investigations and support efforts to address the dynamic nature of document alterations in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Forensic botany is a scientific investigation methodology that deals with the analysis of plant based evidence for solving crimes. The correlation of plants as the basis of life is supplemented by their extensive ability to seek justice for the dead and wronged through this domain. The ubiquity of botanical matter results in its presence in virtually all outdoor crime scenes. In such a scenario, these evidences can provide valuable insights into the place and manner of occurrence of the crime, among others. This case report presents one such instance of homicide, demonstrating the prowess of botanical evidence in establishing the place of discovery of the body as the primary crime scene. This was achieved through the comparison of grass at the intended site with control samples to ascertain factors such as morphology, compression and traces of blood. The breakthrough came with the analysis of the victim’s hair strands entwined with grass fibres, severed through the application of sharp trauma rather than decomposition. Thus the study of botanical evidence was able to rule out possibilities of attack occurring elsewhere and attest to the site of discovery of the body as the scene of the fatality

This study examined forensic insect diversity across three Gambian communities representing urbanization gradients: Brikama (urban), Gunjur (semi-urban), and Faraba (rural). Using RESCUE POP Fly Traps baited with rotten beef, dipterans were collected over 24-hour periods and identified morphologically. Seven species were documented, with Chrysomya albiceps dominating all sites. Brikama showed highest diversity (6 species; Simpson's D=0.622, Shannon H=1.162), Gunjur the lowest (D=0.213, H=0.369), and Faraba intermediate values (D=0.476, H=0.669). Similarity indices (Sørensen, Bray-Curtis) indicated moderate overlap between Brikama-Gunjur but lower Brikama-Faraba similarity. Calliphoridae was the predominant family. Results demonstrate that urbanization and habitat type significantly influence forensic insect communities, highlighting the necessity of location-specific data for accurate post-mortem interval estimation. This work provides foundational entomological data for The Gambia’s forensic investigations, though broader geographical sampling is recommended to fully characterize the country’s forensic insect biodiversity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if blood alcohol content and trauma severity were related to patients who had been in road traffic accident. Methods: This study examined the medical records of patients that were admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine of Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa city of Turkiye, as a result of road traffic accidents between 01/01/2022 and 01/08/2023. Results: Out of the 5279 car occupants, 121 used alcohol (2.2%), and 111 (91%) of them were males. The most common type of trauma in the cases was head trauma (n = 76, 62.8%), while 26 cases (21.5%) required major surgery. The mean blood ethanol level of the cases was 137,39 ± 95,03 mg/dl, the median Injury Severity Score (ISS) score was 3 (IQR, 25-75: 2-9), and the median Revised Trauma Score (RTS) score was 9 (IQR, 25-75: 4-4). A statistically significant difference was determined between the blood alcohol concentration of the cases and head trauma and upper extremity injuries [(p<0.05), (p=0.002)]. We note a correlation between blood alcohol concentration and age [(p<0.001, r = 0.416)]. Conclusion: Our study revealed that high blood alcohol concentrations in road traffic accident cases are associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Fingerprints’ unique patterns are the source of human identification, particularly for forensic investigations. Several studies established an association of fingerprint patterns with demographic variables like age, gender, blood group, and social behavior, but these relations lack statistical evidence. Additionally, a socio-demographic factor, caste, remains unexplored. Here, we report the statistical relationship of demographic factors with fingerprint patterns in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. A quantitative and qualitative approach is utilized to study fingerprint patterns of 500 female individuals. Loop pattern accounts for 64.5%, followed by whorls 27.4% and arches 8.1%, in the sampled population. Among all castes, the loop pattern dominates, followed by whorls and arches. Rajpoot and Malik have slightly higher portions of whorls compared to other castes. A 1-sample t-test shows the variability among demographic factors and indicates that the fingerprint pattern may have some influence on demographic factors. One-way ANOVA highlights that caste may have some significant relation with arches and whorls, while age and blood group show no statistical significance. Pearson correlation and Spearmen Rank’s correlation test give a significant p-value of 0.008 and 0.019, respectively, for caste and fingerprint patterns and support that a significant relationship exists, although weak. These findings emphasize the stability and reliability of fingerprint patterns as biometric identifiers in forensic investigations, especially in a particular demographic region. Future research should implement these findings in a larger population sample and demographic region to understand fingerprint patterns variability further.

The role of the skin in forensic medicine is increasingly recognised, particularly in post mortem interval (PMI) determination through its electrical properties. This study investigates the relationship between stratum corneum hydration (SCH), measured by corneometry, and skin temperature (ST), as literature strongly suggests that variations in skin temperature can influence its electrical properties. Twenty-four (24) adult subjects with known cause of death and characteristics were selected and briefly removed from their mortuary cell. ST (°C) and SCH (a.u.) were measured immediately and then at 5-minute intervals for 20 minutes using the Skin-Thermometer ST 500® and Corneometer CM-825® (Courage & Khazaka electronic GmbH, Cologne, Germany) at 3 body sites (cheekbone, abdomen and index finger). The results show a significant inverse relationship between ST and SCH, with a unit decrease in SCH for each unit increase in ST (-1.21 ± 0.55, p=0.028). This relationship was site-dependent (p <0.0001) but not influenced by time since removal from the mortuary cell (RMCT) (p = 0.15), sex (p = 0.39) or PMI (p = 0.88). The results highlight the need for careful consideration of skin temperature when assessing skin hydration, in order to accurately interpret post mortem changes in skin electrical properties, particularly when determining the post mortem interval (PMI).

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a common type of traumatic brain injury, whose detection remains a significant clinical challenge. Recent studies suggest that traumatic cerebral microbleeds (TCMs) may serve as indirect indicators of axonal injury. Given the similar mechanisms underlying the formation of axonal injury and cerebral microbleeds, the aim of this study is to investigate the potential association between these two types of cerebral trauma. In the total sample of 36 brains, axonal injury was detected in 32 cases (88.9%), identical to the incidence of traumatic cerebral microbleeds. βAPP immunopositivity was relatively evenly distributed across the examined brain regions, with slightly stronger expression in the posterior brain regions and the highest frequency of intense immunopositivity in the pons, albeit without statistical significance. The χ2 test, along with the Spearman correlation test, indicates an association between traumatic microbleeds in the genu of the corpus callosum and βAPP immunopositivity in all four observed brain regions, with the strongest correlation observed in the genu of the corpus callosum (p=0.011).