Abstract Background Using penetrating objects in the chest and abdomen is still an uncommon method for suicide, especially among elderly people. Knives are the most common instrument used in committing suicide by this method. Unconventional instruments like a knitting needle are rarely used. This rare case highlights an unusual method of suicide using a knitting needle for chest penetration in an elderly man. Case presentation An 88-year-old man was found dead in his closed apartment with no signs of struggle or disturbance. Multiple puncture wounds were found on the left side of the chest and in the inguinal region. A knitting needle fixed with a clamp and stained with blood was found near the body. Autopsy revealed the presence of 32 puncture wounds in the chest, 21 of which reached the heart. Histopathology showed myocardial infiltration with erythrocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear cells. Toxicological analysis was negative for alcohol, narcotics, and psychoactive drugs. No psychiatric or medical history that contributed to a suicidal risk was identified. Conclusion This case highlights the role of comprehensive forensic investigations to distinguish between homicidal and suicidal acts, especially with such an unusual instrument. It also raises awareness about suicide in the elderly, even without psychiatric and medical risks or indicators.

Abstract Background Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) has become a key specialty in contemporary criminal justice, driven by the application of science, legal criteria, and innovative technologies for analysing physical evidence and reconstructing crimes. 3D reconstruction technologies, such as laser scanning, photogrammetry, and virtual reality (VR), have become inseparable from forensics due to the increased precision and support for evidence preservation driven by recent advances. Based on the scoping review method by Arksey and O'Malley, as well as the Joanna Briggs Institute, this paper discusses the scope and implications of such technologies in the field of forensic science. Main Body Examining 34 studies published between January 1, 2008, and July 31, 2025, in 17 nations, the review concludes that 3D technologies have high precision and non-invasive documentation accuracy. These have helped enhance spatial analysis, court presentations, and training by employing immersive visualizations, particularly in bloodstain pattern analysis and injury confirmation. Its limitations, however, exist in the high costs, environmental constraints, complexities of data processing, and the absence of uniform protocol standards, which restrict scalability and the legality of admissibility. Conclusion 3D reconstruction technologies are valuable in enhancing and complementing forensic work, providing accurate, non-destructive, and immersive systems for analysing and displaying evidence. It will be essential to address the existing challenges with automation, cost-efficient implementations, and standardized procedures that ensure their practicality, dependability, and adoption in global forensic practice.

Abstract Background Cannabis, which is a psychoactive plant, refers to the leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. Cannabis is used globally for its psychoactive properties, with 2.5% of the world's population consuming it for recreational purposes. But in Indonesia, the plant is classified as a Class 1 narcotic, with a prevalence of use reaching 41.4%. Aceh is one of the largest cannabis-producing regions in Indonesia due to its favorable geographical and climatic conditions. Despite its illegal status, cannabis contains valuable phytocannabinoid compounds and is potentially important in medical applications. Previous studies have shown a correlation between the compound profile of cannabis and its geographical origin. This study aims to develop a classification method based on the cannabinoids compound profiles of dried cannabis samples taken from five regions in Aceh (Aceh Besar, Aceh Tengah, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, and Pidie Jaya) by microscopy, Raman spectrophotometry, GC–MS, and parametric statistical analysis to assist authorities in tracing the source of cannabis for law enforcement and forensic purposes. Results In this study, dried Cannabis sativa from five regions of Aceh, Indonesia, was tested with Raman spectroscopy and GC–MS to produce informative cannabinoid compound profiles as plant profiling. The results obtained 10 cannabinoids quantified in plant samples (Δ9-THC, CBD, THCV, CBL, CBTC, Methoxy-THC, CBC, CBG, Δ9-THCH, and CBN). The cannabinoids compound profile showed Δ9-THC had the highest overall content and was indicated as the most important compound in the cannabis plant clustering profile. Among the various regions, Aceh Besar had the highest cannabis content. Statistical analysis of Raman spectroscopy and GC–MS data found (1) revealed compounds responsible for clustering cultivars between clusters, (2) variation among cannabis chemical profiles as a result of growing environment, and (3) facilitated prediction of cannabis profiles in helping to categorise regions of unknown cannabis origin based on chemical profiles. Conclusion Raman spectroscopy and GC–MS have proven reliable and efficient methods for classifying Cannabis sativa based on its cannabinoid profile in Aceh, Indonesia. The findings help reveal the geographical origin of the growing location of cannabis plant specimens. All five cannabis samples contained a major Δ9-THC psychoactive constituent. The highest Δ9-THC content comes from AB due to the influence of environmental factors. Parametric test analysis concluded that there was no significant effect of geographical origin related to the relatively close distance range of samples. Additionally, comparing these methods with other analytical techniques will support defined classification models and improve their application in forensic science, particularly in drug enforcement and quality assessment.

Abstract Background The absence of sex, age-at-death, and stature estimation methods designed specifically for burnt skeletal remains may hinder, or even prevent, the identification process. Case presentation. The usefulness, applicability, reliability, and challenges of selected methods were reflected upon using a case study. The biological profile of a skeleton from an 81-year-old male individual was estimated before and after experimental heat exposure to compare method performance. The skeleton was experimentally burnt using an electric muffle for 42 min, reaching a maximum temperature of 413 °C. Conclusions The low-intensity burning conditions resulted in charred bones with minor heat-induced changes; therefore, allowing the application of most of the methods. However, bone fragmentation represented a meaningful obstacle to the application of several methodologies. Despite suggesting a younger individual than the biological record, age estimations were congruent before and after burning. Sex was the most affected parameter, with the majority of the post-burning estimations pointing towards a female individual. Stature estimations were congruent before and after burning. Low-intensity burning conditions may not cause extreme skeletal damage but can still pose challenges to identification, underscoring the necessity of methods tailored for burnt remains.

Abstract Background In parallel with the increase in the elderly population, the proportion of elderly people in autopsies for forensic reasons is also increasing. This study aims to reveal the sociodemographic characteristics and causes of death of people aged 65 and over whose forensic autopsies were performed in Bursa, to compare the obtained data with the literature, and to draw attention to the importance of forensic autopsy in elderly death cases and the health and social problems of the elderly population. Results Four thousand two hundred forty-seven cases whose autopsies were performed in the 3-year period between 2019–2021 at the the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine Bursa Group Administration were retrospectively scanned and 878 cases aged 65 and over were examined. It was determined that 20.6% of the 4247 cases who were autopsied were 65 years and over, the average age of the cases was 74.70 ± 7.3, and 74.6% were men. The most common cause of death was natural death, and cardiovascular diseases were found to be the most common cause of natural death. It has been determined that the most common accidents are traffic accidents in men and drowning in women. It was determined that 81.3% of suicide cases were committed by hanging, and hanging was the most common method of suicide in both genders. Conclusions We think that the information obtained from autopsy studies and determining the causes and origins of death will help determine the priorities for the necessary health services and social care for the elderly population in order to eliminate preventable causes.

Abstract Background Railway travel is an important route of transport in many countries. In this study, fatal and non-fatal railway-related injuries that occurred over 17 years in a province in eastern Turkey were retrospectively examined in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. Results A total of 77 railway-related injuries were evaluated. Of these, 60 (77.9%) were male and 17 (22.1%) were female. The mean age of the victims was 37.48 ± 17.68 years. Thirty-four of the cases were fatal and 43 were nonfatal injuries. Fatal and non-fatal injuries were most often caused by train-vehicle collisions. Seventy-four (96.1%) of the cases were accidental. The most common type of fatal injuries was head injuries (27 cases); nonfatal injuries were mostly superficial external-only injuries (21 cases). The mortality rate was 44.2%; the highest mortality rate was in the type of incidents involving train-pedestrian collisions (73.7%). The risk of lower extremity amputation increased in train-pedestrian collisions compared to train-vehicle collisions. Conclusions It was concluded that measures for the safety of roadway and railway junctions should be increased and precautions should be taken to prevent the access of pedestrians to railway networks.

Abstract Background Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) enables extensive skeletal morphometric data collection, facilitating the development of novel osteological identification methods. The first lumbar vertebra, due to its anatomical features and imaging accessibility, is a promising candidate for such analysis. This study evaluates the utility of PMCT-derived metric analysis of the first lumbar vertebra in North Indian population for forensic sex estimation and age prediction. We hypothesize that: Linear vertebral dimensions from PMCT exhibit statistically significant sexual dimorphism; Select vertebral measurements correlate with age, enabling predictive modeling through regression analysis. A cross-sectional study design was employed involving 150 medicolegal autopsy cases (75 males and 75 females), whose whole-body PMCT scans were obtained, and 15 pre-defined linear parameters of the first lumbar vertebra were measured using multiplanar reconstructions. The methodology followed a previously established Egyptian model adapted for North Indian subjects. Results All vertebral measurements were consistently greater in males than females. A stepwise discriminant function analysis achieved an overall sex classification accuracy of 88.0%. For age estimation, selected parameters showed moderate positive correlation with chronological age. A multiple linear regression model incorporating vertebral length, posterior body length, and spinous process height was formulated. Conclusions PMCT-based vertebral metrics offer a non-invasive, standardized, and reproducible method for sex estimation in forensic contexts. Although age estimation accuracy remains limited, findings suggest potential utility in combination with other methods. Larger population-specific datasets are needed to refine these predictive models.

Abstract Background Age estimation using dental radiography plays a critical role in forensic and legal contexts. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the evidence-based support for various methods of age estimation using dental radiography in Brazilians and to evaluate the precision of these methods. Main body The search strategy was performed in 5 electronic databases and in gray literature for articles published until August 3th, 2024. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and methodological quality using an adapted version of Newcastle − Ottawa Scale. To estimate the precision of different dental methods, the mean absolute error between the age estimated by dental methods and the chronological age was calculated. The mean difference between the two variables was used as the effect measure. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. A total of 28 studies met the eligibility criteria. One study was rated 4 (low quality), 16 studies received scores between 5 and 6 (moderate quality), and 11 studies scored 7 or above (high quality). Fourteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, allowing the evaluation of different dental methods for age estimation in male and female individuals. All methods showed a mean error (expressed in mean difference in chronological age) of less than 2 years. For males, the mean error ranged from 0.2 to 1.75 years. For females, the mean error ranged from 0.01 to 1.27 years. Conclusions The methods tended to overestimate the actual chronological age. Significant limitations were found regarding the representativeness of the Brazilian population in the evaluated studies.

Abstract Background Forensic odontology plays a crucial role in personal identification in medico-legal cases and massive-scale disasters. The maxillofacial skeleton harbors various landmarks that provide pertinent information in biological sex and age determination. This study aimed to examine the morphology and dimensions of the nasopalatine canal (NPC) in sagittal, coronal, and axial sections on cone beam computed tomography images of individuals of Indian origin. A total of 200 CBCT images (100 males, 100 females) aged 18–65 years were analyzed. The study sought to correlate NPC morphology with age and biological sex. Morphological categories were defined after calibration with a radiologist, and statistical analyses, including chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann–Whitney U, and independent t tests, were performed. Inter- and intra-observer reliability was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Results The NPC showed considerable morphological variability. Round cross-sectional shape was most prevalent (52%), significantly more in males (61%), while females had a higher frequency of oval shapes (43%). Single canal shape was the most frequent (59.5%) in the longitudinal view on coronal sections. Cylindrical shape was common (51.5%) in the longitudinal view on sagittal sections. External borders varied with age: V-shaped in the 18–30 group (42.5%) and reverse V-shaped in the 31–65 group (45.7%). A single NPC opening was observed in 82.5% of cases, with a significant increase in prevalence in older age groups (91.5%). Males exhibited significantly larger dimensions for the diameter of the nasopalatine foramen and incisive foramen, NPC length, and nasopalatine angle compared to females. No significant age-related variability was noted in NPC dimensions. Conclusion The study highlights the substantial variability in NPC morphology in individuals of Indian origin. The most common findings were a round cross-sectional shape, single canal longitudinally, and a reverse V-shaped external border in older individuals. Biological sex had a significant impact on NPC dimensions, with males exhibiting larger values than females. Hence, the results of morphometric analysis of NPC could be used as a valuable data pool for biological sex determination in forensic research.

Abstract Background Estimating the age of bloodstains is a prime aspect of forensic science for reconstructing the timeline of events at crime scenes. Surface material plays a crucial role in pointing out the approximate age of the bloodstains. This study investigates the morphological changes of bloodstains on tile and vinyl flooring over 120 h. Results Blood samples were drawn in EDTA tubes and were dropped from a height of 55 cm onto clean tile and vinyl surfaces using a micro-drip infusion set to ensure consistent droplet volume. Observations were made at specific time intervals: 5 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h, using stereo microscopy and high-resolution imaging under LED lighting. Quantitative parameters, including contact angle, diameter, and red intensity, were measured to assess the aging process of the stains. The Mann–Whitney U test indicated significant differences between the two substrates. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the aging patterns of bloodstains differ significantly between tile and vinyl flooring, allowing estimation of bloodstain age with an accuracy of approximately ± 0.3 days over 5 days. These findings enhance the precision of bloodstain pattern analysis and offer practical tools for forensic investigations across various surface types.