Missing Cases Research Articles

Learning Unified Hyper-Network for Multi-Modal MR Image Synthesis and Tumor Segmentation With Missing Modalities.

Accurate segmentation of brain tumors is of critical importance in clinical assessment and treatment planning, which requires multiple MR modalities providing complementary information. However, due to practical limits, one or more modalities may be missing in real scenarios. To tackle this problem, existing methods need to train multiple networks or a unified but fixed network for various possible missing modality cases, which leads to high computational burdens or sub-optimal performance. In this paper, we propose a unified and adaptive multi-modal MR image synthesis method, and further apply it to tumor segmentation with missing modalities. Based on the decomposition of multi-modal MR images into common and modality-specific features, we design a shared hyper-encoder for embedding each available modality into the feature space, a graph-attention-based fusion block to aggregate the features of available modalities to the fused features, and a shared hyper-decoder for image reconstruction. We also propose an adversarial common feature constraint to enforce the fused features to be in a common space. As for missing modality segmentation, we first conduct the feature-level and image-level completion using our synthesis method and then segment the tumors based on the completed MR images together with the extracted common features. Moreover, we design a hypernet-based modulation module to adaptively utilize the real and synthetic modalities. Experimental results suggest that our method can not only synthesize reasonable multi-modal MR images, but also achieve state-of-the-art performance on brain tumor segmentation with missing modalities.

Invasive Fungal Infections after CAR T-Cell Therapy for B-Cell Lymphoma: A Study from the French Descart Registry

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as an important treatment option for patients with B-cell malignancies. Despite its major clinical impact, CAR T cell therapy holds a potential risk of increased susceptibility to infections, including invasive fungal infections (IFI). Since data about the prevalence and impact of fungal infections in this population are limited, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of IFI using real-world data from the national DESCAR-T registry. Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective cohort study, quering the French DESCAR-T registry (NCT04328298), to describe type, frequency and outcomes of IFI in adults with refractory or relapsed (R/R) B cell lymphomas. In addition, healthcare providers were contacted to declare any missing cases. Demographic, biological and clinical characteristics were collected retrospectively. Each IFI case was reviewed by an infectious disease specialist and a microbiologist, and classified according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria (Donnelly et al. Clinical Infect Dis 2020). Results: Among the 1144 patients included in the registry from 2018 to 2022, we identified 57 suspected IFI cases. After exclusion of 25 patients not adjudicated for IFI, 32 patients (3%) were identified as having presented a proven (n = 14), probable (n = 12), or possible (n = 6) IFI. DLBCL was the primary diagnosis for 30 patients and axi-cel was the most frequent CAR T product (23/32, 72%). Seven patients (22%) had received a previous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. All patients experienced cytokine release syndrome (including 8 grade ≥ 3) and 21 (66%) experienced immune effector cell-associated syndrome (including 13 grade ≥ 3). Overall, 27 (84%), 21 (66%), and 5 (16%) received tocilizumab (median 960mg, range 120-2880mg), corticosteroids, and anakinra, respectively. Among known risk factors for IFI, grade 4 neutropenia and late neutropenia (< 1g/L) at day 28 after infusion were identified in 25 (78%) and 14 (44%) patients respectively. Overall, 8 (25%) patients received antifungal prophylaxis, posaconazole was used for 4 of them. Over half of the IFI cases occurred between 0 and 30 days after CAR T-cell infusion (18/32, 56%), with a median onset time of 29.5 days (IQR 16.5 - 79.5). The most frequently observed infections were invasive Aspergillosis (n = 13), with pulmonary involvement in 10/13 (77%) of patients, leading to a fatal issue in 3/13 patients (23%). Other mold infections included Mucormycosis (n = 5), with pulmonary involvement in 4/5 patients and a fatal outcome in 1/5, as well as Fusariosis (n = 1). Yeast infections (n = 12) were mostly identified as Candidemia (92%) with a mortality rate of 3/12 (27%). The median overall survival of patients with IFI was 186.5 days (IQR 79-506), 7 deaths being related to IFI and 3 to lymphoma relapse. Median progression-free survival was 94 days (IQR 31 - 252). Conclusions: This study represents one of the largest investigations about IFI in B-cell lymphoma patients treated with CAR T-cells. Even though IFI represent a rare complication after CAR T-cell therapy, the related-mortality is high. Selective antifungal prophylaxis may benefit high-risk patients, while rapid preemptive diagnostic workup, particularly for lung involvement, is mandatory. Analysis to define potential risk factors for IFI are ongoing.

Active Tuberculosis Screening via a Mobile Health App in Myanmar: Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation.

A mobile app that calculates a tuberculosis (TB) risk score based on individual social and pathological characteristics has been shown to be a better predictor of the risk of contracting TB than conventionally used TB signs and symptoms (TBSS) in Myanmar, where the TB burden is high. Its cost-effectiveness, however, has not yet been assessed. This study aimed to determine the incremental costs of this mobile app and of chest x-rays (CXRs) in averting disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among missed cases of active TB in the population being screened. Elements of incremental costs and effectiveness of 3 initial TB screening strategies were examined, including TBSS followed by CXR, the mobile app followed by CXR, and universal CXR. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER; ie, the additional cost for each additional DALY averted) was compared to TBSS screening. Based on the latest 2020 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Myanmar (US $1477.50), the ICER was compared to willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds of 1, 2, and 3 times the GDP per capita. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted with a Monte Carlo simulation to compute the levels of probability that the ICER for each strategy was below each WTP threshold. For each 100,000 population, the incremental cost compared to TBSS of active TB screening was US $345,942 for the mobile app and US $1,810,712 for universal CXR. The incremental effectiveness was 325 DALYs averted for the mobile app and 576 DALYs averted for universal CXR. For the mobile app, the estimated ICER was US $1064 (72% of GDP per capita) per 1 DALY averted. Furthermore, 100% of the simulated values were below an additional cost of 1 times the GDP per capita for 1 additional DALY averted. The universal CXR strategy has an estimated ICER of US $3143 (2.1 times the GDP per capita) per 1 DALY averted and an additional 77.2% DALYs averted compared to the app (ie, 576 - 325 / 325 DALYs); however, 0.5% of the simulated values were higher than an additional expenditure of 3 times the GDP per capita. Based on the status of the economy in 2020, the mobile app strategy is affordable for Myanmar. The universal CXR strategy, although it could prevent an additional 77% of DALYs, is probably unaffordable. Compared to the TBSS strategy, the mobile app system based on social and pathological characteristics of TB has potential as a TB screening tool to identify missing TB cases and to reduce TB morbidity and mortality, thereby helping to achieve the global goal of "End TB" in resource-limited settings with a high TB burden.

Abstract 16269: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Sudden Cardiac Death in the General Population

Background: Published data indicate that 50% of individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) suffer sudden cardiac death (SCD), however the burden of SCD in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains inconclusive. Aim: Determine the prevalence of HFpEF in a community-based cohort of SCD. Methods: We prospectively identified cases with out-of-hospital SCD in a large metro area of the US Northwest (Pop. 1 million, 2002-2017) and determined HF status prior to SCD based on review of clinical records. Heart failure was subdivided into HFpEF (EF≥50%), HFmrEF (EF 40%-50%), and HFrEF (EF≤40%). In addition, since HFpEF is often underdiagnosed, we evaluated a modified H2FPEF algorithm for the identification of HFpEF among our SCD cohort with unknown HF subtypes. The score was comprised of clinical variables including age, BMI, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. Score accuracy was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis comparing known HFpEF from clinical records and echocardiography versus non-HF subjects. Next, the score was used to identify missing HFpEF cases within the HF and SCD population. Results: Among 4,683 total SCD cases, 1,013 (22%) had a clinical history of HF. Prevalence of HF sub-types was 42% for HFpEF, 19% for HFmEF and 39% for HFrEF cases. An algorithm score of 5 or greater differentiated HFpEF subjects from non-HF subjects with an AUC of 0.68 (p < 0.01). The algorithm was then deployed on cases with an unknown heart failure subtype and an additional 117 HFpEF subjects were identified. The adjusted total prevalence of HFpEF was 542 subjects (53%) in the SCD the cohort with HF. Conclusion: At least 40% of the SCD cases with HF carry a diagnosis of HFpEF, and our estimates suggest the prevalence may be as high as 53%. Ultimately, these findings highlight the need to develop effective options for primary prevention of SCD in HFpEF patients.

Evaluating the Time of Death (Post Mortem Interval, PMI) through Forensic Entomo-toxicological Investigations of Maggots and Flies

The estimation of the post mortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of forensic science, aiding investigations and resolving missing persons cases. This abstract explores the innovative approach of forensic entomotoxicological investigations, focusing on the analysis of maggots and flies in PMI estimation. Maggots and flies are key players in the decomposition process, and their lifecycles are closely linked to the stages of decay. Challenges and limitations, such as environmental factors and variable drug metabolism, are considered. Two compelling case studies exemplify the practical applications of forensic entomotoxicology in solving criminal cases and missing persons investigations.
 The primary goal of this paper is to provide guidance to knowledgeable researchers and investigators in the realm of forensic entomotoxicology. It underscores the need for a heightened focus on forensic Entomotoxicology, particularly in investigations involving the effects of drugs on the growth stages of insect development, for more accurate postmortem interval estimations, especially in cases involving decomposed remains. In conclusion, forensic entomotoxicological investigations of maggots and flies present a dynamic and invaluable approach to PMI estimation, promising to enhance the accuracy and reliability of forensic science in determining the timing of death.

The suitability of using domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as human proxies in the geophysical detection of clandestine graves.

Research in many forensic science fields commonly uses domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as proxies for human remains, due to their physiological and anatomical similarities, as well as being more readily available. Unfortunately, previous research, especially that which compares the decompositional process, has shown that pigs are not appropriate proxies for humans. To date, there has not been any published research that specifically addresses whether domestic pigs are adequate human proxies for the geophysical detection of clandestine graves. As such, the aim of this paper was to compare the geophysical responses of pig cadavers and human donor graves, in order to determine if pigs can indeed be used as adequate human proxies. To accomplish this, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) responses on single and multiple pig cadaver graves were compared to single and multiple human donor graves, all of which are in known locations within the same geological environment. The results showed that under field conditions, both GPR and ERT were successful at observing human and pig burials, with no obvious differences between the detected geophysical responses. The results also showed that there were no differences in the geophysical responses of those who were clothed and unclothed. The similarity of the responses may reflect that the geophysical techniques can detect graves despite what their contents are. The study implications suggest that experimental studies in other soil and climate conditions can be easily replicated, benefiting law enforcement with missing persons cases.

Fuzzy current analysis-based fault diagnostic of induction motor using hardware co-simulation with field programmable gate array

Introduction. Presently, signal analysis of stator current of induction motor has become a popular technique to assess the health state of asynchronous motor in order to avoid failures. The classical implementations of failure detection algorithms for rotating machines, based on microprogrammed sequential systems such as microprocessors and digital signal processing have shown their limitations in terms of speed and real time constraints, which requires the use of new technologies providing more efficient diagnostics such as application specific integrated circuit or field programmable gate array (FPGA). The purpose of this work is to study the contribution of the implementation of fuzzy logic on FPGA programmable logic circuits in the diagnosis of asynchronous machine failures for a phase unbalance and a missing phase faults cases. Methodology. In this work, we propose hardware architecture on FPGA of a failure detection algorithm for asynchronous machine based on fuzzy logic and motor current signal analysis by taking the RMS signal of stator current as a fault indicator signal. Results. The validation of the proposed architecture was carried out by a co-simulation hardware process between the ML402 boards equipped with a Virtex-4 FPGA circuit of the Xilinx type and Xilinx system generator under MATLAB/Simulink. Originality. The present work combined the performance of fuzzy logic techniques, the simplicity of stator current signal analysis algorithms and the execution power of ML402 FPGA board, for the fault diagnosis of induction machine achieving the best ratios speed/performance and simplicity/performance. Practical value. The emergence of this method has improved the performance of fault detection for asynchronous machine, especially in terms of hardware resource consumption, real-time online detection and speed of detection.

Mixed-strategy equilibrium of the symmetric production in advance game: The missing case

The mixed-strategy equilibrium of the symmetric production-in-advance type capacity-constrained Bertrand-Edgeworth duopoly game has not been derived analytically over the entire range of intermediate capacities in the literature. In this paper we derive for the missing region a symmetric mixed-strategy equilibrium analytically.

Surgical Safety Does Not Happen By Accident: Learning From Perioperative Near Miss Case Studies

Adverse surgical events cause negative patient health outcomes and harm that can often overshadow the safe and effective patient care provided daily by nurses as members of interprofessional healthcare teams. Near misses occur far more frequently than adverse events and are less visible to nurse leaders because patient harm is avoided due to chance, prevention, or mitigation. However, near misses have comparable root causes to adverse events and exhibit the same underlying patterns of failure. Reviewing near misses provides nurses with learning opportunities to identify patient care weaknesses and build appropriate solutions to enhance care. As the operating room is one of the most complex work settings in healthcare, identifying potential weaknesses or sources for errors is vital to reduce healthcare-associated risks for patients and staff. The purpose of this manuscript is to educate, inform, and stimulate critical thinking by discussing perioperative near miss case studies and the underlying factors that lead to errors. Our authors discuss 15 near miss case studies occurring across the perioperative patient experience of care and discuss barriers to near miss reporting. Nurse leaders can use our case studies to stimulate discussion among perioperative and perianesthesia nurses in their hospitals to inform comprehensive risk reduction programs.

Deep Learning-Based Automated Quality Assurance for Palliative Spinal Treatment Planning in Radiotherapy

Robustquality assurance (QA) for palliative spine radiation therapy (RT) remains critical due to the risk of wrong anatomic level treatment on account of human error in enumerating vertebral bodies accurately based on morphology with incomplete imaging of the spine and prevalence of anatomic variants (10%). We propose a rapid, fully automated deep learning-based QA (DL-QA) tool for segmenting and enumerating vertebral structures from image data, capable of identifying misalignment based on discrepancies in calculated dose coverage. Ina retrospective cohort of 514 patients who received palliative spine radiation treatment at a single institution for spinal metastases, vertebral volumes for each individual spine level were automatically segmented on RT planning computed tomography scans using a publicly available deep learning algorithm, Total Segmentator (TS) deployed in the treatment planning system (Wasserthal et al, 2022). Departmental policy requires that the prescription/plan name include all spinal levels that receive a prescribed dosimetric threshold of V50% > 50%. By comparing the intended spine level target in the prescription and plan name against the TS volumes, the DL-QA flagged all cases for which any target vertebrae did not receive this threshold dose and/or any non-targeted vertebrae that received V50% > 50%. To detect spine anomalies, cases were also flagged if any vertebrae volume was not within ±1σ of the entire population of vertebrae volumes. Flagged cases were either categorized as: (1) wrong spine level RT error; (2) documentation error, in which treatment was correct but the prescription/plan name did not follow Departmental policy; or (3) potential spinal geometric error. All flagged cases were verified manually by checking the original images and treatment planning data. Outof 514 patients, 29 cases were flagged as potential errors. Manual review revealed that one of these was a previously discovered true treatment error (due to anatomic variant with 4 lumbar bodies) while 10 were treated as intended but showed documentation errors due to variants in the number of vertebral bodies, kyphosis of the spine causing non-targeted vertebrae to appear in the treatment field, or improper observation of the Departmental plan naming policy. The remaining 18 cases were associated with flagged vertebrae volumes. Reviewing those patients, we identified spinal anomalies where TS attempted to account for extra or missing vertebrae (N = 9) and cases where TS made segmentation errors (N = 9). Theproposed automated DL-QA system successfully identified patients with spine anomalies, flagged documentation errors, verified the correct target levels of spine RT treatments, and detected a known misadministration. The next phase will involve prospective testing of the system in a clinical setting upstream of treatment delivery.

Diagnostic performance of host protein signatures as a triage test for active pulmonary TB.

The current four-symptom screen recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) is widely used as screen to initiate diagnostic testing for active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), yet the performance is poor especially when TB prevalence is low. In contrast, more sensitive molecular tests are less suitable for placement at primary care level in low-resource settings. In order to meet the WHO End TB targets, new diagnostic approaches are urgently needed to find the missing undiagnosed cases. Proteomics-derived blood host biomarkers have been explored because protein detection technologies are suitable for the point-of-care setting and could meet cost targets. This study aimed to find a biomarker signature that fulfills WHO's target product profile (TPP) for a TB screening. Twelve blood-based protein biomarkers from three sample populations (Vietnam, Peru, and South Africa) were analyzed individually and in combinations via advanced statistical methods and machine learning algorithms. The combination of I-309, SYWC and kallistatin showed the most promising results to discern active TB throughout the data sets meeting the TPP for a triage test in adults from two countries (Peru and South Africa). The top-performing individual markers identified at the global level (I-309 and SYWC) were also among the best-performing markers at country level in South Africa and Vietnam. This analysis clearly shows that a host protein biomarker assay is feasible in adults for certain geographical regions based on one or two biomarkers with a performance that meets minimal WHO TPP criteria.

Comparing Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient characteristics from the National ALS Registry and the Massachusetts ALS Registry, data through 2015

Objective To compare, for completeness, ALS patients identified in the National ALS Registry (National Registry) from MA to those in the Massachusetts ALS Registry (MA Registry) through 2015. Methods Sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine the completeness among patients reported in both registries. Patients were matched on first and last name, month and year of birth, sex, as well as Soundex name matching. Demographics for matching and nonmatching ALS patients were also examined using bivariate analyses and logistic regression. Results There were 1,042 ALS patients in the MA Registry, and 642 patients matched (61.6%) in the National Registry. Sensitivity analyses found the National Registry had a sensitivity of 87.7% and specificity of 60%. For these matched patients, 522 (81.2%) came from Medicare. Of the 400 patients in the MA Registry not matched to the National Registry, 11.1% were nonwhite, compared to 6.0% in the matched group) (p = 0.0091) and 59.2% were diagnosed before age 60, compared to 28.6% in the matched group (p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed being an ALS case (p < 0.0001) and having an ALS diagnosis at age 60 or later (p < 0.0001) were associated with being more likely to match between the two registries. Conclusions These findings show that ALS’s non-notifiable condition status at the national level continues to pose a challenge in identifying all ALS patients. This analysis also showed missing cases at the state level even with a reporting statute. Additional strategies are needed for better patient-ascertainment to quantify all ALS patients in the U.S.

Involving citizens in urgent missing person cases. An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour within District Criminal Investigations Teams

ABSTRACT This article examines the use of citizen participation by detectives in urgent missing person cases. Citizens can make a valuable contribution to finding a missing person, but this kind of assistance is often underutilised. We applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour to explore the extent to which attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence detectives’ intentions to involve citizens and the detectives’ considerations underlying such intentions. To this end, a quantitative questionnaire was developed and administered to detectives from four regional police units. The best goodness-of-fit of the theoretical model was found for officers who deal with urgent missing persons cases regularly, but not often; for this group, the model explained 39 percent of the variance observed. The results show that intention is significantly related to detectives’ attitudes. Subjective norms had a significant predictive value, except for officers who encounter missing persons cases frequently. Perceived behavioural control had no significant effect. The study suggests that the choice to involve citizens is mainly attitude-driven, and is determined primarily by detectives’ personal affinity with citizen participation and their perception of its benefits. Perceived risks, such as damage to the investigation, have limited influence on decisions regarding citizen participation.

Cause of death in fatal missing person cases in England and Wales

Typically, fewer than 0.5% of missing incidents result in an individual being found deceased. Whereas previous research has examined the features of missing–homicide, missing–suicide and some aspects of missing–accident cases, this study sought to provide the first reliable estimates of the number and proportion of fatalities by all causes of death, specifically: suicide, accident, homicide and natural causes. Using data obtained on 615 fatal disappearances via Freedom of Information returns from 22 English and Welsh police forces covering a two-year period, this article presents data on the relative probability of fatality by cause of death for adults and children and for males and females. Overall, fatal outcomes are, thankfully, rare, occurring once in every 358 missing incidents. Some 98% of fatalities involved adults; just over 80% involved males. The findings affirm suicide as the largest single cause of death accounting for three-quarters of female fatalities and four in every five male fatalities. Although homicide was the least probable cause of death among male missing persons, females faced a roughly similar chance of dying as a result of an accident or homicide. The research indicates that estimates of probability can be used to inform investigative decision-making and scenario development, offering important context to the overall likelihood of an individual facing a fatal outcome. Further research is needed to replicate these findings.

All that glitters is not gold: X-ray fluorescence analysis of a fixed dental prosthesis from Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI, Portugal (CEI/XXI)

Access to better health care anticipates that more medical devices can be found alongside skeletal remains. Those employed in oral rehabilitation, with available brands or batch/series, can prove useful in the identification process. A previous study in the Colecção de Esqueletos Identificados Século XXI described macroscopically the dental prostheses. An unusual case of a dental device with chromatic alterations demonstrated to require a more detailed analysis. The individual, a 53-year-old male, exhibited, at both arches, a fixed tooth-supported rehabilitation, with gold colouring classified initially as a gold-palladium alloy. Simultaneously, a green pigmentation deposit was observable in bone and prosthesis. This investigation aimed to verify the elemental composition of the dental prosthesis alloy. Elemental analysis was performed by X-ray fluorescence in two regions (labial surface of the prosthetic crown and the root surface of the lower right lateral incisor). Both the spectra and the qualitative results found higher levels of copper and aluminium, followed by nickel, iron, zinc, and manganese. No gold or palladium was detected. The most probable assumption is that a copper-aluminium alloy was used, as its elemental concentration corresponds to those measured in similar devices. Dental prostheses of copper-aluminium alloys have been made popular since the 1980s, particularly in the USA, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Apart from the biographical information, it was also known that the individual’s place of birth was an Eastern European country, which highlighted the usefulness of this type of information when dealing with missing people cases.

Prototype of Missing Persons Android-Based Application at Abepura Police Station, Jayapura City, Papua.

Data from the Jayapura District Police shows that there was an increase in the number of missing persons in Jayapura City. In January 2022, there were 8 reports of missing persons, and this number doubled to 16 in March 2022. Currently, the police rely on reports from the public to find missing individuals. They then conduct direct checks in the field, confirm the reported characteristics, and contact the families. However, this method is not considered modern or efficient enough to handle the increasing number of missing persons cases. In this modern age, technological developments, especially in mobile applications, can offer more effective and efficient solutions. Therefore, a prototype application for missing persons based on Android was developed as an alternative to help address the issue of missing persons, especially in Jayapura City. The missing persons application underwent black box testing to ensure that its functions and inputs are working correctly, and the validation function was used to check its accuracy. The test results showed that the application is functioning well and can be used as a tool to help find missing persons in the city. However, continuous monitoring and improvement of the application are necessary to ensure that it remains effective in the long term.

Native Missing Persons Cases Will Not be Solved by Police Alone: The Case for "Missing Persons Advocates".

This study explored the potential role of victim advocacy in Native American missing person cases. Interviews with 25 tribal and non-tribal victim/social service providers were conducted to assess their perspectives on the factors which make Native Americans vulnerable to going missing, the barriers and challenges regarding reporting and investigating missing persons, as well as how victim/social service providers might better support the families of missing persons. Findings suggest that advocates perceive that responding to and offering services for Native families who experience a missing loved one will be extremely difficult because of the intersection of isolation, poverty, and jurisdictional complexities among tribal lands, combined with social service providers and law enforcement officers' lack of resources and training regarding cultural sensitivity. At the same time, advocates suggest that additional training and resources could help overcome many of these barriers and see a role for victim service providers in responding to missing and murdered Native American persons. Implications and suggestions for practice are discussed.

Remaining silent during interrogation

In many Western jurisdictions, criminal suspects undergoing police interrogations have the right to remain silent. In this experiment, we examined the effects of remaining silent during police questioning on laypersons’ perceptions of a suspect. Participants (N = 126) read one of three mock-interview transcripts (i.e. admission, denial or silence) and indicated the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that a male suspect in a missing person case was guilty, cooperative, trustworthy and rational. Participants expressed stronger agreement that the suspect was guilty when he admitted guilt than when he denied involvement or remained silent. When the suspect remained silent, participants viewed the suspect as less cooperative than when the suspect denied or admitted guilt and as less rational than when the suspect denied committing the crime. Our findings provide some support for the notion that remaining silent during police questioning may be viewed unfavourably by external observers.

The Right to the Truth as an Enabler for Missing Persons Efforts

AbstractThe right to the truth is often mentioned in conjunction with missing persons cases and is recognized for its propensity to function as an enabling right, helping victims and families to claim their rights. While families, survivors, communities, specialist agencies, NGOs and international organizations readily invoke the right to the truth, the terminology used in the context can be ambiguous, overlapping, mandate-driven or strategic. This contribution reflects on the applicable legal spheres, use of approaches and practices in the context of missing persons investigations and claims made towards the realization of the right to the truth. The article clarifies the legal landscape to underscore what is meant by the right to the truth and how it may function as the starting point for the realization of other rights in the context of missing persons. Further, it examines and dissects conceptualizations of missing persons and resolution efforts; and identifies what actions help realize the right to the truth and to what extent. It argues the merits of a broad definition of missing persons while urging those engaged in solving missing persons cases to be candid in respect of the truth-seeking aspect they may be able to advance. This is by no means a trivial inquiry, for families of the missing rely on the assistance of the law and relevant agencies to further the realization of their right to the truth.

Finding the missing: using statement analysis to assist in missing persons cases

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the complexity of missing persons cases and highlight the linguistic differences that arise in this type of crime. Missing persons cases are typically very complex investigations. Without a body, crime scene forensics is not possible, and police are often left only with witness and suspect statements. Forensic linguistics methods may help investigators to prioritise or remove suspects. There are many competing approaches in forensic linguistic analysis; however, there is limited empirical research available on emerging methods.Design/methodology/approachThis research investigates Statement Analysis, a recent development in linguistic analysis that has practical applications in criminal investigations. Real-world statements of individuals convicted of or found to be not guilty of their involvement in missing persons cases were used in the analyses. In addition, Behaviour Sequence Analysis was used to map the progressions of language in the suspects' statements.FindingsResults indicated differences between the guilty and innocent individuals based on their language choices, for example, guilty suspects in missing [alive] cases were found more likely to use passive language and vague words because of high levels of cognitive load associated with the several types of guilty knowledge suspects in missing persons cases possess. Of particular interest is the use of untruthful words in the innocent suspects’ statements in missing [murdered] cases. While typically seen in deceptive statements, untruthful words in innocent statements may result because of false acquittals.Originality/valueThis research provides some support for Statement Analysis as a suitable approach to analysing linguistic statements in missing persons cases.