Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study
This study analyzed the differences in the decomposition patterns and post mortem intervals of hanged and surface carcasses using domestic pigs as human analogs. Six domestic pigs weighing between 25 kg and 30 kg were separated into two groups comprising three pigs each. Three pigs were hanged on th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000282 |
| _version_ | 1797390423335895040 |
|---|---|
| author | Cletus Obun Obun Augustine Oseloka Ibegbu Darlington Nnamdi Onyejike Ogugua Augustine Egwu Ugochukwu Godfrey Esomonu Albert Tobechukwu Nwamaradi Miriam Chizaramekpere Udunze |
| author_facet | Cletus Obun Obun Augustine Oseloka Ibegbu Darlington Nnamdi Onyejike Ogugua Augustine Egwu Ugochukwu Godfrey Esomonu Albert Tobechukwu Nwamaradi Miriam Chizaramekpere Udunze |
| author_sort | Cletus Obun Obun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyzed the differences in the decomposition patterns and post mortem intervals of hanged and surface carcasses using domestic pigs as human analogs. Six domestic pigs weighing between 25 kg and 30 kg were separated into two groups comprising three pigs each. Three pigs were hanged on the branches of trees at the research facility; whereas the other three pigs were placed on the soil surface. Daily periodic decomposition observations were noted and scored for a period of 30 days alongside the accumulated degree days. There is a statistically significant (P = 0.001) difference in the decomposition between hanged and surface pigs. The hanged pigs decomposed faster at the initial stage reaching a total body score (TBS) of 10 by the second day but gradually slowed down and mummified; whereas the surface pigs initially decomposed at a slower rate but later sped up at about 167 ADD till complete skeletonization. ADD and TBS are very reliable and accurate predictors for PMI estimation of surface and hanged pig carcasses. Insect colonization of a carcass is a very important factor that determines the rate of decomposition of hanged and surface pig carcasses in Okuku, Nigeria. There is a statistically significant difference in the decomposition rate and pattern of hanged and surface pig carcasses. The prediction models for estimating PMI considered ADD and TBS as variables, and these prediction models are very reliable at 95 % confidence level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:10:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a10291edb294f6cbb51289cef0d7ff7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2665-9107 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:10:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forensic Science International: Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a10291edb294f6cbb51289cef0d7ff72023-12-15T07:25:50ZengElsevierForensic Science International: Reports2665-91072023-12-018100333Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative studyCletus Obun Obun0Augustine Oseloka Ibegbu1Darlington Nnamdi Onyejike2Ogugua Augustine Egwu3Ugochukwu Godfrey Esomonu4Albert Tobechukwu Nwamaradi5Miriam Chizaramekpere Udunze6Department of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Cross River State, Okuku campus, Cross river state, NigeriaDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state, NigeriaDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus, Anambra state, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state, NigeriaDepartment of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Cross River State, Okuku campus, Cross river state, NigeriaDepartment of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, NigeriaDepartment of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Cross River State, Okuku campus, Cross river state, NigeriaThis study analyzed the differences in the decomposition patterns and post mortem intervals of hanged and surface carcasses using domestic pigs as human analogs. Six domestic pigs weighing between 25 kg and 30 kg were separated into two groups comprising three pigs each. Three pigs were hanged on the branches of trees at the research facility; whereas the other three pigs were placed on the soil surface. Daily periodic decomposition observations were noted and scored for a period of 30 days alongside the accumulated degree days. There is a statistically significant (P = 0.001) difference in the decomposition between hanged and surface pigs. The hanged pigs decomposed faster at the initial stage reaching a total body score (TBS) of 10 by the second day but gradually slowed down and mummified; whereas the surface pigs initially decomposed at a slower rate but later sped up at about 167 ADD till complete skeletonization. ADD and TBS are very reliable and accurate predictors for PMI estimation of surface and hanged pig carcasses. Insect colonization of a carcass is a very important factor that determines the rate of decomposition of hanged and surface pig carcasses in Okuku, Nigeria. There is a statistically significant difference in the decomposition rate and pattern of hanged and surface pig carcasses. The prediction models for estimating PMI considered ADD and TBS as variables, and these prediction models are very reliable at 95 % confidence level.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000282ADDHangedHomicidePMITaphonomyTBS |
| spellingShingle | Cletus Obun Obun Augustine Oseloka Ibegbu Darlington Nnamdi Onyejike Ogugua Augustine Egwu Ugochukwu Godfrey Esomonu Albert Tobechukwu Nwamaradi Miriam Chizaramekpere Udunze Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study Forensic Science International: Reports ADD Hanged Homicide PMI Taphonomy TBS |
| title | Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study |
| title_full | Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study |
| title_fullStr | Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study |
| title_short | Predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a Nigerian Savannah: A comparative study |
| title_sort | predicting post mortem interval of hanged and surface carrions in a nigerian savannah a comparative study |
| topic | ADD Hanged Homicide PMI Taphonomy TBS |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665910723000282 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cletusobunobun predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT augustineoselokaibegbu predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT darlingtonnnamdionyejike predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT oguguaaugustineegwu predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT ugochukwugodfreyesomonu predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT alberttobechukwunwamaradi predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy AT miriamchizaramekpereudunze predictingpostmortemintervalofhangedandsurfacecarrionsinanigeriansavannahacomparativestudy |