NCJ Number
223890
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 53 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 956-961
Date Published
July 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper highlights the benefits of applying computed tomography (CT) technology to the process of disaster victim identification (DVI).
Abstract
The case study presented involved a recent Australian aviation disaster in which the role of the forensic anthropologist and CT technology were paramount in facilitating a quick identification of victims. In February 2007, a light plane carrying two people crashed at a farm in Victoria (Australia). The DVI Unit and the Crime Scene Unit (specialist police teams) responded to the incident under the direction of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. An initial evaluation of the scene produced an estimate of 250-300 separate human remains scattered over approximately 600 m from the impact site. The remains consisted of various heavily disrupted unidentifiable tissue types, organs, and body masses of each of the two plane occupants. Once collected, the human remains were transported to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for examination. Analysis of the CT images of all body parts (n=162) made it possible not only to identify and side differentially preserved skeletal elements that were anatomically unrecognizable in the heavily disrupted body masses, but also to observe and record useful identifying features such as surgical implants. Although the case presented involved only two victims, the potential for CT imaging to assist in disasters with hundreds of victims is a possibility. This paper also reviews the extent to which sophisticated imaging techniques, specifically CT, have been increasingly used to assist in the analysis of decedents. 1 table, 4 figures, and 32 references