NCJ Number
142281
Journal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Gazette Volume: 55 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
When a police officer responds to a call reporting the discovery of a human skull and bones, he first secures the scene and then calls for the assistance of the local identification specialist.
Abstract
Identification is of course most easily established when a wallet containing a name and address is found. The Forensic Identification Section is also aided by clothing, eyeglasses, jewelry, hearing aids, or dental appliances; samples of soil and insect and plant remains could help establish the time and circumstances of death. Forensic anthropologists, entomologists, and odontologists may help determine the cause of death and some physical characteristics of the deceased, but forensic facial reconstruction is the technique that will fill in many of the gaps. The reconstruction begins with the reassembly of the skull to the greatest possible degree. Twenty-one markers, dealing with fatty tissue, muscle size, and skin thickness, are glued directly onto the skull. Then, work begins on individual features, which must be located, sized, and shaped according to the unique characteristics of that face. Eye placement is the key element in determining the relationship between the other features. Plasticine is smoothed over the skull and textured to resemble flesh, and wire mesh is shaped and used as an underlying support for the neck and shoulders. Any adhering facial or head hair that was found along with the skull is used to determine the color, texture, length, and curl of the wig to be used in the reconstruction. Clothing, jewelry, and other personal effects that were found are used to complete the model. Often, photographs are taken of the model and distributed through local media in order to facilitate final identification of the deceased.