NCJ Number
214500
Journal
Forensic Sciences Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 607-616
Date Published
May 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study tested the effectiveness of using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in Florida to detect buried large pig cadavers under various soil and cadaver conditions.
Abstract
The authors conclude that GPR is a valuable search tool in finding buried bodies. The study involved 12 burials of large pig cadavers. Six of the cadavers were buried in sand to a depth of 0.50-0.60 meters, and the other six were buried at a depth of 1.00-1.10 m and were in contact with the upper surface of a clay horizon. Control excavations with no pig burials were also constructed and monitored with GPR. The burials were monitored with GPR for durations of either 12-13 months or 21-21.5 months. They were then excavated to determine each cadaver's state of decomposition, which was compared with the GPR imagery. Pig cadavers in sand were easily detected for the full duration of the study (21.5 months), even when completely skeletonized. In clay soil, however, it became increasingly difficult for the GPR to image the pig cadavers over the first year of burial, even when the cadavers still had extensive soft tissue structures; however, it was still possible to determine the location of the grave because of the soil disturbance. The use of empty control graves in the testing of the GPR showed that the GPR imaging was detecting the cadavers rather than only the disturbed soil. Processing background removal of the GPR data was generally not required for assessments in the field when profiling soils composed primarily of sand. Removing the horizontal ring, however, can assist in producing an increased GPR response from the backfill, which can indicate the grave location when GPR imaging from the body is weak. The report describes the GPR equipment and methods used. 3 tables, 7 figures, and 30 references