Journal Published Online: 01 July 1998
Volume 43, Issue 4

Postmortem Insect Activity May Mimic Perimortem Sexual Assault Clothing Patterns

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Determination of perimortem sexual assault can be confounded in homicide cases in which only badly decomposed or skeletal remains are recovered. One indicator of assault is a characteristic pattern of clothing disarray, including tearing, removal, or displacement of clothing. Preliminary findings from two studies of clothed pig carrion of approximate human size (59 to 162 kg) reveal that postmortem insect activity, particularly maggot masses, and natural decompositional changes such as bloating can produce changes to clothing which mirror those seen in cases of sexual assault.

Author Information

Komar, D
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Beattie, O
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Pages: 5
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JFS14308J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14308J