The application of geographic information systems and spatial analysis to assess dumped and subsequently scattered human remains.

Full Abstract

This study utilizes geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial analysis (SA) technology to address the problems associated with prediction of location and effective recovery of dumped and scattered human remains in Louisiana. The goals are to determine if a selective bias exists in Louisiana as to where and when human remains are dumped and to assess whether or not geographically specific patterns exist in the dispersal of human remains. We hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between postmortem interval (PMI) and dispersal distance, and that there are negative relationships between PMI and dispersal direction and between dispersal direction and distance. Our results indicate that, in Louisiana, remains are more often dumped in rural areas away from a structure, and are found within (1/4) mile of the nearest road. For Louisiana, no seasonal bias was found in the analysis of when remains are dumped. Furthermore, with the exception of the relationship between PMI and the shortest distance remains were dispersed, no geographically specific patterns were detected in the analyses of dispersal distance, dispersal direction, and PMI.

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Author information

Author/s: Manhein, Mary H (MH); Listi, Ginesse A (GA); Leitner, Michael (M);

Affiliation: Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. gaman(-atsign-)lsu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of forensic sciences (J Forensic Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 51 (issue 3) : pp 469-74

Dates: Created 2006/05/15; Completed 2006/07/20;

PMID: 16696690, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Environment
Forensic Anthropology - instrumentation; methods
Geographic Information Systems
Humans

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