Estimating the Postmortem Interval in Florida
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Material Information

Title:
Estimating the Postmortem Interval in Florida A Regional Validation Study Using Geospatial Analysis
Creator:
Schoff, Sarah Kiley
Place of Publication:
[Gainesville, Fla.]
Florida
Publisher:
University of Florida
Publication Date:
Language:
english
Physical Description:
1 online resource (107 p.)

Thesis/Dissertation Information

Degree:
Doctorate ( Ph.D.)
Degree Grantor:
University of Florida
Degree Disciplines:
Anthropology
Committee Chair:
WARREN,MICHAEL WADE
Committee Co-Chair:
JUSIONYTE,IEVA
Committee Members:
KRIGBAUM,JOHN
BYRD,JASON H
Graduation Date:
5/4/2018

Notes

Abstract:
The time since death, or postmortem interval (PMI), is used by law enforcement to generate leads in cold cases, evaluate suspects and witness statements, and limit the reference population of missing persons when unidentified human remains are discovered. Forensic anthropologists are often called upon to estimate PMI and traditionally describe soft tissue changes as categories or stages that correspond to broad estimates of elapsed time, such as several weeks to several years. To improve PMI estimates, Megyesi et al. (2005) developed a quantitative method that combines observations of three regions of the body into one numeric score, called total body score (TBS) and accounts for time and temperature near to where the remains were discovered. The authors scored decomposition on a sample of human forensic cases (n=68) with known date of death and used regression analysis to predict ADD from TBS. The goals of this research are twofold: first to independently evaluate the Megyesi method to improve accuracy and reliability of estimating PMI in Florida; second to describe geospatial factors of the study sample to improve detection and maximize recovery of evidence. The study sample (n=42) was gathered from 40 years of closed forensic anthropology cases from the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory (CAPHIL), housed at the University of Florida. Decomposition was scored using TBS from 35mm slides, hard copy photographs, and digital images. ADD was calculated using historical weather data. The relationship between ADD and TBS was evaluated using regression analysis. Decomposition curves were generated and evaluated for the Florida sample. The results of this study indicate that time and temperature as measured by ADD accounts for 66% of the variance observed in decomposition (TBS). This study lends independent support for the use of Megyesi and colleagues (2005) quantitative method to estimate PMI in Florida and fills a research gap with a regional regression equation. Of the cases with known discovery locations (n=38), the manner of death included homicide, suicide, and undetermined. Most of the individuals were discovered in an urban environment, clothed, with an average distance to the road network of just over a quarter mile (0.30). ( en )
General Note:
In the series University of Florida Digital Collections.
General Note:
Includes vita.
Bibliography:
Includes bibliographical references.
Source of Description:
Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page.
Source of Description:
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The University of Florida Libraries, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.
Thesis:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2018.
Local:
Adviser: WARREN,MICHAEL WADE.
Local:
Co-adviser: JUSIONYTE,IEVA.
Electronic Access:
RESTRICTED TO UF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE UNTIL 2020-05-31
Statement of Responsibility:
by Sarah Kiley Schoff.

Record Information

Source Institution:
UFRGP
Rights Management:
Applicable rights reserved.
Embargo Date:
5/31/2020
Classification:
LD1780 2018 ( lcc )