I am a Board Certified Forensic Anthropologist in Houston, Texas. I completed my PhD in Anthropology at Michigan State University. I received an MA in Anthropology and an MS in Forensic Science, also at Michigan State University. My primary research interest is skeletal trauma, in both bioarchaeology and forensic contexts. To date, my research has focused on forensic anthropology methods and trauma analysis. Address: Houston, TX, United States
The discipline of forensic anthropology has evolved dramatically during its relatively short hist... more The discipline of forensic anthropology has evolved dramatically during its relatively short history, as has the role of forensic anthropologists, both of which are well documented in various publications (e.g., Christensen et al. 2019; Dirkmaat & Cabo 2012; Işcan 1988; Ubelaker 2018). The presence and role of forensic anthropologists specifically working in medical examiner or coroner (ME/C) offices in the United States have also been emphasized in recent literature and presentations (e.g., Austin & Fulginiti 2008; Crowder et al. 2016; Derrick & Figura 2016; Fleischman et al. 2013; Rainwater et al. 2012; Sledzik et al. 2007; Waxenbaum & Grauer 2022). The goal of this article is to provide an update to this aforementioned literature as we reflect on 50 years as a discipline. This article will discuss (1) the evolution and expansion of the roles and responsibilities of forensic anthropologists in ME/C contexts, (2) the importance of laboratory accreditation and professional certification, and (3) the disciplinary advances and progress that will benefit current professionals and the next generation of forensic anthropologists.
Forensic Anthropology and the United States Judicial System, 2019
The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) pr... more The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) programs; however, antiquated ideas of what QA is and how it is applied is a roadblock for many laboratories. First, all forensic disciplines must abandon the “old school” thinking that QA only pertains to the hard sciences and therefore exists exclusively in the crime laboratory. This is a fallacy. All fields need and benefit from QA. We must now see modern QA for what it is today – a positive, proactive way of thinking, instead of a simple means for rigidly defining conformity. Secondly, the forensic disciplines must recognize the difference between quality control (QC, QA), and quality management (QM). QC focuses on testing the conformity of a product or service, while QA ensures that processes are conducive for generating a quality product or service. QM is broader and involves the planning and policy-making of top management to support QC, QA, and quality improvement initiatives. Implementation of a QA program is more challenging in forensic anthropology compared with other forensic disciplines, such as toxicology and genetics. The latter disciplines have more technical equipment and automated processes, which are easier to regulate and controlwithin a laboratory setting. Forensic Anthropologists, however, must contend with the ultimate nonstandardized data: human variation. Characterizing and evaluating human variation often lends itself to more subjective methods. Thus, the challenges associated with qualifying and quantifying human variation set anthropology apart from the other hard sciences. A robust quality program provides a layer of checks and controls to assist with the standardization of procedures.
The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe, and it is e... more The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe, and it is estimated that approximately 1.7 million individuals died from overwork, malnutrition, and violence. Hundreds of thousands were executed and buried in mass graves throughout the country. Many of these graves were exhumed during the 1980s, but until recently the disinterred human remains had not been scientifically analyzed on a large scale. This paper will discuss the osteological analysis of more than five hundred crania conducted at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek) in Phnom Penh. Choeung Ek was used by the Khmer Rouge as the execution and burial location for one of its highest-level detention centers. The crania at Choeung Ek were assessed for demographic characteristics and traumatic injuries. Results indicate that the majority of the 508 crania were estimated to be male (82.9%) and young adults (68.3%) between 20 and 35 years of age. Perimortem trauma was present on 311 crania (61%), with 179 (58%) having discernible impact locations. Blunt force injuries (87%) were the most common mechanism of trauma, and the basicranium (53%) was the most frequently affected region. When the mechanism and location of traumatic injuries were evaluated by sex and age-at-death categories, no statistically significant differences were found, indicating that all victims with perimortem trauma were subjected to similar execution methods regardless of their age or sex. These remains stand as a testament to Khmer Rouge violence as well as a solemn memorial to those who perished.
This case study presents an unusual manifestation of gunshot trauma in skeletal tissue from a pos... more This case study presents an unusual manifestation of gunshot trauma in skeletal tissue from a post-World War II human rights abuse sample uncovered in Vilnius, Lithuania. After briefly reviewing the typical wound appearance of projectile trauma in the cranium, we discuss the presence of an intact bone plug associated with a gunshot exit wound in an individual from the Tuskulenai Case. While this individual demonstrated typical gunshot entry and exit wounds to the cranium consistent with high-velocity trauma, the bone plug indicates that the projectile likely lost much of its kinetic energy while traveling through the cranium resulting in a low-velocity impact at the exit site. This study reviews a similar instance of a bone plug recovered from a bioarcheological sample in Peru and emphasizes the importance of thorough archeological excavations of mass graves.
Forensic anthropologists are regularly asked to assist with the identification of unknown individ... more Forensic anthropologists are regularly asked to assist with the identification of unknown individuals using comparative medical radiography. This study addressed the use of midline medical sternotomy wires as a means for personal identification. Antemortem and postmortem radiographic comparisons were completed by 46 professional forensic anthropologists and anthropology graduate students familiar with comparative medical radiography as a technique for assessing identification. Participants were asked to make five radiographic matches from a pool of 20 radiographs. Participants also completed an anonymous survey detailing their education level and experience making radiographic comparisons. Participants were 99.5% accurate in matching the radiographs. Sensitivity was 98.7%, and specificity was 99.7%. Logistic regression analysis found no statistically significant differences in the participants' ability to make a correct match. As the high accuracy rates indicate, the shape, size, and various characteristics of the sternotomy wires are individualizing and can confidently be used when assisting with personal identification cases.
Accurately estimating the age-at-death of adult human skeletons is fundamental in forensic anthro... more Accurately estimating the age-at-death of adult human skeletons is fundamental in forensic anthropology. This study evaluates the accuracy of two pubic bone age estimation methods-Chen et al. and Suchey-Brooks. Specimens were obtained from a known collection of modern pubic bones curated at the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. A sample of 296 left male pubic bones of European ancestry was statistically evaluated via bias, absolute mean error, and intra- and inter-observer error. Results indicate that the two methods are similar; the Suchey-Brooks method is the most accurate for aging young adults (error c. 7 years), while the Revised Chen et al. method is most accurate for aging middle-age adults (error c. 6 years). Thus, the Chen et al. method is an important contribution to forensic anthropology for aging older adult skeletal remains. There are, however, some limitations such as subjectivity and the intricate scoring system of Chen et al. method.
Within the context of medical examiner's offices, forensic anthropologists are increasingly b... more Within the context of medical examiner's offices, forensic anthropologists are increasingly being asked to assist with the interpretation of traumatic skeletal injury. This case study presents an example of trauma analysis performed by forensic anthropologists at the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The primary goal of this study is to document an uncommon pattern of traumatic injury-severe grinding abrasions of the lower appendage that macroscopically resemble sharp force trauma, especially as observed in dismemberment cases-resulting from an individual being dragged beneath a Light Rail train for c. 1.7 miles. The abraded skeletal elements include a femoral shaft fragment, a femoral head portion, and the right foot. Second, this study aims to illustrate the efficacy of forensic anthropological analysis of patterned skeletal trauma. Finally, this study demonstrates the critical importance of analyzing scene information before drawing conclusions as t...
This presentation will discuss the preliminary analysis of human skeletal remains from the Khmer ... more This presentation will discuss the preliminary analysis of human skeletal remains from the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975 – 1979). The remains used in this study are located at The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek), colloquially known as the “Killing Fields”, a mass gravesite just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Today the remains of 8,985 individuals are sheltered within a memorial at Choeung Ek. Based upon historical accounts of Khmer Rouge executions, blunt force injuries were expected to be the most common mechanism of skeletal trauma in this sample. To test this hypothesis, the remains—exclusively crania—were assessed to determine age-at-death, sex, and traumatic injuries. A total of 50 adult individuals were analyzed. The results indicate that the majority of the individuals were male and all were young to middle-aged adults. Perimortem trauma was present on nearly every individual in the sample; blunt force injuries were the most common, followed by sharp force. When examined by region, the occipital was the most frequent location for injuries, although all cranial regions were affected by trauma in this sample. Although the sample is small, this is the first systematic analysis of the human skeletal remains at Choeung Ek which is a significant contribution to the scientific documentation of Khmer Rouge mass violence. In addition to skeletal analysis, this study also sought to understand the broader socio-cultural context in which human remains stand as evidence of mass violence. By integrating socio-cultural and biological approaches, this study provides a more comprehensive conception of massacres.
sis mine) followed Arendt’s lead (219) and that his trial defense posture as “a little cog in the... more sis mine) followed Arendt’s lead (219) and that his trial defense posture as “a little cog in the machine . . . still appears today in almost every book about the Holocaust” (358). Indeed, “until now,” she writes, “the secondary literature on Eichmann has dutifully parroted this view” (xv). I do not think what she claims here applies to Raul Hilberg, Leni Yahil, Saul Friedlander, Peter Longerich, Hans Safrian, Yaacov Lozowick, David Cesarani, or me. Who, then, are “the historians,” and which are the “almost every book about the Holocaust” that she has in mind? She does not bother to say.
Chapter 8 discusses the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on the people of Cambodia and the import... more Chapter 8 discusses the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on the people of Cambodia and the importance of documenting the evidence of violence. This study focuses on the important work being done at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center analyzing the skeletal remains of the victims. In particular, a recent study performed on a sample of Khmer Rouge victims is discussed and, through analysis of the perimortem trauma, confirms eyewitness accounts that blunt force trauma to the base of the skull was often utilized to execute the victims.
This study's purpose is to evaluate whether bone speed of sound (SOS) data, a parameter o... more This study's purpose is to evaluate whether bone speed of sound (SOS) data, a parameter of quantitative ultrasound, collected from an infant autopsy sample are comparable to data collected from healthy, living infants. We hypothesize that SOS values obtained from deceased term‐born infants will fall within the normal range for healthy, living infants. The study sample consists of 351 deceased infants between the ages of 30 weeks gestation at birth to 1 year postnatal at the time of death receiving autopsies at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences or Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. Various multivariate and univariate statistics were used to examine the relationship between SOS and age, prematurity, and chronic illness. The results of an ANOVA comparing the study sample data to published data from healthy, living infants indicate the SOS data are comparable. Additionally, a MANOVA indicated significant differences in SOS related to prematurity (p = 0.001) and age (p < 0.001). Mean SOS was significantly greater among term‐born infants (M = 3065.66, SD =165.05) than premature infants (M = 2969.71, SD =192.72). Age had a significant polynomial (cubic) relationship with SOS for both the premature and term groups (p < 0.001). Results suggest that bone from an infant autopsy sample is an appropriate surrogate to examine the relationship between SOS and determinants of bone strength. Therefore, future research will use this study sample to investigate the relationship between SOS and determinants of bone strength in infants.
Child maltreatment is a growing medicolegal and social concern and forensic anthropologists in th... more Child maltreatment is a growing medicolegal and social concern and forensic anthropologists in the United States are more frequently being asked to participate in pediatric autopsies to evaluate skeletal injuries. These injuries may be occult to medical imaging and the autopsy itself, but the forensic anthropologist directly evaluates the skeletal tissue which can dramatically improve the sensitivity and specificity of the analysis. The training and methods of forensic anthropologists provide them with the unique perspective of comprehending the anatomical, biomechanical, and physiological properties of human pediatric bone which informs their interpretations of time since injury and mechanism of trauma. This perspective also permits the ability to differentiate between growth and development, skeletal anomalies/variants, and traumatized bone which can be of distinct consequence to the forensic pathologist's cause and manner of death determination. This review is intended for forensic anthropologists and others in the medicolegal community who are tasked with identifying and interpreting pediatric skeletal trauma. The research and scholarly work cited herein is the most current bibliography for comprehending the role and contribution(s) of the forensic anthropologist in the pediatric autopsy, the techniques and methods available to them, and the challenges and cautions associated with this delicate work.
Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal author... more Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal authorities. Currently, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) is in possession of over two hundred unidentified individuals, more than half of whom are presumed to be UBCs. The primary goal of this study was to address the growing number of UBC deaths in Maricopa County in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of this important anthropological issue within the state of Arizona. Of the 107 total UBC cases evaluated for the study, the majority were male and age estimates for all individuals were between 15 to 60 years old. Modeled after the recording system established by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, the biographic and geographic data for these cases were entered into a new UBC database at MCOME and later added to the online Map of Migrant Mortality.
Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal author... more Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal authorities. Currently, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) is in possession of over two hundred unidentified individuals, more than half of whom are presumed to be UBCs. The primary goal of this study was to address the growing number of UBC deaths in Maricopa County in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of this important anthropological issue within the state of Arizona. Of the 107 total UBC cases evaluated for the study, the majority were male and age estimates for all individuals were between 15 to 60 years old. Modeled after the recording system established by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, the biographic and geographic data for these cases were entered into a new UBC database at MCOME and later added to the online Map of Migrant Mortality.
The discipline of forensic anthropology has evolved dramatically during its relatively short hist... more The discipline of forensic anthropology has evolved dramatically during its relatively short history, as has the role of forensic anthropologists, both of which are well documented in various publications (e.g., Christensen et al. 2019; Dirkmaat & Cabo 2012; Işcan 1988; Ubelaker 2018). The presence and role of forensic anthropologists specifically working in medical examiner or coroner (ME/C) offices in the United States have also been emphasized in recent literature and presentations (e.g., Austin & Fulginiti 2008; Crowder et al. 2016; Derrick & Figura 2016; Fleischman et al. 2013; Rainwater et al. 2012; Sledzik et al. 2007; Waxenbaum & Grauer 2022). The goal of this article is to provide an update to this aforementioned literature as we reflect on 50 years as a discipline. This article will discuss (1) the evolution and expansion of the roles and responsibilities of forensic anthropologists in ME/C contexts, (2) the importance of laboratory accreditation and professional certification, and (3) the disciplinary advances and progress that will benefit current professionals and the next generation of forensic anthropologists.
Forensic Anthropology and the United States Judicial System, 2019
The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) pr... more The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) programs; however, antiquated ideas of what QA is and how it is applied is a roadblock for many laboratories. First, all forensic disciplines must abandon the “old school” thinking that QA only pertains to the hard sciences and therefore exists exclusively in the crime laboratory. This is a fallacy. All fields need and benefit from QA. We must now see modern QA for what it is today – a positive, proactive way of thinking, instead of a simple means for rigidly defining conformity. Secondly, the forensic disciplines must recognize the difference between quality control (QC, QA), and quality management (QM). QC focuses on testing the conformity of a product or service, while QA ensures that processes are conducive for generating a quality product or service. QM is broader and involves the planning and policy-making of top management to support QC, QA, and quality improvement initiatives. Implementation of a QA program is more challenging in forensic anthropology compared with other forensic disciplines, such as toxicology and genetics. The latter disciplines have more technical equipment and automated processes, which are easier to regulate and controlwithin a laboratory setting. Forensic Anthropologists, however, must contend with the ultimate nonstandardized data: human variation. Characterizing and evaluating human variation often lends itself to more subjective methods. Thus, the challenges associated with qualifying and quantifying human variation set anthropology apart from the other hard sciences. A robust quality program provides a layer of checks and controls to assist with the standardization of procedures.
The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe, and it is e... more The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe, and it is estimated that approximately 1.7 million individuals died from overwork, malnutrition, and violence. Hundreds of thousands were executed and buried in mass graves throughout the country. Many of these graves were exhumed during the 1980s, but until recently the disinterred human remains had not been scientifically analyzed on a large scale. This paper will discuss the osteological analysis of more than five hundred crania conducted at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek) in Phnom Penh. Choeung Ek was used by the Khmer Rouge as the execution and burial location for one of its highest-level detention centers. The crania at Choeung Ek were assessed for demographic characteristics and traumatic injuries. Results indicate that the majority of the 508 crania were estimated to be male (82.9%) and young adults (68.3%) between 20 and 35 years of age. Perimortem trauma was present on 311 crania (61%), with 179 (58%) having discernible impact locations. Blunt force injuries (87%) were the most common mechanism of trauma, and the basicranium (53%) was the most frequently affected region. When the mechanism and location of traumatic injuries were evaluated by sex and age-at-death categories, no statistically significant differences were found, indicating that all victims with perimortem trauma were subjected to similar execution methods regardless of their age or sex. These remains stand as a testament to Khmer Rouge violence as well as a solemn memorial to those who perished.
This case study presents an unusual manifestation of gunshot trauma in skeletal tissue from a pos... more This case study presents an unusual manifestation of gunshot trauma in skeletal tissue from a post-World War II human rights abuse sample uncovered in Vilnius, Lithuania. After briefly reviewing the typical wound appearance of projectile trauma in the cranium, we discuss the presence of an intact bone plug associated with a gunshot exit wound in an individual from the Tuskulenai Case. While this individual demonstrated typical gunshot entry and exit wounds to the cranium consistent with high-velocity trauma, the bone plug indicates that the projectile likely lost much of its kinetic energy while traveling through the cranium resulting in a low-velocity impact at the exit site. This study reviews a similar instance of a bone plug recovered from a bioarcheological sample in Peru and emphasizes the importance of thorough archeological excavations of mass graves.
Forensic anthropologists are regularly asked to assist with the identification of unknown individ... more Forensic anthropologists are regularly asked to assist with the identification of unknown individuals using comparative medical radiography. This study addressed the use of midline medical sternotomy wires as a means for personal identification. Antemortem and postmortem radiographic comparisons were completed by 46 professional forensic anthropologists and anthropology graduate students familiar with comparative medical radiography as a technique for assessing identification. Participants were asked to make five radiographic matches from a pool of 20 radiographs. Participants also completed an anonymous survey detailing their education level and experience making radiographic comparisons. Participants were 99.5% accurate in matching the radiographs. Sensitivity was 98.7%, and specificity was 99.7%. Logistic regression analysis found no statistically significant differences in the participants' ability to make a correct match. As the high accuracy rates indicate, the shape, size, and various characteristics of the sternotomy wires are individualizing and can confidently be used when assisting with personal identification cases.
Accurately estimating the age-at-death of adult human skeletons is fundamental in forensic anthro... more Accurately estimating the age-at-death of adult human skeletons is fundamental in forensic anthropology. This study evaluates the accuracy of two pubic bone age estimation methods-Chen et al. and Suchey-Brooks. Specimens were obtained from a known collection of modern pubic bones curated at the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. A sample of 296 left male pubic bones of European ancestry was statistically evaluated via bias, absolute mean error, and intra- and inter-observer error. Results indicate that the two methods are similar; the Suchey-Brooks method is the most accurate for aging young adults (error c. 7 years), while the Revised Chen et al. method is most accurate for aging middle-age adults (error c. 6 years). Thus, the Chen et al. method is an important contribution to forensic anthropology for aging older adult skeletal remains. There are, however, some limitations such as subjectivity and the intricate scoring system of Chen et al. method.
Within the context of medical examiner's offices, forensic anthropologists are increasingly b... more Within the context of medical examiner's offices, forensic anthropologists are increasingly being asked to assist with the interpretation of traumatic skeletal injury. This case study presents an example of trauma analysis performed by forensic anthropologists at the Maricopa County Forensic Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The primary goal of this study is to document an uncommon pattern of traumatic injury-severe grinding abrasions of the lower appendage that macroscopically resemble sharp force trauma, especially as observed in dismemberment cases-resulting from an individual being dragged beneath a Light Rail train for c. 1.7 miles. The abraded skeletal elements include a femoral shaft fragment, a femoral head portion, and the right foot. Second, this study aims to illustrate the efficacy of forensic anthropological analysis of patterned skeletal trauma. Finally, this study demonstrates the critical importance of analyzing scene information before drawing conclusions as t...
This presentation will discuss the preliminary analysis of human skeletal remains from the Khmer ... more This presentation will discuss the preliminary analysis of human skeletal remains from the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975 – 1979). The remains used in this study are located at The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek), colloquially known as the “Killing Fields”, a mass gravesite just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Today the remains of 8,985 individuals are sheltered within a memorial at Choeung Ek. Based upon historical accounts of Khmer Rouge executions, blunt force injuries were expected to be the most common mechanism of skeletal trauma in this sample. To test this hypothesis, the remains—exclusively crania—were assessed to determine age-at-death, sex, and traumatic injuries. A total of 50 adult individuals were analyzed. The results indicate that the majority of the individuals were male and all were young to middle-aged adults. Perimortem trauma was present on nearly every individual in the sample; blunt force injuries were the most common, followed by sharp force. When examined by region, the occipital was the most frequent location for injuries, although all cranial regions were affected by trauma in this sample. Although the sample is small, this is the first systematic analysis of the human skeletal remains at Choeung Ek which is a significant contribution to the scientific documentation of Khmer Rouge mass violence. In addition to skeletal analysis, this study also sought to understand the broader socio-cultural context in which human remains stand as evidence of mass violence. By integrating socio-cultural and biological approaches, this study provides a more comprehensive conception of massacres.
sis mine) followed Arendt’s lead (219) and that his trial defense posture as “a little cog in the... more sis mine) followed Arendt’s lead (219) and that his trial defense posture as “a little cog in the machine . . . still appears today in almost every book about the Holocaust” (358). Indeed, “until now,” she writes, “the secondary literature on Eichmann has dutifully parroted this view” (xv). I do not think what she claims here applies to Raul Hilberg, Leni Yahil, Saul Friedlander, Peter Longerich, Hans Safrian, Yaacov Lozowick, David Cesarani, or me. Who, then, are “the historians,” and which are the “almost every book about the Holocaust” that she has in mind? She does not bother to say.
Chapter 8 discusses the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on the people of Cambodia and the import... more Chapter 8 discusses the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on the people of Cambodia and the importance of documenting the evidence of violence. This study focuses on the important work being done at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center analyzing the skeletal remains of the victims. In particular, a recent study performed on a sample of Khmer Rouge victims is discussed and, through analysis of the perimortem trauma, confirms eyewitness accounts that blunt force trauma to the base of the skull was often utilized to execute the victims.
This study's purpose is to evaluate whether bone speed of sound (SOS) data, a parameter o... more This study's purpose is to evaluate whether bone speed of sound (SOS) data, a parameter of quantitative ultrasound, collected from an infant autopsy sample are comparable to data collected from healthy, living infants. We hypothesize that SOS values obtained from deceased term‐born infants will fall within the normal range for healthy, living infants. The study sample consists of 351 deceased infants between the ages of 30 weeks gestation at birth to 1 year postnatal at the time of death receiving autopsies at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences or Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX. Various multivariate and univariate statistics were used to examine the relationship between SOS and age, prematurity, and chronic illness. The results of an ANOVA comparing the study sample data to published data from healthy, living infants indicate the SOS data are comparable. Additionally, a MANOVA indicated significant differences in SOS related to prematurity (p = 0.001) and age (p < 0.001). Mean SOS was significantly greater among term‐born infants (M = 3065.66, SD =165.05) than premature infants (M = 2969.71, SD =192.72). Age had a significant polynomial (cubic) relationship with SOS for both the premature and term groups (p < 0.001). Results suggest that bone from an infant autopsy sample is an appropriate surrogate to examine the relationship between SOS and determinants of bone strength. Therefore, future research will use this study sample to investigate the relationship between SOS and determinants of bone strength in infants.
Child maltreatment is a growing medicolegal and social concern and forensic anthropologists in th... more Child maltreatment is a growing medicolegal and social concern and forensic anthropologists in the United States are more frequently being asked to participate in pediatric autopsies to evaluate skeletal injuries. These injuries may be occult to medical imaging and the autopsy itself, but the forensic anthropologist directly evaluates the skeletal tissue which can dramatically improve the sensitivity and specificity of the analysis. The training and methods of forensic anthropologists provide them with the unique perspective of comprehending the anatomical, biomechanical, and physiological properties of human pediatric bone which informs their interpretations of time since injury and mechanism of trauma. This perspective also permits the ability to differentiate between growth and development, skeletal anomalies/variants, and traumatized bone which can be of distinct consequence to the forensic pathologist's cause and manner of death determination. This review is intended for forensic anthropologists and others in the medicolegal community who are tasked with identifying and interpreting pediatric skeletal trauma. The research and scholarly work cited herein is the most current bibliography for comprehending the role and contribution(s) of the forensic anthropologist in the pediatric autopsy, the techniques and methods available to them, and the challenges and cautions associated with this delicate work.
Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal author... more Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal authorities. Currently, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) is in possession of over two hundred unidentified individuals, more than half of whom are presumed to be UBCs. The primary goal of this study was to address the growing number of UBC deaths in Maricopa County in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of this important anthropological issue within the state of Arizona. Of the 107 total UBC cases evaluated for the study, the majority were male and age estimates for all individuals were between 15 to 60 years old. Modeled after the recording system established by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, the biographic and geographic data for these cases were entered into a new UBC database at MCOME and later added to the online Map of Migrant Mortality.
Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal author... more Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths in Arizona are a major issue faced by medicolegal authorities. Currently, the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) is in possession of over two hundred unidentified individuals, more than half of whom are presumed to be UBCs. The primary goal of this study was to address the growing number of UBC deaths in Maricopa County in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of this important anthropological issue within the state of Arizona. Of the 107 total UBC cases evaluated for the study, the majority were male and age estimates for all individuals were between 15 to 60 years old. Modeled after the recording system established by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, the biographic and geographic data for these cases were entered into a new UBC database at MCOME and later added to the online Map of Migrant Mortality.
Forensic Anthropology and the United States Judicial System, 2019
The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) pr... more The quest for transparency in the forensic sciences is guided by robust quality assurance (QA) programs; however, antiquated ideas of what QA is and how it is applied is a roadblock for many laboratories. First, all forensic disciplines must abandon the “old school” thinking that QA only pertains to the hard sciences and therefore exists exclusively in the crime laboratory. This is a fallacy. All fields need and benefit from QA. We must now see modern QA for what it is today – a positive, proactive way of thinking, instead of a simple means for rigidly defining conformity. Secondly, the forensic disciplines must recognize the difference between quality control (QC, QA), and quality management (QM). QC focuses on testing the conformity of a product or service, while QA ensures that processes are conducive for generating a quality product or service. QM is broader and involves the planning and policy-making of top management to support QC, QA, and quality improvement initiatives.
Implementation of a QA program is more challenging in forensic anthropology compared with other forensic disciplines, such as toxicology and genetics. The latter disciplines have more technical equipment and automated processes, which are easier to regulate and controlwithin a laboratory setting. Forensic Anthropologists, however, must contend with the ultimate nonstandardized data: human variation. Characterizing and evaluating human variation often lends itself to more subjective methods. Thus, the challenges associated with qualifying and quantifying human variation set anthropology apart from the other hard sciences. A robust quality program provides a layer of checks and controls to assist with the standardization of procedures.
Krang Ta Chan (ក្រាំងតាចាន់) is one of nearly 20,000 mass gravesites throughout Cambodia result... more Krang Ta Chan (ក្រាំងតាចាន់) is one of nearly 20,000 mass gravesites throughout Cambodia resulting from Khmer Rouge violence in the late 1970s. Krang Ta Chan was a Khmer Rouge detention center and execution site, and when the 8 graves were excavated, over 10,000 victims were discovered. The site was turned into a memorial where the bones of the victims have been collected. However, the harsh environmental conditions in Southeast Asia (i.e., sun, rain, and humidity) and the lack of appropriate funding for conservation resulted in rapid deterioration of the bones. In 2016, the HHRRC funded a project to preserve and analyze the human remains at the Krang Ta Chan memorial site. More than 5,000 human remains were systematically cleaned, analyzed, photographed, and inventoried by a team of Cambodian researchers. The Cambodian team was able to estimate the sex and age-at-death for 1,904 crania: the majority of individuals were male (57%) and nearly half (44%) were between the ages of 20-34 years old. Of the skeletal injuries identified, 84% were related to blunt force trauma. After analysis and preservation were complete, all of the remains were respectfully returned to a renovated memorial stupa (shrine). This project provides important information about the traumatic injuries sustained by victims and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the Khmer Rouge era.
Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of rarely identifie... more Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of rarely identified mimics of posterior rib head fractures that are inconsistent with inflicted trauma.
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by demonstrating that posterior rib head fracture mimics are a fairly common finding and should be interpreted cautiously.
Posterior rib fractures are considered highly suspicious for abusive injury in infants due to the mechanism by which these injuries occur.1 Numerous studies demonstrate an association between posterior rib fractures and inflicted injury in infants. While this association is clear, recent casework at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) requires that at least some posterior rib defects be considered in the context of growth and development as well as the presence and/or absence of other injuries and/or risk factors. At the HCIFS, standard autopsy protocol includes an in situ rib exam on all pediatric cases less than five years of age. In 55% (n=41) of the 75 cases examined since January of 2019, at least one subtle linear defect was observed on the pleural surface of one or more ribs near their attachment to the vertebral column. Grossly, these defects have morphological characteristics suggestive of advanced healing, such as bone formation along the endosteal portion of the fracture surface. Similar defects have been previously described by Kemp as clefts that are “triangular-shaped defects in the primary spongiosa with the tip at the growth plate and the base at the periosteum.”2 Kemp notes that the clefts are filled with an “amorphous, granular, eosinophilic acellular material of uncertain origin,” which was previously described by Dolinak and Matshes.2,3 The exact content of the material is unknown, but Kemp hypothesizes the material is a response to inflammation and repair and contributes the clefts to microscopic fractures.2 However, the characteristics of some of the pediatric cases at HCIFS complicate the interpretation of these defects. The defects were observed in one fetus and in several infants less than one week of age, as well as in infants with no other evidence of injury. Additionally, histological examination of these defects shows no cellular evidence of healing. As a result of these complications, a closer examination of the context in which these posterior defects are observed is warranted.
Manner and cause of death had been classified for 19 of the 41 cases with posterior defects. Cause of death was unrelated to trauma for 16 of the 19 cases. Only one of the three cases with a trauma-related cause of death was suspicious for abusive injury (Manner–Undetermined, Cause–Blunt force head trauma). Of the 41 cases with posterior defects, 16 had no other skeletal injuries, including rib fractures, and 17 had rib fractures but no other skeletal injuries. The fracture pattern in most of the cases with rib fractures was consistent with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between the presence of posterior defects as the dependent variable and age, sex, ethnicity, the presence of other rib fractures, and the presence of other skeletal injuries (excluding rib fractures) as the independent variables. The presence of posterior rib defects was significantly related to sex (p<.001). The odds that females had posterior defects was 7.04 greater than males (OR=7.04, 95% CI [2.27, 21.83]). Age may also have a significant effect on the presence of posterior rib defects (p=.058). The odds of observing posterior defects in older children were lower than in younger infants (OR=0.96, 95% CI [0.92, 1.00]). Age is statistically significant when entered as the only independent variable in the model (p=.047). Neither ethnicity, the presence of other rib fractures, nor the presence of skeletal injuries had a significant relationship with the presence of posterior defects (p>.05). These relationships are inconsistent with the general trends observed among the infants autopsied at HCIFS that die of abusive trauma or traumatic injury. The odds of traumatic death (OR=1.08, 95% CI [1.06, 1.10]) and abusive injury (OR=1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.08]) increases as age increases. Sex had no significant relationship with causes of death related to trauma or abusive injury (p>.05).
Reference(s): 1. Kleinman, Paul K. Bony Thoracic Trauma. In Diagnostic Imaging of Child Abuse, edited by Paul K. Kleinman, 110-48. St. Louis: Mosby, 1998. 2. Kemp, Walter Loren. Microscopic Examination of Rib Heads: A Useful Adjunct in the Investigation of Infant Deaths. PhD diss., University of Montana, 2014. 3. Dolinak, David, and Evan Matshes. Child Abuse. In Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice, edited by David Dolinak, Evan Matshes, and Emma Lew, 369-411. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.
Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of the Infant Injur... more Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of the Infant Injury Database (IID), the types of data archived in the database, the composition of the population sample, and the mechanism for requesting access to the data. This presentation provides a more detailed description of the database previously described by Soto Martinez et al.(1)
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by creating awareness of and providing information about a valuable resource for conducting evidence-based research on the recognition and diagnosis of child abuse.
The IID is a valuable data source for forensic and clinical practitioners interested in developing statistically sound, validated diagnostic models to inform decision-making with regard to abusive injury. It is a comprehensive collection of demographic information, investigative information (law enforcement, medical examiner death investigation, child protective services), scene observations, medical history, and autopsy findings from all pediatric (0–5 years) examinations conducted at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). To mitigate the introduction of selection bias, age was the only factor limiting inclusion into the IID. All data pertaining to Postmortem Examinations (PME) were prospectively collected from autopsy reports and gross rib exams or full pediatric skeletal exams conducted by an HCIFS forensic anthropologist. Full pediatric skeletal exams were conducted, per the pathologist’s request, on cases of concern for abusive injury or suspicious circumstances.
For each case in the database, 2,071 fields of data (discrete and free-text) are collected with the ability to attach additional comments to any data field. General case information, such as demographics, height/weight, and manner/cause of death, is documented in the first 25 fields of the database. Ninety-nine fields describe the events leading up to the terminal event (i.e., co-sleeping, napping, traumatic injuries), and detail information such as who found the decedent (i.e., mother, father, parent’s paramour, etc.) and where they were found (i.e., bed, bassinet, crib, couch). These fields also describe the decedent’s physical appearance (i.e., lividity, rigor mortis, cold to the touch) upon discovery or assessment by medical personnel. If the decedent was not transported to the hospital, observations from scene photos are recorded in 27 fields, describing the decedent’s sleep environment (when applicable) and general home environment (i.e., clean, unkempt, insect activity, etc.). Eighty-seven fields document the decedent’s medical history (prenatal, birth, and postnatal) and family medical history. Parental/caregiver social histories (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use) are documented in 21 fields. History with child protective services involving the decedent, sibling, and/or parent/caregiver are recorded in 157 fields, including number of investigations, associated allegations, and allegation determination. Medical examiner findings are recorded in 1,655 fields and are organized by location of injury, such as external body, internal body, and skeletal system. External injuries to specific body parts (i.e., face, lips, left hand, buttocks, etc.) are documented in 76 fields, including injury type (i.e., contusion, laceration, abrasion, etc.) and whether the observed injuries resulted from medical intervention. There are 106 fields for documenting internal injuries to body organs, and subcutaneous and intramuscular soft tissues, which includes descriptions of injury type (i.e., hemorrhage, pulpification, laceration). The largest number of PME fields (n=1,473) are dedicated to the documentation of skeletal injuries. There are fields for recording fracture type, number of fractures, and stage of healing for almost every bone in the body. Free-text boxes are utilized for documenting injuries to the bones of the hands and feet as these types of injures are uncommon.
Currently, the IID contains data on 710 pediatric cases (female=289, male=421) and the sample continues to expand. These data were collected intermittently from 2010 to 2013 and have been continuously collected from 2014 to the present. Infants form the largest group in the IID (<12 months=633, 89%), followed by children 1–2 years of age (n=32), 2–3 years of age (n=22), 3–4 years of age (n=15), and 4–5 years of age (n=8). With regard to ethnicity, African Americans form the largest group in the IID (n=305, 43%), followed by Hispanics (n=237), White/European Americans (n=150), and Asians (n=18).
Reference(s):1.Soto Martinez, Miriam E., Jennifer C. Love, Deborrah C. Pinto, Jason M. Wiersema, Sharon M. Derrick, Angela Bachim, Christopher Greeley,et al. The Infant Injury Database: A Tool for the Study of Injury Patterns in Medicolegal Investigations of Child Abuse. Journal of Forensic Sciences, (July 2019), https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14120.
Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of midface fracture... more Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will be aware of midface fracture patterns that may assist in differentiating intraoral from submental gunshot wounds.
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by contributing to the research on gunshot wounds to the midface that have direct implications for dry bone analysis.
Gunshot injury signatures (i.e., entrance and exit wound) can often be diagnosed and interpreted at autopsy when soft tissue is present. In the absence of soft tissue, fracture patterns of the hard tissue may be interpreted; however, there is limited information regarding skeletal fracture patterning resulting from intraoral versus submandibular gunshot wounds. In 2005, Fenton et al. reported on five skeletal cases with self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the midline of the skull.1 They identified a possible diagnostic pattern of bilateral fracturing that occurs as a result of shotgun, rifle, and handgun injuries. The limitation of the 2005 study was that it addressed only five cases, with different firearms: two intraoral rifle, two submandibular or possible submandibular shotgun, and one mid-frontal pistol. The purpose of the current research is to build upon the 2005 study by examining a focal region of the skull; (i.e., the palate; and mandible) of a larger study sample to identify possible distinguishing patterns between intraoral and submandibular gunshot wounds.
This study is a retrospective exploratory investigation of suicides in which a handgun was positioned either intraorally or submentally. The mandible and palate are the skeletal emphases since these are the main points of entry for these types of gunshot wounds. Additionally, this study addresses the relationship of the chambering of the firearm/projectile caliber to the injury pattern. The study sample comprised 187 suicides by intraoral or submental gunshot wounds autopsied from 2010–2019 by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, TX. These data were collected by reviewing radiographs, autopsy photographs, and autopsy reports for the presence or absence of a mandibular fracture and/or palate impact. Projectile caliber size was available for all but four cases. The variables investigated were palate impact, the location of the mandibular fracture (anterior, posterior, or both), and the projectile caliber. Logistic regression models were used to identify the relationships between the presence/absence of a mandibular fracture, palate impact, and location of mandibular fractures in relation to the point of entry (submental and intraoral wound). Pearson’s chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between the presence of mandibular fractures and projectile caliber.
Of the 187 cases, 19 (10%) were submental and 168 (90%) were intraoral. Sixteen of the 19 submental cases (84%) displayed a mandibular fracture, while 31 of the 168 intraoral cases (18%) displayed a mandibular fracture. Of the 19 submental cases, 8 (42%) displayed only an anterior mandibular fracture, zero displayed only a posterior fracture, and 7 (37%) displayed both anterior and posterior fractures. Of the 168 intraoral cases, there were 26 (3.5%) with an anterior fracture, 4 (2.3%) with a posterior mandibular fracture, and 2 with simultaneous anterior and posterior mandibular fractures. Finally, palate impacts were identified in 18 of the 19 submental cases, and 132 of 168 intraoral cases.
The logistic regression model demonstrated that for submental entries, the odds of observing mandibular fractures were significantly greater than not observing mandibular fractures (OR=24.04, 95% CI [6.53, 88.52]; p<0.001). In addition, palate impacts were not a significant predictor of point of entry (p>0.05). Mandibular fracture location was statistically significant for submental entries (p<0.001), and the odds of observing simultaneous anterior and posterior fractures for submental entries was between 10 and 11 times greater than observing anterior and posterior in isolation. Chi-square analysis indicated there was no significant relationship between projectile caliber and the presence of a mandibular fracture (p>0.05).
The results of this study are promising for identifying skeletal fracture patterns that may differentiate between intraoral and submental gunshot wounds. One study limitation is the small submental sample size. A larger sample size may provide additional statistical support for interpreting intraoral versus submental gunshot wounds based on mandibular fracture patterns. Future prospective studies—via autopsy and/or Computed Tomography (CT) scanning—should explore the fracture patterning of the entire skull using known cases of intraoral and submental gunshot wounds.
Reference(s): 1.Fenton, Todd W., Vincent H. Stefan, Leslie A. Wood, and Norman J. Sauer. Symmetrical Fracturing of the Skull from Midline Contact Gunshot Wounds: Reconstruction of Individual Death Histories from Skeletonized Human Remains. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 50, no.2 (2005): 1-12.
After attending this presentation, attendees will be acquainted with the osteological analyses th... more After attending this presentation, attendees will be acquainted with the osteological analyses that were undertaken at the Khmer Rouge period mass graves of Choeung Ek in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This presentation will focus on a sample of crania from the more than 7,000 human remains housed within a memorial stupa (Buddhist shrine) at the site.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing scientific data regarding the demographics and traumatic injuries of the victims of mass violence in Cambodia. While much is known about the Khmer Rouge period from survivors and sociopolitical narratives, until recently, the disinterred human remains had not been scientifically analyzed on a large scale. The crania at Choeung Ek were assessed for demographic characteristics and traumatic injuries to discern whether execution methods were systematic between sex and age groups. The results provide valuable scientific and historical data, although there are limitations.
The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe and millions perished from overwork, poor health, and violence. Hundreds of thousands were executed and buried in mass graves throughout the country and many of these graves were exhumed in the 1980s. One such gravesite is the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek) in the capitol city of Phnom Penh. Choeung Ek was used by the Khmer Rouge between 1977 and 1979 as the execution and burial location for one of its highest-level detention centers: S-21 or Tuol Sleng. After the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, 86 of the estimated 129 mass graves discovered at Choeung Ek were exhumed. Although the exact number of individuals buried at Choeung Ek may never be known, today the remains of approximately 7,700 victims are curated within the stupa. This presentation will discuss the osteological analysis of more than 500 crania at Choeung Ek.
The crania were evaluated to determine demographic characteristics and traumatic injury patterns. For each cranium, the following data were assessed and recorded: date of analysis, identification number, sex, ancestry, age-at-death, traumatic injuries, and any pathologies or anomalies. Sex and ancestry were evaluated using morphoscopic characteristics and age-at-death was evaluated using cranial suture closure, specifically the maxillary sutures. Regarding the skeletal injuries, antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma or damage was recorded. If traumatic injuries were present, the following information was documented: location (i.e., specific cranial bone(s)), timing, mechanism (i.e., blunt, sharp, high velocity projectile/gunshot wound, or indeterminate), type of fracture (i.e., depressed, (linear) radiating, concentric, or other), whether the injury represented a direct impact, and the cranial region affected. All 508 crania were photographed and some were radiographed.
Results indicate that the majority of the 508 crania were estimated to be male (82.9%) and young adults (68.3%) between the ages of 20 and 35 years old. When ancestry could be assessed, all of the individuals were Asian. Therefore, the majority of individuals analyzed were young adult males of Asian ancestry. Perimortem trauma was present on 311 crania (61%), with 179 (58%) having discernable impact locations. Blunt force injuries (87%) were the most common mechanism of trauma and the basicranium (53%) was the most frequently impacted region. When the mechanism and location of traumatic injuries were evaluated by sex and age-at-death categories, no statistically significant differences were found indicating that all victims with perimortem trauma were subjected to similar execution methods regardless of their age or sex.
The available skeletal trauma results are consistent with the historical accounts of how the Khmer Rouge executed individuals at Choueng Ek. According to eye witness accounts, Khmer Rouge victims were generally executed by being struck on the head or base of the neck (i.e., the basicranium) with a hard object (i.e., blunt force trauma). Thus, the results of this research suggests that the demographics and traumatic injuries of the Choeung Ek crania complement the historical narrative of the Khmer Rouge period. Ultimately, these remains stand as a testament to the violence that transpired as well as a solemn memorial to those who perished. The analysis of human skeletal remains is imperative for the construction of a more comprehensive understanding of the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodia.
After attending this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of the sources of b... more After attending this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of the sources of bias that affect forensic anthropological casework in the context of a medical examiner’s office, and how to reduce the introduction of biasing data.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing recommendations for mitigating potential issues of bias in forensic anthropology. This research illustrates the significance of evaluating sources of contextual bias and acknowledging the changes that can be implemented to promote less biased analyses.
In recent years, forensic scientists have given more attention to the presence of bias during scientific examination. Cognitive bias refers to modifications of judgment resulting from the presence of internal expectations and external information. Because it influences decision-making and interpretations, cognitive bias—particularly confirmation bias—must be critically evaluated and minimized, when feasible.
Several studies have been published demonstrating the evaluated effects of contextual information on forensic anthropological interpretations of the skeletal biological profile, and have found that extraneous information can result in biased conclusions. However, none of the available studies originated from a medical examiner’s context. Although these studies identified sources of cognitive bias, they may not capture the nuances of anthropological activities in the medical examiner setting. This research fills this knowledge gap.
The purpose of this project was to identify where and how cognitive bias impacts forensic anthropological analyses conducted at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). In order to achieve this goal, the flow of information from the death scene to the laboratory, and within the laboratory, was examined over the course of one year. Subsequent to extended observations and shadowing of HCIFS forensic anthropologists, pathologists, and investigators, the following sources of bias were identified: 1. Attending death scenes to locate or recover human remains: Law enforcement and investigators often propose theories about the decedent, and contextual information and items, such as clothing and ligatures, are clearly visible. 2. Attending case presentation meetings: Scene and presumptive identification information are presented at the morning meeting in which daily cases are discussed prior to autopsy. 3. Discussions during anthropological consults: Discussion with the pathologist during autopsy often reveals contextual information about the case. Sharp force trauma cases, in particular, are of interest because the pathologist frequently notes the precise type of blade that was presumed to have been used (i.e., serrated or non-serrated). 4. Radiographic comparisons: Anthropologists typically view antemortem and postmortem images simultaneously for the purpose of radiographic identification. 5. Language used while discussing unidentified decedents: General use of personal pronouns for an unknown decedent, prior to the anthropologist assessing the remains to estimate sex, has been observed. 6. Peer review: The peer review process, particularly for radiographic identifications, does not include blind verification. 7. Information management systems: Knowledge of a decedent’s tentative identification and case information is accessible by staff via the agency’s electronic information management system.
Cognitive bias and the presence of extraneous contextual information cannot be eliminated in a medical examiner’s office, particularly one in which various forensic scientists work side-by-side. However, one goal of this project was to provide recommendations for mitigating the introduction of bias into anthropological casework. The following recommendations draw on various suggestions and methods provided by prior researchers, but with an emphasis on medical examiner-specific context: 1. The anthropologist who attended the scene does not conduct the skeletal analysis. 2. The anthropologist responsible for the day’s cases does not attend the morning meeting. 3. Evaluate antemortem and postmortem radiographs for identification independently, prior to comparison. 4. Avoid using personal pronouns for unidentified decedents. 5. Peer reviewer should independently assess specimens and data and form general conclusions prior to reading analyst’s report. 6. Anthropologist should avoid accessing contextual case information prior to examination of remains. 7. Record in bench notes what contextual information was relayed prior to beginning examination.
Although cognitive bias is inherent in human decision-making, evaluating and mitigating it in forensic anthropological casework is necessary to provide objective scientific conclusions. This research assessed sources of cognitive bias in the context of a medical examiner’s office and provides recommendation for forensic anthropologists to reduce bias. While not all forensic anthropologists work in a medical examiner setting, these recommendations are useful tools for all practitioners.
This presentation will discuss the conceptions of human remains resulting from the Khmer Rouge (K... more This presentation will discuss the conceptions of human remains resulting from the Khmer Rouge (KR) period (1975-1979) as both active materials (objects) and as embodied memories (subjects) in modern Cambodian culture. This research embraced a biocultural approach to move beyond traditional osteological research by addressing the social impact of skeletal remains.
While an osteological analysis of remains from mass violence provides demographic and traumatic injury data, without integrating the sociocultural context, these remains persist as isolated specimens of scientific or historical evidence. Therefore, this research evaluated the incorporation of human skeletal remains into memorial stupa (shrines). Primarily employing the theory of human remains’ affective materiality and agency, I evaluated observational and interview data from 13 memorials to assess what the enshrined skeletal remains provoke, constrain, and/or permit regarding the memory of KR violence.
Ten interviews were conducted and all informants indicated that the bones (as objects) can and should be displayed, primarily with the intent of informing visitors and the younger generations about the violence inflicted by the KR. However, the human remains are also subjects to be respected, commemorated, and cared for. Many informants expressed the need to pay homage to the remains, ancestors, and spirits. The bones therefore provoke and invoke interactions with the living; they are not merely inanimate objects to be displayed and relegated to the past. The remains enshrined in Cambodian memorials are corporeal agents serving as a reminder of violence and loss, yet interacting with, and requesting things of the living in the present.
After attending this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of the recent effor... more After attending this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of the recent efforts undertaken at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) to address the pertinent issue of establishing a validation program and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for anthropological equipment and software, specifically the MicroScribe® 3D digitizer and the 3Skull and FORDISC software programs used to collect and analyze osteometric data.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing best practices to mitigate potential issues of method and measurement error. The present research will illustrate the significance of validating anthropological equipment in every laboratory as a quality assurance measure, notwithstanding its general acceptance within the forensic anthropological community.
Establishing a quality assurance program and achieving laboratory accreditation has become paramount for forensic anthropology. It is through these processes that the field of forensic anthropology can demonstrate the level of surety associated with anthropological analyses. In August 2015, the HCIFS’s Forensic Anthropology Division (FAD) became the first forensic anthropology laboratory to be accredited under ANAB’s ISO/IEC 17020 inspection body program. One challenge posed during the accreditation process was answering the question, “Do validation, verification, and performance checks of anthropological methods and activities follow a written procedure?”
Equipment and software programs including the digitizer, mandibulometer, 3Skull, and FORDISC, were in use prior to accreditation. Their use and data were assumed to be reliable since members of the forensic anthropology community deem them acceptable and references for their functionality are available in peer-reviewed literature. However, no internal validations were performed when the equipment and software were received. Plans were made to collaborate with the HCIFS’s Quality Management Division (QMD) to properly validate the equipment and software in order to meet accreditation standards. All accredited laboratories, per ANAB’s Guidance on Uncertainty for Testing Laboratories, must review significant factors that may contribute to the error or variability in measurements. Thus, accreditation standards require in-house validations for analytical equipment to demonstrate the level of surety associated with analyses.
To perform the internal validation of the digitizer, a reference standard was created by selecting an anatomical skull and pre-marking the osteometric landmarks. The elements were measured using calipers and standard collection protocols. Then the analysts collected the landmarks following the newly-written digitizer SOP, checked that the coordinates were accurately captured in the 3Skull software, and compared the output to the caliper-derived measurements. In the course of establishing this procedure, measurement uncertainty calculations for 35 interlandmark distances (IDLs) and one angle, were performed using Root Sum Squared (RSS) and following the NIST procedure for measurement uncertainty.
For the in-house FORDISC validation, cranial and postcranial metric data were collected from four known, donated specimens typical of the Black and White groups within the Forensic Databank by one author (KS). These data were processed through FORDISC, retaining a log of the osteometric measurements used and analytical iterations. The IDLs were then provided to the FAD analysts who entered them into FORDISC without viewing KS’s results. Validation was considered successful when the FAD FORDISC classification results were reasonably similar to those of KS when comparable analytical iterations were employed. While the FAD’s equipment and software validation SOP is specific to the MicroScribe, 3Skull, and FORDISC, forensic anthropologists will be able to identify the important elements that should be included in any anthropology software program validation (i.e., 3D-ID, (hu)MANid, Macromorphoscopics) or software update.
Formalizing a process for internal validation to the point where instructions can be documented in SOPs may seem unnecessary to practitioners, especially if anthropologists believe they are already employing validated methods/equipment. However, in-house verification is warranted to guarantee the appropriateness of their use for fulfilling the service needs of the laboratory. The goal is to advance analyses towards uniformity and higher quality. While this may be challenging for laboratories with only one forensic anthropologist, or offices without a QMD, validation, verification, and performance checks for your equipment in your laboratory is vital in this era of forensic science critique. Therefore, one of the primary deliverables for this project is the availability of the HCIFS’s equipment and software validation plans and SOPs which can be used as a template to meet the needs of any forensic anthropology laboratory.
Essay Title: “Skeletal Analysis after Crimes Against Humanity and Genocides: Implications for Hum... more Essay Title: “Skeletal Analysis after Crimes Against Humanity and Genocides: Implications for Human Rights”
Uploads
Papers by Julie Fleischman
Implementation of a QA program is more challenging in forensic anthropology compared with other forensic disciplines, such as toxicology and genetics. The latter disciplines have more technical equipment and automated processes, which are easier to regulate and controlwithin a laboratory setting. Forensic Anthropologists, however, must contend with the ultimate nonstandardized data: human variation. Characterizing and evaluating human variation often lends itself to more subjective methods. Thus, the challenges associated with qualifying and quantifying human variation set anthropology apart from the other hard sciences. A robust quality program provides a layer of checks and controls to assist with the standardization of procedures.
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by demonstrating that posterior rib head fracture mimics are a fairly common finding and should be interpreted cautiously.
Posterior rib fractures are considered highly suspicious for abusive injury in infants due to the mechanism by which these injuries occur.1 Numerous studies demonstrate an association between posterior rib fractures and inflicted injury in infants. While this association is clear, recent casework at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) requires that at least some posterior rib defects be considered in the context of growth and development as well as the presence and/or absence of other injuries and/or risk factors. At the HCIFS, standard autopsy protocol includes an in situ rib exam on all pediatric cases less than five years of age. In 55% (n=41) of the 75 cases examined since January of 2019, at least one subtle linear defect was observed on the pleural surface of one or more ribs near their attachment to the vertebral column. Grossly, these defects have morphological characteristics suggestive of advanced healing, such as bone formation along the endosteal portion of the fracture surface. Similar defects have been previously described by Kemp as clefts that are “triangular-shaped defects in the primary spongiosa with the tip at the growth plate and the base at the periosteum.”2 Kemp notes that the clefts are filled with an “amorphous, granular, eosinophilic acellular material of uncertain origin,” which was previously described by Dolinak and Matshes.2,3 The exact content of the material is unknown, but Kemp hypothesizes the material is a response to inflammation and repair and contributes the clefts to microscopic fractures.2 However, the characteristics of some of the pediatric cases at HCIFS complicate the interpretation of these defects. The defects were observed in one fetus and in several infants less than one week of age, as well as in infants with no other evidence of injury. Additionally, histological examination of these defects shows no cellular evidence of healing. As a result of these complications, a closer examination of the context in which these posterior defects are observed is warranted.
Manner and cause of death had been classified for 19 of the 41 cases with posterior defects. Cause of death was unrelated to trauma for 16 of the 19 cases. Only one of the three cases with a trauma-related cause of death was suspicious for abusive injury (Manner–Undetermined, Cause–Blunt force head trauma). Of the 41 cases with posterior defects, 16 had no other skeletal injuries, including rib fractures, and 17 had rib fractures but no other skeletal injuries. The fracture pattern in most of the cases with rib fractures was consistent with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between the presence of posterior defects as the dependent variable and age, sex, ethnicity, the presence of other rib fractures, and the presence of other skeletal injuries (excluding rib fractures) as the independent variables. The presence of posterior rib defects was significantly related to sex (p<.001). The odds that females had posterior defects was 7.04 greater than males (OR=7.04, 95% CI [2.27, 21.83]). Age may also have a significant effect on the presence of posterior rib defects (p=.058). The odds of observing posterior defects in older children were lower than in younger infants (OR=0.96, 95% CI [0.92, 1.00]). Age is statistically significant when entered as the only independent variable in the model (p=.047). Neither ethnicity, the presence of other rib fractures, nor the presence of skeletal injuries had a significant relationship with the presence of posterior defects (p>.05). These relationships are inconsistent with the general trends observed among the infants autopsied at HCIFS that die of abusive trauma or traumatic injury. The odds of traumatic death (OR=1.08, 95% CI [1.06, 1.10]) and abusive injury (OR=1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.08]) increases as age increases. Sex had no significant relationship with causes of death related to trauma or abusive injury (p>.05).
Reference(s):
1. Kleinman, Paul K. Bony Thoracic Trauma. In Diagnostic Imaging of Child Abuse, edited by Paul K. Kleinman, 110-48. St. Louis: Mosby, 1998.
2. Kemp, Walter Loren. Microscopic Examination of Rib Heads: A Useful Adjunct in the Investigation of Infant Deaths. PhD diss., University of Montana, 2014.
3. Dolinak, David, and Evan Matshes. Child Abuse. In Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice, edited by David Dolinak, Evan Matshes, and Emma Lew, 369-411. Amsterdam: Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by creating awareness of and providing information about a valuable resource for conducting evidence-based research on the recognition and diagnosis of child abuse.
The IID is a valuable data source for forensic and clinical practitioners interested in developing statistically sound, validated diagnostic models to inform decision-making with regard to abusive injury. It is a comprehensive collection of demographic information, investigative information (law enforcement, medical examiner death investigation, child protective services), scene observations, medical history, and autopsy findings from all pediatric (0–5 years) examinations conducted at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). To mitigate the introduction of selection bias, age was the only factor limiting inclusion into the IID. All data pertaining to Postmortem Examinations (PME) were prospectively collected from autopsy reports and gross rib exams or full pediatric skeletal exams conducted by an HCIFS forensic anthropologist. Full pediatric skeletal exams were conducted, per the pathologist’s request, on cases of concern for abusive injury or suspicious circumstances.
For each case in the database, 2,071 fields of data (discrete and free-text) are collected with the ability to attach additional comments to any data field. General case information, such as demographics, height/weight, and manner/cause of death, is documented in the first 25 fields of the database. Ninety-nine fields describe the events leading up to the terminal event (i.e., co-sleeping, napping, traumatic injuries), and detail information such as who found the decedent (i.e., mother, father, parent’s paramour, etc.) and where they were found (i.e., bed, bassinet, crib, couch). These fields also describe the decedent’s physical appearance (i.e., lividity, rigor mortis, cold to the touch) upon discovery or assessment by medical personnel. If the decedent was not transported to the hospital, observations from scene photos are recorded in 27 fields, describing the decedent’s sleep environment (when applicable) and general home environment (i.e., clean, unkempt, insect activity, etc.). Eighty-seven fields document the decedent’s medical history (prenatal, birth, and postnatal) and family medical history. Parental/caregiver social histories (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use) are documented in 21 fields. History with child protective services involving the decedent, sibling, and/or parent/caregiver are recorded in 157 fields, including number of investigations, associated allegations, and allegation determination. Medical examiner findings are recorded in 1,655 fields and are organized by location of injury, such as external body, internal body, and skeletal system. External injuries to specific body parts (i.e., face, lips, left hand, buttocks, etc.) are documented in 76 fields, including injury type (i.e., contusion, laceration, abrasion, etc.) and whether the observed injuries resulted from medical intervention. There are 106 fields for documenting internal injuries to body organs, and subcutaneous and intramuscular soft tissues, which includes descriptions of injury type (i.e., hemorrhage, pulpification, laceration). The largest number of PME fields (n=1,473) are dedicated to the documentation of skeletal injuries. There are fields for recording fracture type, number of fractures, and stage of healing for almost every bone in the body. Free-text boxes are utilized for documenting injuries to the bones of the hands and feet as these types of injures are uncommon.
Currently, the IID contains data on 710 pediatric cases (female=289, male=421) and the sample continues to expand. These data were collected intermittently from 2010 to 2013 and have been continuously collected from 2014 to the present. Infants form the largest group in the IID (<12 months=633, 89%), followed by children 1–2 years of age (n=32), 2–3 years of age (n=22), 3–4 years of age (n=15), and 4–5 years of age (n=8). With regard to ethnicity, African Americans form the largest group in the IID (n=305, 43%), followed by Hispanics (n=237), White/European Americans (n=150), and Asians (n=18).
Reference(s):1.Soto Martinez, Miriam E., Jennifer C. Love, Deborrah C. Pinto, Jason M. Wiersema, Sharon M. Derrick, Angela Bachim, Christopher Greeley,et al. The Infant Injury Database: A Tool for the Study of Injury Patterns in Medicolegal Investigations of Child Abuse. Journal of Forensic Sciences, (July 2019), https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14120.
Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by contributing to the research on gunshot wounds to the midface that have direct implications for dry bone analysis.
Gunshot injury signatures (i.e., entrance and exit wound) can often be diagnosed and interpreted at autopsy when soft tissue is present. In the absence of soft tissue, fracture patterns of the hard tissue may be interpreted; however, there is limited information regarding skeletal fracture patterning resulting from intraoral versus submandibular gunshot wounds. In 2005, Fenton et al. reported on five skeletal cases with self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the midline of the skull.1 They identified a possible diagnostic pattern of bilateral fracturing that occurs as a result of shotgun, rifle, and handgun injuries. The limitation of the 2005 study was that it addressed only five cases, with different firearms: two intraoral rifle, two submandibular or possible submandibular shotgun, and one mid-frontal pistol. The purpose of the current research is to build upon the 2005 study by examining a focal region of the skull; (i.e., the palate; and mandible) of a larger study sample to identify possible distinguishing patterns between intraoral and submandibular gunshot wounds.
This study is a retrospective exploratory investigation of suicides in which a handgun was positioned either intraorally or submentally. The mandible and palate are the skeletal emphases since these are the main points of entry for these types of gunshot wounds. Additionally, this study addresses the relationship of the chambering of the firearm/projectile caliber to the injury pattern. The study sample comprised 187 suicides by intraoral or submental gunshot wounds autopsied from 2010–2019 by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, TX. These data were collected by reviewing radiographs, autopsy photographs, and autopsy reports for the presence or absence of a mandibular fracture and/or palate impact. Projectile caliber size was available for all but four cases. The variables investigated were palate impact, the location of the mandibular fracture (anterior, posterior, or both), and the projectile caliber. Logistic regression models were used to identify the relationships between the presence/absence of a mandibular fracture, palate impact, and location of mandibular fractures in relation to the point of entry (submental and intraoral wound). Pearson’s chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationship between the presence of mandibular fractures and projectile caliber.
Of the 187 cases, 19 (10%) were submental and 168 (90%) were intraoral. Sixteen of the 19 submental cases (84%) displayed a mandibular fracture, while 31 of the 168 intraoral cases (18%) displayed a mandibular fracture. Of the 19 submental cases, 8 (42%) displayed only an anterior mandibular fracture, zero displayed only a posterior fracture, and 7 (37%) displayed both anterior and posterior fractures. Of the 168 intraoral cases, there were 26 (3.5%) with an anterior fracture, 4 (2.3%) with a posterior mandibular fracture, and 2 with simultaneous anterior and posterior mandibular fractures. Finally, palate impacts were identified in 18 of the 19 submental cases, and 132 of 168 intraoral cases.
The logistic regression model demonstrated that for submental entries, the odds of observing mandibular fractures were significantly greater than not observing mandibular fractures (OR=24.04, 95% CI [6.53, 88.52]; p<0.001). In addition, palate impacts were not a significant predictor of point of entry (p>0.05). Mandibular fracture location was statistically significant for submental entries (p<0.001), and the odds of observing simultaneous anterior and posterior fractures for submental entries was between 10 and 11 times greater than observing anterior and posterior in isolation. Chi-square analysis indicated there was no significant relationship between projectile caliber and the presence of a mandibular fracture (p>0.05).
The results of this study are promising for identifying skeletal fracture patterns that may differentiate between intraoral and submental gunshot wounds. One study limitation is the small submental sample size. A larger sample size may provide additional statistical support for interpreting intraoral versus submental gunshot wounds based on mandibular fracture patterns. Future prospective studies—via autopsy and/or Computed Tomography (CT) scanning—should explore the fracture patterning of the entire skull using known cases of intraoral and submental gunshot wounds.
Reference(s):
1.Fenton, Todd W., Vincent H. Stefan, Leslie A. Wood, and Norman J. Sauer. Symmetrical Fracturing of the Skull from Midline Contact Gunshot Wounds: Reconstruction of Individual Death Histories from Skeletonized Human Remains. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 50, no.2 (2005): 1-12.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing scientific data regarding the demographics and traumatic injuries of the victims of mass violence in Cambodia. While much is known about the Khmer Rouge period from survivors and sociopolitical narratives, until recently, the disinterred human remains had not been scientifically analyzed on a large scale. The crania at Choeung Ek were assessed for demographic characteristics and traumatic injuries to discern whether execution methods were systematic between sex and age groups. The results provide valuable scientific and historical data, although there are limitations.
The Khmer Rouge regime controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Conditions were severe and millions perished from overwork, poor health, and violence. Hundreds of thousands were executed and buried in mass graves throughout the country and many of these graves were exhumed in the 1980s. One such gravesite is the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek) in the capitol city of Phnom Penh. Choeung Ek was used by the Khmer Rouge between 1977 and 1979 as the execution and burial location for one of its highest-level detention centers: S-21 or Tuol Sleng. After the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, 86 of the estimated 129 mass graves discovered at Choeung Ek were exhumed. Although the exact number of individuals buried at Choeung Ek may never be known, today the remains of approximately 7,700 victims are curated within the stupa. This presentation will discuss the osteological analysis of more than 500 crania at Choeung Ek.
The crania were evaluated to determine demographic characteristics and traumatic injury patterns. For each cranium, the following data were assessed and recorded: date of analysis, identification number, sex, ancestry, age-at-death, traumatic injuries, and any pathologies or anomalies. Sex and ancestry were evaluated using morphoscopic characteristics and age-at-death was evaluated using cranial suture closure, specifically the maxillary sutures. Regarding the skeletal injuries, antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem trauma or damage was recorded. If traumatic injuries were present, the following information was documented: location (i.e., specific cranial bone(s)), timing, mechanism (i.e., blunt, sharp, high velocity projectile/gunshot wound, or indeterminate), type of fracture (i.e., depressed, (linear) radiating, concentric, or other), whether the injury represented a direct impact, and the cranial region affected. All 508 crania were photographed and some were radiographed.
Results indicate that the majority of the 508 crania were estimated to be male (82.9%) and young adults (68.3%) between the ages of 20 and 35 years old. When ancestry could be assessed, all of the individuals were Asian. Therefore, the majority of individuals analyzed were young adult males of Asian ancestry. Perimortem trauma was present on 311 crania (61%), with 179 (58%) having discernable impact locations. Blunt force injuries (87%) were the most common mechanism of trauma and the basicranium (53%) was the most frequently impacted region. When the mechanism and location of traumatic injuries were evaluated by sex and age-at-death categories, no statistically significant differences were found indicating that all victims with perimortem trauma were subjected to similar execution methods regardless of their age or sex.
The available skeletal trauma results are consistent with the historical accounts of how the Khmer Rouge executed individuals at Choueng Ek. According to eye witness accounts, Khmer Rouge victims were generally executed by being struck on the head or base of the neck (i.e., the basicranium) with a hard object (i.e., blunt force trauma). Thus, the results of this research suggests that the demographics and traumatic injuries of the Choeung Ek crania complement the historical narrative of the Khmer Rouge period. Ultimately, these remains stand as a testament to the violence that transpired as well as a solemn memorial to those who perished. The analysis of human skeletal remains is imperative for the construction of a more comprehensive understanding of the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodia.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing recommendations for mitigating potential issues of bias in forensic anthropology. This research illustrates the significance of evaluating sources of contextual bias and acknowledging the changes that can be implemented to promote less biased analyses.
In recent years, forensic scientists have given more attention to the presence of bias during scientific examination. Cognitive bias refers to modifications of judgment resulting from the presence of internal expectations and external information. Because it influences decision-making and interpretations, cognitive bias—particularly confirmation bias—must be critically evaluated and minimized, when feasible.
Several studies have been published demonstrating the evaluated effects of contextual information on forensic anthropological interpretations of the skeletal biological profile, and have found that extraneous information can result in biased conclusions. However, none of the available studies originated from a medical examiner’s context. Although these studies identified sources of cognitive bias, they may not capture the nuances of anthropological activities in the medical examiner setting. This research fills this knowledge gap.
The purpose of this project was to identify where and how cognitive bias impacts forensic anthropological analyses conducted at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS). In order to achieve this goal, the flow of information from the death scene to the laboratory, and within the laboratory, was examined over the course of one year. Subsequent to extended observations and shadowing of HCIFS forensic anthropologists, pathologists, and investigators, the following sources of bias were identified:
1. Attending death scenes to locate or recover human remains: Law enforcement and investigators often propose theories about the decedent, and contextual information and items, such as clothing and ligatures, are clearly visible.
2. Attending case presentation meetings: Scene and presumptive identification information are presented at the morning meeting in which daily cases are discussed prior to autopsy.
3. Discussions during anthropological consults: Discussion with the pathologist during autopsy often reveals contextual information about the case. Sharp force trauma cases, in particular, are of interest because the pathologist frequently notes the precise type of blade that was presumed to have been used (i.e., serrated or non-serrated).
4. Radiographic comparisons: Anthropologists typically view antemortem and postmortem images simultaneously for the purpose of radiographic identification.
5. Language used while discussing unidentified decedents: General use of personal pronouns for an unknown decedent, prior to the anthropologist assessing the remains to estimate sex, has been observed.
6. Peer review: The peer review process, particularly for radiographic identifications, does not include blind verification.
7. Information management systems: Knowledge of a decedent’s tentative identification and case information is accessible by staff via the agency’s electronic information management system.
Cognitive bias and the presence of extraneous contextual information cannot be eliminated in a medical examiner’s office, particularly one in which various forensic scientists work side-by-side. However, one goal of this project was to provide recommendations for mitigating the introduction of bias into anthropological casework. The following recommendations draw on various suggestions and methods provided by prior researchers, but with an emphasis on medical examiner-specific context:
1. The anthropologist who attended the scene does not conduct the skeletal analysis.
2. The anthropologist responsible for the day’s cases does not attend the morning meeting.
3. Evaluate antemortem and postmortem radiographs for identification independently, prior to comparison.
4. Avoid using personal pronouns for unidentified decedents.
5. Peer reviewer should independently assess specimens and data and form general conclusions prior to reading analyst’s report.
6. Anthropologist should avoid accessing contextual case information prior to examination of remains.
7. Record in bench notes what contextual information was relayed prior to beginning examination.
Although cognitive bias is inherent in human decision-making, evaluating and mitigating it in forensic anthropological casework is necessary to provide objective scientific conclusions. This research assessed sources of cognitive bias in the context of a medical examiner’s office and provides recommendation for forensic anthropologists to reduce bias. While not all forensic anthropologists work in a medical examiner setting, these recommendations are useful tools for all practitioners.
While an osteological analysis of remains from mass violence provides demographic and traumatic injury data, without integrating the sociocultural context, these remains persist as isolated specimens of scientific or historical evidence. Therefore, this research evaluated the incorporation of human skeletal remains into memorial stupa (shrines). Primarily employing the theory of human remains’ affective materiality and agency, I evaluated observational and interview data from 13 memorials to assess what the enshrined skeletal remains provoke, constrain, and/or permit regarding the memory of KR violence.
Ten interviews were conducted and all informants indicated that the bones (as objects) can and should be displayed, primarily with the intent of informing visitors and the younger generations about the violence inflicted by the KR. However, the human remains are also subjects to be respected, commemorated, and cared for. Many informants expressed the need to pay homage to the remains, ancestors, and spirits. The bones therefore provoke and invoke interactions with the living; they are not merely inanimate objects to be displayed and relegated to the past. The remains enshrined in Cambodian memorials are corporeal agents serving as a reminder of violence and loss, yet interacting with, and requesting things of the living in the present.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by providing best practices to mitigate potential issues of method and measurement error. The present research will illustrate the significance of validating anthropological equipment in every laboratory as a quality assurance measure, notwithstanding its general acceptance within the forensic anthropological community.
Establishing a quality assurance program and achieving laboratory accreditation has become paramount for forensic anthropology. It is through these processes that the field of forensic anthropology can demonstrate the level of surety associated with anthropological analyses. In August 2015, the HCIFS’s Forensic Anthropology Division (FAD) became the first forensic anthropology laboratory to be accredited under ANAB’s ISO/IEC 17020 inspection body program. One challenge posed during the accreditation process was answering the question, “Do validation, verification, and performance checks of anthropological methods and activities follow a written procedure?”
Equipment and software programs including the digitizer, mandibulometer, 3Skull, and FORDISC, were in use prior to accreditation. Their use and data were assumed to be reliable since members of the forensic anthropology community deem them acceptable and references for their functionality are available in peer-reviewed literature. However, no internal validations were performed when the equipment and software were received. Plans were made to collaborate with the HCIFS’s Quality Management Division (QMD) to properly validate the equipment and software in order to meet accreditation standards. All accredited laboratories, per ANAB’s Guidance on Uncertainty for Testing Laboratories, must review significant factors that may contribute to the error or variability in measurements. Thus, accreditation standards require in-house validations for analytical equipment to demonstrate the level of surety associated with analyses.
To perform the internal validation of the digitizer, a reference standard was created by selecting an anatomical skull and pre-marking the osteometric landmarks. The elements were measured using calipers and standard collection protocols. Then the analysts collected the landmarks following the newly-written digitizer SOP, checked that the coordinates were accurately captured in the 3Skull software, and compared the output to the caliper-derived measurements. In the course of establishing this procedure, measurement uncertainty calculations for 35 interlandmark distances (IDLs) and one angle, were performed using Root Sum Squared (RSS) and following the NIST procedure for measurement uncertainty.
For the in-house FORDISC validation, cranial and postcranial metric data were collected from four known, donated specimens typical of the Black and White groups within the Forensic Databank by one author (KS). These data were processed through FORDISC, retaining a log of the osteometric measurements used and analytical iterations. The IDLs were then provided to the FAD analysts who entered them into FORDISC without viewing KS’s results. Validation was considered successful when the FAD FORDISC classification results were reasonably similar to those of KS when comparable analytical iterations were employed. While the FAD’s equipment and software validation SOP is specific to the MicroScribe, 3Skull, and FORDISC, forensic anthropologists will be able to identify the important elements that should be included in any anthropology software program validation (i.e., 3D-ID, (hu)MANid, Macromorphoscopics) or software update.
Formalizing a process for internal validation to the point where instructions can be documented in SOPs may seem unnecessary to practitioners, especially if anthropologists believe they are already employing validated methods/equipment. However, in-house verification is warranted to guarantee the appropriateness of their use for fulfilling the service needs of the laboratory. The goal is to advance analyses towards uniformity and higher quality. While this may be challenging for laboratories with only one forensic anthropologist, or offices without a QMD, validation, verification, and performance checks for your equipment in your laboratory is vital in this era of forensic science critique. Therefore, one of the primary deliverables for this project is the availability of the HCIFS’s equipment and software validation plans and SOPs which can be used as a template to meet the needs of any forensic anthropology laboratory.
http://www.aaas.org/news/science-and-human-rights-coalition-announces-2016-student-essay-competition-winners