Forensic Entomology or the study of insects as they relate to medicolegal investigations is a relatively young yet fast growing science. Insects can be used in a variety of ways to prove or disprove facts of a case. It is up to the crime scene investigator to properly collect and preserve this evidence until an expert in the field of entomology can inspect the evidence and give their expert opinion. It is then up to the prosecution not to get the evidence thrown out due to showing excessive amounts of the same evidence or showing the jury inflammatory evidence that is hard for most people to stomach. Chances are as a common citizen, most people would find a majority of entomological evidence inflammatory due to the graphic nature it tends to …show more content…
Experiment after experiment of the process of decomposition and all of its contributors can prove how long a corpse has been decaying; it is simply a matter of applying known information on insect life cycles to those insects found on and in a corpse. However, insects that aide in the decomposition process are not the only insects of interest in criminal or civil cases. Insects have existed on earth for about 250 million years; comparatively humans have existed for about 300,000 years (Byrd, 2014). Such a tremendous amount of time has allowed insects to attain a wide diversity in both form and development. There are currently about 700,000 described species and it is estimated that there may be more than 10 million species of insects yet to be described (Byrd, 2014). Insects of all species are found in specific locations or areas; if they are found outside of those areas they had to have been moved there by other means. Like any other animal, most insects have distinctive features and specific habitat requirements. Insects as they pertain to medicolegal death investigations help to establish post mortem interval (PMI) as long as the specimens are properly collected and properly preserved (Benecke & Lessig, 2001). Forensic entomology can also be used to assist law enforcement in determining neglect in the elderly and abuse in the very young (Benecke & Lessig, 2001). From criminal …show more content…
Out of the 30 insects identified, six gave the detectives the answers they were looking for. Two of the six where beetles found only in the eastern United States. They also found the back leg of a grasshopper whose markings led them to determine it was the leg of a red-shanked grasshopper (Xanthippus corallipes pantherinus), found no farther east than Kansas and central Texas. On the radiator they found a large golden paper wasp (Polistes aurifer) can live as far east as Kansas, but it is most abundant in California. On the air filter they found two true bugs (Neacoryphus rubicollis and Piesma brachiale or ceramicum), the brightly colored, distinctively sculpted bodies were largely intact. These species are found only in Arizona, Utah and Southern California. (Kimsey,
Bess beetles range in size all the way from 21 millimeters to 80 millimeters. The beetles are named after the French word baiser, which means “to kiss”, due to the fact that they often make a smooching sound with their legs. They have a small horn that protrudes from their head, and use their antennae to drive them forward when experiencing new smells. Though the beetles may look quite menacing, they are surprisingly docile. They enjoy feasting on rotten wood, moss, and adult beetle fecal matter after it has been partially digested by bacteria. A scientific experiment was conducted to test these beetle’s pulling power in relation to their mass. The hypothesis stated,
The portrayal of forensic anthropology in ‘The feet on the beach’ is inaccurate because forensic anthropologists are depicted to be involved in other aspects of the crime scene investigation aside from aspects that require anthropological expertise (Wood, 2017a). Similar to Dr. Brennan who is a forensic anthropologist in the show, forensic anthropologists in real life works closely with the police and the coroner when the remains being dealt with are unrecognizable (Wood,
Forensic entomology is most commonly used in suspicious criminal cases. P.C. White (2010) suggests that insects are responsive to certain stimuli and from this we are able to capture an insight into an insects contribution to crime solving. We can determine many different aspects of a case by the presence of different insects colonising a dead body, blowflies for example, are the first to approach the body when its fresh. This is due to their preference of food sources. Ultimately, I will explicitly focus on the relevance of a blowfly at a crime scene.
results of the forensic anthropology. For instance, if a crime is committed at a certain scene,
Forensic anthropology is the study of bones in relation to a criminal investigation. Some have probably seen it used on television, but this is not an accurate portrayal of what this truly is. Many times, this area of forensic science is hidden from the public eye; people only get to see all of the glamorous parts. What they do not see is all of the hard work and effort that is put in to get the job correctly done. This career is a rare decision for someone to choose, because of the lack of opportunity for employment positions as well as the low income per year; however, it is an extremely fascinating occupation. Forensic anthropology has been known to help many organizations, including museums, and law enforcement agencies.
Forensic entomology is the learning of all types of insects and how they connect with criminal investigation. Forensic entomology can tell us how long since the offspring’s death which is known as postmortem interval (PMI) and whether the body has been relocated since putting one foot in the grave, and what injuries it may have suffered. At the start of decomposition, insects launch a new community by hatching eggs on the remains; the eggs will emerge into cankers (larvae) that will graze upon the human organs and tissues. A Forensic entomologists can figure out what specific bugs are presently in the body and gauge how long the body has been left unprotected by investigating how far along the cankers have come; although, what is found isn’t
In order to understand Forensic Anthropology we must break it down into the components. According to Oxford American Dictionary the term Forensic is significant to the use of scientific methods to investigate a crime. Anthropology is defined by Oxford American Dictionary as the study of societies, cultures, and human origins. The combination of both, Forensic and Anthropology, consists of applying the principles which are introduced by Anthropologists to solving a crime. Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field but is expected to grow in the upcoming years due how it is being portrayed in books, television shows, classes, and many other resources. The usage of this field is becoming crucial because of how gruesome the crimes being committed by criminals are becoming. Although Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field it requires a lot of education, carries plenty of job responsibilities, and continues to aid in the solving of crimes.
Many students decide to become a forensic anthropologist after watching highly glamorized television shows that depict these scientists as intuitive crime solvers. The field of forensic anthropology is heavily involved in the criminal justice system, but biological anthropology is equally important.
Forensic Entomology is the study of insects to aid in legal or criminal investigations. The main reason for studying the presence and life stages of insets on a decomposing body is to establish the post mortem interval or PMI. Insects may not just be used to determine a PMI, but may also help aid investigators when it comes to actually solving the crime at hand.
Forensic evidence can provide just outcomes in criminal matters. However, it is not yet an exact science as it can be flawed. It can be misrepresented through the reliability of the evidence, through nonstandard guidelines, and through public perception. Forensic science can be dangerously faulty without focus on the ‘science’ aspect. It can at times be just matching patterns based on an individual’s interpretations. This can lead to a miscarriage of justice and forever alter a person’s life due to a perceived “grey area” (Merritt C, 2010) resulting in a loss of confidence in the reliability of forensic evidence.
Police investigators continued to match dental records and other clues to help identify the remaining victims who were found on Gacy’s property. All but nine of the victims were finally identified.
When a suspicious body appears in the morgue, the forensics team goes to work. The body, if still covered in tissue goes to the forensic pathologist who will study the tissue extensively. If a conclusion is unable to be reached through this process, the pathologist will remove the tissue from the bone and send the skeleton to the forensic anthropologist. In other cases, the victim is found with no to little tissue on the bone, making it nearly impossible for a layman to discover any identifying characteristics about the person. The forensic anthropologist’s first job is to determine the sex, age and race of the victim (Sauer, 1998).
...he case of forensics. You can go beyond the normal reality of blood spatter (?.. how does or where did blood spatter come into play here). The species of a set of bones can be determined through forensics anthropology. The sex of a skeleton. The age of a person and by studying the bones you can find a person’s age. Forensics Anthropology, (2014)
Forensic Toxicology is a scientific test which identify the present of any drugs or chemicals in the body. This can be identified from bodily fluids and tissue samples.
The topic I find such fascinating is Forensic Science and how forensic science has significantly changed over the years. “The area of forensic science has grown considerably over the last 150 years and more so since the mid 1980’s.” (Lyman, 2016) Forensic science has gone from taking basic information, and fingerprints to DNA and blood splatter. During a crime scene investigation evidence is collected, analyzed in a crime laboratory and then if needed are presented to the court. However, today the crime laboratory is becoming mobile and can go to the scene to analyze the evidence. Each crime scene and investigation is unique and distinctive, with the help of forensics it can help solve a case.