Buried body locating
Buried body locating refers to the process of determining the position of human remains that are hidden from view due to various factors such as soil, water, or debris. This practice is vital for law enforcement in situations involving crimes, accidents, or natural disasters, as finding the remains is the first step in recovery and identification efforts, as well as in investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Different environments, such as bodies of water or soil, present unique challenges in locating remains, with potential burial depths varying based on the context of the death.
Various methods are employed for locating buried bodies, including physical searches by divers for water-related incidents and specialized techniques like ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for soil investigations. In disaster scenarios, additional measures like cadaver dogs may be utilized to assist in locating remains obscured by debris. The establishment of Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams (DMORTs) highlights the collaborative efforts necessary in large-scale incidents, providing expertise for the recovery of deceased individuals. Additionally, ongoing searches for unmarked graves, particularly those associated with historical injustices, underscore the need for respectful and thorough investigative practices in the pursuit of closure for affected communities.
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Subject Terms
Buried body locating
Definition: Determination of the placement of human remains that are obscured from view—whether by water, soil, or other intervening materials—for the purpose of their recovery.
Significance: Law-enforcement authorities are concerned with the systematic and efficient location of human remains in cases of crimes, accidents, and natural disasters, as location of the remains is the vital first stage in the recovery and identification of the victims, the investigation of the manner of their death, and the return of the remains to surviving relatives.
Human remains may be obscured from view, or buried, as the result of intentional human acts, accidents, or natural events. Bodies can be buried in a variety of settings, depending on the circumstances preceding death and at the time of death. In cases of crimes, accidents, and natural disasters, bodies may be obscured by water, soil, building debris, or other materials. Different burial environments require different methods of body location.
Possible Locations of Bodies
Human remains in bodies of water may be trapped in sunken ships, automobiles, or aircraft, or they may be entangled in or obscured by trees, logs, or brush floating in the water or along the banks of rivers or lakes. In the case of a disaster such as the collapse of a bridge over water, bodies may be further obscured by debris from the fallen structure.
Bodies buried in soil may be found at various depths, depending on the circumstances of the deaths. Perpetrators of homicides might bury victims covertly only a few inches below the surface. Bodies buried by mudslides might be found several feet under the surface, and those of the victims of an airplane crash might be interred deeply (along with associated debris) as a result of the impact of the aircraft. Victims of a building collapse might not be buried in the soil but may be obscured from view under construction debris. Victims of floods or tornados might also be hidden under debris, whether that of buildings or natural materials.
Methods
The method of body location applied is specific to the particular case at hand. When bodies are believed to be in a body of water, physical searches may be conducted by certified divers, although in some circumstances floating sediment or algae can obscure visibility. Small, localized bodies of water, such as ponds, may be dredged or drained to enhance exposure of any human remains. Side-scan sonar, which produces sound pulses that reflect off submerged objects and are recorded, is a remote-sensing technology that has been used with success to identify sunken vessels, crashed airplanes, and even individual drowning victims submerged in water. Computer simulations may also be conducted to predict the locations of drowning victims, given known hydrological data for a body of water.
For bodies buried under soil, a variety of location methods may be used. A walkover line survey, wherein several searchers are aligned and move in unison across the search area, is effective in identifying the disturbed soil or vegetation indicative of a covert (hidden) burial, usually fairly close to the surface. Even though this method works best in open areas, some modified form of walkover survey is a useful first step even in urban mass-disaster settings (such as the aftermath of a tornado). In such a setting, individual remains may be partially covered or intermingled with debris on or near the surface of the soil.
Remote-sensing techniques such as infrared aerial photography and electromagnetic devices such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR), soil resistivity or conductivity meters, and metal detectors are also useful. Infrared aerial photography is most useful for identifying large buried features, such as mass graves. GPR is considered the best ground survey tool for identifying graves, although it works best in well-drained soil. Resistivity or conductivity meters and metal detectors can find buried metallic objects that may be associated with buried bodies. These remote-sensing devices identify anomalies (unusual patterns) in the electromagnetic signals coming from the ground. forensic investigators can then narrow their focus on these anomalies as potential locations of buried remains. Actual controlled excavation of these anomalies is necessary to confirm their forensic significance.
When bodies are obscured by vegetation debris or by debris from destroyed structures following natural or human-made disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina or the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, special measures may be needed to locate them. In localized events, cadaver dogs can help to locate bodies under debris by scent. When large mass disasters occur, local authorities may be overwhelmed and may require outside assistance. In 1993, the U.S. government established ten regional Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams (DMORTs) to provide local agencies with added expertise in the location, recovery, and identification of deceased individuals after such disasters. These teams, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (National Disaster Medical System), are made up of pathologists, forensic anthropologists, forensic odontologists, medical technicians, medical examiners, nurses, medical technologists, counselors, and funeral home directors. Team members are skilled private citizens who, when deployed, have the initial goal of location and recovery of remains in complex, debris-filled settings.
Bibliography
Buck, Sabrina. “Searching for Graves Using Geophysical Technology: Field Tests with Ground Penetrating Radar, Magnetometry, and Electrical Resistivity.” Journal of Forensic Sciences 48 (2003): 5-11. Reports on the results of tests of the efficiency of three geophysical remote-sensing techniques in a variety of settings, including cemeteries and in a murder investigation. Discusses the limitations of each method in detail.
Dupras, Tosha L., John J. Schultz, Sandra M. Wheeler, and Lana J. Williams. Forensic Recovery of Human Remains: Archaeological Approaches. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2006. Provides detailed descriptions of search-and-recovery methods and the equipment used for such purposes in forensic scene investigations. Includes standardized recording forms and conversion tables in appendixes.
Haglund, William D., and Marcella H. Sorg, eds. Advances in Forensic Taphonomy: Method, Theory, and Archaeological Perspectives. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2002. Extensive edited volume presents several case studies of the recovery of human remains in a variety of settings, including remains found in water, in burned structures, and in mass graves.
Killam, Edward W. The Detection of Human Remains. 2d ed. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas, 2004. Presents thorough descriptions of intrusive and nonintrusive forensic search methods, including various forms of remote sensing.
Owsley, Douglas. “Techniques for Locating Burials, with Emphasis on the Probe.” Journal of Forensic Sciences 40 (1995): 735-740. Discusses the effectiveness of intrusive methods of locating graves.