U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Validation Study of the Utility of Using Total Body Score and Accumulated Degree Days to Determine the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Remains from Three Human Decomposition Research Facilities
Award Information
Awardee
              Sam Houston State University
Award #
              2014-DN-BX-K009
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Huntsville, TX
Awardee County
              Walker
Congressional District
              8
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2014
Total funding (to date)
              $495,853
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 14 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $495,853)
As submitted by the proposer: 
To be widely employed in forensic science, the method developed by Megyesi and colleagues (2005) for estimating the postmortem interval using accumulated degree dates (ADD) and total body score (TBS) needs to be tested in multiple climatic regions and equations likely modified for each climatic zone (Megyesi et al. 2005). Therefore, our study applies the TBS/ADD method developed by Megyesi and colleagues (2005) in three human decomposition facilities, located in different ecoregions. The three research facilities are the Anthropology Research Facility at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a temperate environment, the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, San Marcos; a subtropical, sub-humid environment, and the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville; a subtropical, humid environment. A total of 105 donated human cadavers will be studied. Four subjects will be placed four times per year at each research facility; two subjects in shade and two in a sun environment.  Assessment of TBS will be done on a daily basis and ADD will be calculated from local temperature data. Megyesi et al.'s equation will be used to calculate PMI for each body and compared to the known PMI. Each co-PI will also incorporate locally specific variables into the equation to develop a region-specific formula. The final placement of bodies will be used to test the region-specific formulae developed from the seven previous placements. Our results will be useful for forensic anthropologists, medical examiners, and medicolegal investigators that deal with human decomposition cases. The proposed study is necessary due to 1) the absense of established human decomposition data for two Texas regions, 2) the need to develop and test the TBS method utilizing ADD in these diverse ecoregions, 3) the need to develop standardized data collection methods for human decomposition studies, and 4) the need for large sample sizes for statistical robustness. With the accumulation of data, we will be able to clearly establish  deviations from or similarities to each environment. 

We will be able to test the TBS using ADD method designed by Megyesi et al. (2005) in experimental field studies, not assessed from case photos. This study will initiate the first steps needed in standardizing the process by which researchers conduct human decomposition research (i.e. collect data). It will also be a useful tool if forensic anthropologists and the medicolegal and criminal justice community, who consult on taphonomic cases, can easily access a database that contains a model for assessing the PMI along with images and instructions on its use.

Interim and final reports will be submitted to NIJ as required. Final dissemination will include presentation to the relevant scientific community at professional meetings, publication in peer-reviewed journals, and training opportunities via workshops, symposiums and/or webinars for medicolegal investigators and law officers. 
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Validation Study of the Utility of Using Total Body Score and Accumulated Degree Days to Determine the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Remains From Three Human Decomposition Research Facilities

  
Date Created: September 11, 2014
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Meeting National Safety Council Recommendations: Accurate Rapid Tests and Laboratory Confirmation Procedures for Fentanyl and Prevalent Opioids in Oral Fluid
                  Developing a Portable and Fast Opioid Assessment Tool for Improved Field Decision-Making
                  Study of Factors Influencing Mass Spectral Data Comparison
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov