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                            Library & Multimedia
 Trace Evidence Potential in Postmortem Skin Microbiomes: From Death Scene to Morgue
NCJ Number
              253903
Journal

*Journal of Forensic Sciences* Volume: 64 Issue: 3 Dated: 2019 Pages: 791-798
Author(s)
          Whitney A. Kodama;
                        Zhenjiang Xu;
                        Jessica L. Metcalf
Date Published

2019
Length
              8 pages
Annotation
              Using microbiomes from 16 death scenes in the City and County of Honolulu, this study tested whether objects at the scenes could be linked to individual decedents.
Abstract
              Microbes can be used effectively as trace evidence, at least in research settings; however, it is unknown whether skin microbiomes change prior to autopsy and, if so, whether these changes interfere with linking objects to decedents. In the current study, postmortem skin microbiomes were stable during repeated sampling up to 60 hours postmortem and were similar to microbiomes of an antemortem population. Objects could be traced to decedents approximately 75 percent of the time, with smoking pipes and medical devices being especially accurate (100-percent match); house and car keys being poor (0 percent), and other objects, such as phones, being intermediate (~80 percent). These results show that microbes from objects at death scenes can be matched to individual decedents, indicating a new method of establishing associations and identifications. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2014-R2-CX-K011
                                2014-R2-CX-K411


  
  
        
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        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Evaluating the Skin Microbiome as Trace Evidence
                                Evaluating the Skin Microbiome ad Trace Evidence
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2019
    
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