An Aquatic Decomposition Scoring Method to Potentially Predict the Postmortem Submersion Interval of Bodies Recovered from the North Sea

Marjolijn Van Daalen; Dorothee De Kat; Bernice Oude Grotebevelsborg; Roosje De Leeuwe; Jeroen Warnaar; Roelof Jan Oostra; Wilma Duijst

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13258

An Aquatic Decomposition Scoring Method to Potentially Predict the Postmortem Submersion Interval of Bodies Recovered from the North Sea

Marjolijn Van Daalen, Dorothee De Kat^*, Bernice Oude Grotebevelsborg, Roosje De Leeuwe, Jeroen Warnaar, Roelof Jan Oostra, Wilma Duijst

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an aquatic decomposition scoring (ADS) method and investigated the predictive value of this method in estimating the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) of bodies recovered from the North Sea. This method, consisting of an ADS item list and a pictorial reference atlas, showed a high interobserver agreement (Krippendorff’s alpha ≥ 0.93) and hence proved to be valid. This scoring method was applied to data, collected from closed cases—cases in which the postmortal submersion interval (PMSI) was known —concerning bodies recovered from the North Sea from 1990 to 2013. Thirty-eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were scored by quantifying the observed total aquatic decomposition score (TADS). Statistical analysis demonstrated that TADS accurately predicts the PMSI (p < 0.001), confirming that the decomposition process in the North Sea is strongly correlated to time.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	369-373
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Forensic Sciences
Volume	62
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13258
Publication status	Published - Mar 2017

Keywords

forensic science
forensic pathology
forensic taphonomy
postmortem changes
aquatic decomposition process
postmortem submersion interval
HUMAN REMAINS
DECAY-RATES
ENVIRONMENT
ADIPOCERE
WATER
TIME

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@article{3c07a9624cde45248848b0316473fee9,

title = "An Aquatic Decomposition Scoring Method to Potentially Predict the Postmortem Submersion Interval of Bodies Recovered from the North Sea",

abstract = "This study aimed to develop an aquatic decomposition scoring (ADS) method and investigated the predictive value of this method in estimating the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) of bodies recovered from the North Sea. This method, consisting of an ADS item list and a pictorial reference atlas, showed a high interobserver agreement (Krippendorff{\textquoteright}s alpha ≥ 0.93) and hence proved to be valid. This scoring method was applied to data, collected from closed cases—cases in which the postmortal submersion interval (PMSI) was known —concerning bodies recovered from the North Sea from 1990 to 2013. Thirty-eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were scored by quantifying the observed total aquatic decomposition score (TADS). Statistical analysis demonstrated that TADS accurately predicts the PMSI (p < 0.001), confirming that the decomposition process in the North Sea is strongly correlated to time.",

keywords = "forensic science, forensic pathology, forensic taphonomy, postmortem changes, aquatic decomposition process, postmortem submersion interval, HUMAN REMAINS, DECAY-RATES, ENVIRONMENT, ADIPOCERE, WATER, TIME",

author = "{Van Daalen}, Marjolijn and {De Kat}, Dorothee and {Oude Grotebevelsborg}, Bernice and {De Leeuwe}, Roosje and Jeroen Warnaar and Oostra, {Roelof Jan} and Wilma Duijst",

year = "2017",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1111/1556-4029.13258",

language = "English",

volume = "62",

pages = "369--373",

journal = "Journal of Forensic Sciences",

issn = "0022-1198",

publisher = "Wiley",

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AU - Van Daalen, Marjolijn

AU - De Kat, Dorothee

AU - Oude Grotebevelsborg, Bernice

AU - De Leeuwe, Roosje

AU - Warnaar, Jeroen

AU - Oostra, Roelof Jan

AU - Duijst, Wilma

PY - 2017/3

Y1 - 2017/3

N2 - This study aimed to develop an aquatic decomposition scoring (ADS) method and investigated the predictive value of this method in estimating the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) of bodies recovered from the North Sea. This method, consisting of an ADS item list and a pictorial reference atlas, showed a high interobserver agreement (Krippendorff’s alpha ≥ 0.93) and hence proved to be valid. This scoring method was applied to data, collected from closed cases—cases in which the postmortal submersion interval (PMSI) was known —concerning bodies recovered from the North Sea from 1990 to 2013. Thirty-eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were scored by quantifying the observed total aquatic decomposition score (TADS). Statistical analysis demonstrated that TADS accurately predicts the PMSI (p < 0.001), confirming that the decomposition process in the North Sea is strongly correlated to time.

AB - This study aimed to develop an aquatic decomposition scoring (ADS) method and investigated the predictive value of this method in estimating the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) of bodies recovered from the North Sea. This method, consisting of an ADS item list and a pictorial reference atlas, showed a high interobserver agreement (Krippendorff’s alpha ≥ 0.93) and hence proved to be valid. This scoring method was applied to data, collected from closed cases—cases in which the postmortal submersion interval (PMSI) was known —concerning bodies recovered from the North Sea from 1990 to 2013. Thirty-eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were scored by quantifying the observed total aquatic decomposition score (TADS). Statistical analysis demonstrated that TADS accurately predicts the PMSI (p < 0.001), confirming that the decomposition process in the North Sea is strongly correlated to time.

KW - forensic science

KW - forensic pathology

KW - forensic taphonomy

KW - postmortem changes

KW - aquatic decomposition process

KW - postmortem submersion interval

KW - HUMAN REMAINS

KW - DECAY-RATES

KW - ENVIRONMENT

KW - ADIPOCERE

KW - WATER

KW - TIME

U2 - 10.1111/1556-4029.13258

DO - 10.1111/1556-4029.13258

M3 - Article

C2 - 28247448

SN - 0022-1198

VL - 62

SP - 369

EP - 373

JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences

JF - Journal of Forensic Sciences

IS - 2

ER -

An Aquatic Decomposition Scoring Method to Potentially Predict the Postmortem Submersion Interval of Bodies Recovered from the North Sea

Abstract

Keywords

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