Commingled Human Remains: Methods in Recovery, Analysis, and Identification

Commingled human remains are encountered in situations ranging from prehistoric ossuaries to recent mass fatality incidents. Commingled Human Remains: Methods in Recovery, Analysis, and Identification brings together tools from diverse sources within the forensic science community to offer a set of comprehensive approaches to resolving issues associated with commingled remains. This edition focuses on forensic situations, although some examples from prehistoric contexts are also addressed. Commingling of bones and other body parts is a major obstacle to individual identification that must be addressed before other forensic determinations or research can proceed. Regardless of the cause for the commingling (transportation disaster, terrorist attack, natural disaster, genocide, etc.) it is critical that the proper experts are involved and that the proper techniques are employed to achieve the greatest success in making identifications. Resolution of commingling nearly always requires consideration of multiple lines of evidence that cross the disciplinary lines of modern forensic science. The use of archaeology, DNA, and forensic anthropology are several areas that are critical in this process and these are core topics presented in this book. Even a relatively “simple” mass fatality event can become very complicated once body fragmentation and commingling occur. Expectations associated with all phases of the process from recovery of remains to their final identification and release to next of kin must be managed appropriately.

A powerful resource for those working in the forensic sciences who need to plan for and/or address the complex challenges associated with commingled and fragmentary human remains.Written by an international group of the foremost forensic scientists presenting their research and candid experiences of dealing with commingled human remains, offering recommendations and providing "lessons learned" which can be invaluable to others who find themselves facing similar challengesContains chapters on remains recovery, laboratory analysis, case studies, and broader topics such as mass fatality management and ethical considerations.

1: Commingling Analysis: Historical and Methodological Perspectives
2: Spatial Analysis of Mass Grave Mapping Data to Assist in the Reassociation of Disarticulated and Commingled Human Remains
3: Recovery Methods for Cremated Commingled Remains: Analysis and Interpretation of Small Fragments Using a Bioarchaeological Approach
4: More Pieces of the Puzzle: F.B.I. Evidence Response Team Approaches to Scenes with Commingled Evidence
5: The Use of Radiology in Mass Fatality Events
6: A Practical Method for Detecting Commingled Remains Using Epiphyseal Union
7: Application of Portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) for Sorting Commingled Human Remains
8: Osteometric Sorting
9: Estimating the Number of Individuals Represented by Commingled Human Remains: A Critical Evaluation of Methods
10: Assessment of Commingled Human Remains Using a GIS-Based and Osteological Landmark Approach
11: Human Cremation: Commingled and Questioned Identity
12: Marrying Anthropology and DNA: Essentials for Solving Complex Commingling Problems in Cases of Extreme Fragmentation
13: Prioritized Sampling of Bone and Teeth for DNA Analysis in Commingled Cases
14: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Commingled Remains Analysis: Anthropology, Genetics and Background Information
15: Blast and Crash Incidents: Resolving Commingling at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System
16: Forensic Investigation of Suicidal Bombings in Israel: Balancing Religious Considerations with Medicological Responsibilities
17: Anthropologist-Directed Triage: Three Distinct Mass Fatality Events Involving Fragmentation and Commingling of Human Remains
18: Recovery and Identification of Victims of the Colgan Air Flight 3407 Crash
19: The Korea 208: A Large-Scale Commingling Case of American Remains from the Korean War
20: Data Management and Commingled Remains 
21: Resolving Commingling Issues During the Medicological Investigation of Mass Fatality Incidents
22: Mass Fatality Management and the Effects of Commingling
23: The Social Complexities of Commingled Remains