[An entomological case report during the winter months: estimation of the post-mortem interval considering the influence of cold temperatures on the development of the forensically important blowfly Calliphora vomitoria].
The authors describe a case report with entomological estimation of the post-mortem interval in the winter months. In early December 2007, the body of a suicide was discovered not far from a lake near Bonn in North Rhine-Westphalia four weeks after the man had disappeared from a hospital. The corpse was very well preserved and did not show any signs of advanced putrefaction. The stage of decomposition did not allow a correct estimation of the time since death. Infestation of insect larvae of the species Calliphora vomitoria was detected in the oral cavity as well as in the self-inflicted deep cut to the throat responsible for death. The age of the larvae was determined by considering the specific minimum threshold of the species (minimum temperature necessary for development). To estimate the time until the blowflies detect the body and start to oviposit, the authors ran an experiment with a pig in a comparable environment with similar temperatures. Altogether, these investigations suggested that the man had committed suicide shortly after disappearing from the hospital. Without the entomological evaluation it would have been very difficult to narrow down the post-mortem interval correctly.
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Bonn.
Waltraud
W
Wetzel
Saskia
S
Reibe
Burkhard
B
Madea
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D004772:Entomology; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*