A body, a dog, and a fistful of scats.
Dogs and coyotes are the most frequently reported canids responsible for scavenging human remains. We present the case of a 90-year-old woman whose mummified body was found in her home showing partial destruction of the thorax and extremities and absence of the cranium. The victim lived with a beagle dog whose dead body was also found, along with abundant scats throughout the house. Scavenging by the decedent's pet was the proposed hypothesis for the partial dismemberment and consumption of her body. Forensic analysis revealed that the victim died as a result of an accidental fracture of the proximal femoral epiphysis. Bone exam showed signs of canine scavenging on certain bones. Macroscopic and histological analyses of the dog feces revealed the presence of small bone fragments within scats. All the collected data supported the hypothesis that the decedent's pet fed on the victim following her death. The current case illustrates that forensic anthropology has much more to offer than personal identification and determining the manner of death. Systematic search and examination of scat deposits recovered from the scene may be very useful in the medicolegal investigation, identifying the origin of body mutilation and particularly the animal responsible for any scavenging.
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Unitat de Medicina Legal i Forense, Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: ignasigaltes@gmail.com.
Ignasi
I
Galtés
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
María Ángeles
MÁ
Gallego
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Dolors
D
Giménez
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Verònica
V
Padilla
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Mercè
M
Subirana
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Carles
C
Martín-Fumadó
Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia n° 111, Edifici G, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08075 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Jordi
J
Medallo
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009106:Mummies; D057805:Pets; D011180:Postmortem Changes
Animal scavenging; Carnivores; Forensic anthropology; Taphonomy