title: Feasibility, diagnostic validity and limits of postmortem evaluation of a newborn infant following an extremely prolonged freezing interval: a thanatological case study.
abstract: In forensic assessment, denial and concealment of pregnancy has wide-ranging implications including criminal abortions, extramural deliveries, concealment of birth, newborn infant abandonment or even neonaticide. Clarification of whether a newborn was born alive is the most important factor when evaluating an abandoned neonate or concealment of birth. Other points that need to be addressed are determination of viability and maturity of the newborn infant, and the identity of the mother. A prolonged postmortem interval following illegal disposal of a dead body often leads to advanced decomposition, making postmortem elucidation difficult. We report an exceptionally uncommon autopsy case of a well-preserved female newborn, which was accidentally found after eight years in a home freezer. Despite the prolonged postmortem interval, tissue preservation was sufficient for a meaningful autopsy including a comprehensive histopathological study. The purpose of the present investigations was to expand our understanding of thanatological processes, as well as detectability of particular histological findings on the remains of a newborn after extremely prolonged storage in an artificially frozen environment. In addition, this article discusses forensically important issues regarding concealment of newborn infant under specific conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krajčovič
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: janik.mato@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janík
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: František
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Novomeský
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Medicolegal Expertises, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Lubomír
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Straka
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hejna
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011180:Postmortem Changes
keywords: Autopsy; Decomposition; Frozen newborn; Immunohistochemistry