Extensive unusual lesions on a large number of immersed human victims found to be from cookiecutter sharks (Isistius spp.): an examination of the Yemenia plane crash.
Accurate determination of the origin and timing of trauma is key in medicolegal investigations when the cause and manner of death are unknown. However, distinction between criminal and accidental perimortem trauma and postmortem modifications can be challenging when facing unidentified trauma. Postmortem examination of the immersed victims of the Yemenia airplane crash (Comoros, 2009) demonstrated the challenges in diagnosing extensive unusual circular lesions found on the corpses. The objective of this study was to identify the origin and timing of occurrence (peri- or postmortem) of the lesions.A retrospective multidisciplinary study using autopsy reports (n = 113) and postmortem digital photos (n = 3 579) was conducted. Of the 113 victims recovered from the crash, 62 (54.9 %) presented unusual lesions (n = 560) with a median number of 7 (IQR 3 ∼ 13) and a maximum of 27 per corpse. The majority of lesions were elliptic (58 %) and had an area smaller than 10 cm2(82.1 %). Some lesions (6.8 %) also showed clear tooth notches on their edges. These findings identified most of the lesions as consistent with postmortem bite marks from cookiecutter sharks (Isistius spp.). It suggests that cookiecutter sharks were important agents in the degradation of the corpses and thus introduced potential cognitive bias in the research of the cause and manner of death. A novel set of evidence-based identification criteria for cookiecutter bite marks on human bodies is developed to facilitate more accurate medicolegal diagnosis of cookiecutter bites.
Department of Security and Crime Science - Centre for the Forensic Sciences, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9EZ, UK. agathe.ribereau-gayon.13@ucl.ac.uk.|Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK. agathe.ribereau-gayon.13@ucl.ac.uk.
Agathe
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9457-1685
A
Ribéreau-Gayon
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK.
Carolyn
C
Rando
Forensic and Criminal Intelligence Agency of the French Gendarmerie, 5, boulevard de l'Hautil, 95300, Pontoise, France.
Yves
Y
Schuliar
Forensic and Criminal Intelligence Agency of the French Gendarmerie, 5, boulevard de l'Hautil, 95300, Pontoise, France.|Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Pôle Odontologie et Santé Buccale, Service de Médecine Bucco-Dentaire, GHP, place Amélie Rabat-Léon, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
Stéphane
S
Chapenoire
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK.|Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, Division of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, UK.
Enrico R
ER
Crema
Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Kellner building, 3, Place Croix du Sud - bte L7.06.04, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Julien
J
Claes
Ichtyo Consult, 6 bis rue du Centre, 91430, Igny, France.
Bernard
B
Seret
Maison de Santé de Blaye, 1 rue Nicole Girard-Mangin, 33390, Blaye, France.
Vincent
V
Maleret
Department of Security and Crime Science - Centre for the Forensic Sciences, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9EZ, UK.
Ruth M
RM
Morgan
D000060:Accidents, Aviation; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000473:pathology*; D000071298:Body Remains; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012754:Sharks; D015006:Yemen
Aircraft accident; Cookiecutter sharks; Drowned bodies; Forensic decomposition; Postmortem examination; Scavenging