Locating a Missing Dead Body in Forensic Science

Suppose a person has been missing for quite some time and the boyfriend is the prime suspect as in the 1996 Cincinnati, Ohio case in which Vincent Doan was suspected of killing his girlfriend, Carrie Culberson. He committed the crime of murder and got rid of the body with no trace whatsoever. He must be thinking, “no body, no crime, right?”

In the case of a missing person, crime scene investigators (CSI’s) employ a few time-tested methods for discovering the location of a missing person.

When searching for a missing person, forensic investigators use any and all evidence to eliminate a wide range of possibilities and focus in on pertinent information. For instance, a witness may have seen the suspect’s truck or found the victim’s handkerchief in a remote area, pointing the investigation in a particular direction.

Crime scene investigators use a slew of low- and high-tech methods when embarking on the search of a missing individual. They include the following:

  • Looking downhill–Suppose that a body is believed to be interred near a remote stretch of road where the land falls away on either side. Forensic investigators could commence their search at the bottom of a hill because science dictates that carrying a heavy object such as a corpse is easier on the perpetrator’s shoulders than carrying it up the hill.
  • Noting variations in the terrain–Freshly disturbed dirt, trenches, and elevations or depressions in the terrain can be a good indication. Newly formed gravesites, in general, are elevated with respect to the surrounding area while older ones are indented due to the fact that as a corpse decomposes the skeletal remains will cave in from the weight of the dirt.
  • Making use of tracking dogs–When dogs smell a sample of the victim’s clothing, they may be able to follow a scent trail to the burial site.
  • Variations in vegetation–Offenders usually disturb the soil conditions in areas where the grave is located. This could cause plants to grow on gravesites where plants usually do not grow.
  • Making an aerial reconnaissance–Using thermal imaging from the air, freshly turned dirt appears colder when scanned as compared to densely, compacted dirt. Conversely, a decaying corpse gives off heat which may show up on a thermal imager
  • Checking for byproducts of decaying corpses–If a body is suspected to be in a particular location, special machinery can be used to detect the sources of heat and the presence of nitrogen, both of which are byproducts of the decaying process.
  • Checking for electrical conductivity–A decaying body adds moisture to the soil thereby increasing the soil’s electrical conductivity. By inserting two metal electrodes into the soil and passing an electrical current between them, an increase in the current flow in this soil compared to soil in another location may indicate the presence of a decaying body.
  • Making use of metal detectors–Using a metal detector can disclose the location of the victim’s jewelry or bracelet.

As one can see, taking advantage of these scientific principles can lead forensic scientists and criminal investigators to the location of a missing person and bring the families of the victim one step closer to finding closure in the case of a missing loved one.


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November 30, 2009 | Filed Under Self Improvement

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