Visible Post Mortem Changes as a Tool for Decomposition Timeline Estimation in a Tropical Rainforest Vegetation of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Decomposition timeline is the interval from death to complete decay of a carcass. Accuracy in the estimation of this interval helps to confirm the testimony of an alibi or suspect in homicide investigations, especially at the law courts. Objectives: This study investigated the early and late visible post-mortem changes of porcine analogues on soil surface in order to document a model for post-mortem interval estimation in Tropical rainforest vegetation of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four (two males and two females) matured domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) were used for this study. Animals were sacrificed; early visible post-mortem changes were investigated in an indoor environment whereas the late visible post-mortem changes were investigated in an outdoor environment after eight hours post-mortem. The study lasted for a period of 49 days. Data on climatic readings were collected on-site. Results: There was almost a complete skeletonization on all four animals. Adipocere formation was observed on some of the body parts of some of the carrions which delayed the complete skeletonization within the study period. Five stages of decomposition were identified in this study and a timeline was drawn from the visible changes of post-mortem. The five stages identified were fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay and remains stages. Conclusion: Visible post-mortem changes of decomposition can be used to estimate the actual time of death of a strangled carcass on the clandestine soil surface of tropical rainforest vegetation of Nigeria.