Summer Joy Decker MS, MA, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Stephanie Davy-Jow PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jonathan M Ford MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Don Hilbelink PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Evidentiary chain of custody concerns by law enforcement have led agencies to search for technological alternative methods that can allow the agency to maintain custody of critical evidence while getting cutting edge forensic analyses. Three-dimensional imaging technologies allow researchers to go beyond traditional anthropological methods to now create virtual computed models of anatomical structures. The goal of this project was to develop accurate skeletal models for forensic identification to provide Medical Examiner’s offices with biological profiles and facial approximations without taking custody of the skeletal material itself.

In this study, unidentified remains were taken by several Medical Examiner’s offices in the state of Florida to local radiology centers where the skeletons were scanned on a 64-slice high resolution computed tomography (CT) scanners at a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. The CT data was then given to the researchers to compute anatomically accurate virtual models of the bones. It should be noted that the researchers never took custody of the remains and in many cases never had physical contact with the remains at any time. Three-dimensional models were created in Mimics © 12.11 (Materialise) and virtual biological profiles were developed from the models. Key bones were printed via a ZCorp 310 Plus © rapid prototyping printer for further analysis, such as facial approximation.

From the computed anatomical models, biological profiles were developed and analyzed by forensic identification experts such as facial approximation specialists. Virtual and clay models were rendered in order to estimate a faces on the skulls. The results have been provided to local and national law enforcement and investigation agencies.

This project demonstrates the potential for high-end forensic analysis to be conducted remotely without assuming chain of custody of the evidence through medical imaging. This also allows local law enforcement agencies to have access a long term archive of forensic evidence.

Maintaining custody of forensic evidence is critical to law enforcement. Cutting edge medical imaging technology is providing the answer to address issues, like repatriation, in the forensic sciences.

Decker, S, Davy-Jow, S, Ford, J, Hilbelink, D, Virtual Forensic Anthropology: Applying Radiology to the Forensic Sciences.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8015791.html