Abstract

Case Report

Implications of entomological evidence during the investigation of five cases of violent death in Southern Brazil

Patrícia J Thyssen*, Marina FK Aquino, Natane CS Purgato, Edmilson Martins, Alexandre A Cost, Carolina GP Lima and Claudemir R Dias

Published: 11 January, 2018 | Volume 2 - Issue 1 | Pages: 001-008

In homicide cases, knowledge about time of death is important as it directs police investigation towards the discovery of authorship, including or excluding suspects of a crime, and determining nature of death. In Brazil, entomological evidence is still neglected by official forensic organizations and for this reason cases using insects to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI) are still rare. Dipteran specimens collected and analyzed by the staff of Criminalistics Institute (CI) from São Paulo State, Brazil, made it possible to elucidate circumstances of the death, including suspects to the crime scene, in five occurrences involving discovery of cadavers. In all cases, blowflies were collected and were identified as belonging to species Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1830), Hemilucilia semidiaphana Rondani, 1850 and Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), while only in one case Sarcophagidae (Diptera) flies were also collected. PMI estimate was calculated taking into account laboratorial developmental rate data of mentioned species on the environmental temperature on which bodies and insects were exposed, along with comparisons to field research previously conducted in those areas. Based on larval age and behavior, the course of the investigation had changed, pointing to the crime author (case I), as well as the nature of the crime (cases I-III) and associated suspects to the criminal act (cases IV-V). Results show how promising is the use of entomological evidence during investigations of violent deaths.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.jfsr.1001013 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

Keywords:

Blowflies; Flesh fly; Necrophagous dipterans; Forensic entomology; Postmortem interval

References

  1. Amendt J, Krettek R, Zehner R. Forensic Entomology. Naturwissenschaften. 2004; 91: 51-65. Ref.: https://goo.gl/RoJ5xq
  2. Huntington TE, Higley LG, Baxendale FP. Maggot Development During Morgue Storage and Its Effect on Estimating the Post-Mortem Interval. J Forensic Sci. 2007; 52: 453-458. Ref.: https://goo.gl/tJJzeY
  3. Byrd JH, Castner JL. Forensic Entomology-The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. CRC Press. 2010; 705. Ref.: https://goo.gl/dGeWPv
  4. Goff ML. Estimation of postmortem interval using arthropod development and succession patterns. Forensic Sci Rev. 1993; 5: 81-94. Ref.: https://goo.gl/tKYqcm
  5. Goff ML, Odom CB, Early M. Estimation of post-mortem interval by entomological techniques: a case study from Oahu, Hawaii. Bull Soc Vector Ecol. 1986; 11: 242-246.
  6. Lord WD, Catts EP, Scarboro DA, Hadfield DB. The green blow fly Lucilia illustris (Meigen) as an indicator of human post-mortem interval: a case of homicide from Fort Lewis, Washington. Bull Soc Vector Ecol. 1986a; 11: 271-275.
  7. Lord WD, Johnson RW, Johnston R. The blue bottle fly Calliphora vicina (Erythrocephala) as an indicator of human post-mortem interval: a case of homicide from suburban Washington. DC Bull Soc Vector Ecol. 1986b; 11: 276-280.
  8. Goff ML, Odom CB. Forensic Entomology in the Hawaiian Islands-Three cases studies. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1987; 8: 45-50. Ref.: https://goo.gl/RrWpNp
  9. Lord WD, Goff ML, Adkins TR, Haskell NH. The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) as a potential measure of human postmortem interval: observations and case histories. J Forensic Sci. 1994; 39: 215-222. Ref.: https://goo.gl/uy4Ej8
  10. Benecke M. Six forensic entomology cases: description and commentary. J Forensic Sci. 1998; 43: 797-805. Ref.: https://goo.gl/e8d935
  11. Oliva A. Insects of forensic significance in Argentina. Forensic Sci Int.2001; 120: 145-154. Ref.: https://goo.gl/1HwSQz
  12. Sukontason KL, Sukontason K, Narongchai P, Lertthamnongtham S, Piangjai S, et al. Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) as a forensically-important fly species in Thailand: A case report. J Vector Ecol. 2001; 26: 162-164. Ref.: https://goo.gl/d81CeP
  13. Grassberg M, Friedrich E, Reiter C. The blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) as a new forensic indicator in Central Europe. Int J Leg Med. 2003; 117: 75-81. Ref.: https://goo.gl/ECKsn6
  14. Andrade HTA, Varela-Freire AA, Batista MJA, Medeiros JF. Calliphoridae (Diptera) Coletados em Cadáveres Humanos no Rio Grande do Norte. Neotrop Entomol. 2005; 34: 855-856. Ref.: https://goo.gl/pBMw1m
  15. Arnaldos MI, García MD, Romera E, Presa JJ, Luna A. Estimation of postmortem interval in real cases based on experimentally obtained entomological evidence. Forensic Sci Int. 2005; 149: 57-65. Ref.: https://goo.gl/D4ti9a
  16. Shin SE, Jang MS, Park JH, Park SH. A Forensic Entomology Case Estimating the Minimum Postmortem Interval Using the Distribution of Fly Pupae in Fallow Ground and Maggots with Freezing Injury. Korean J Leg Med. 2015; 39: 17-21. Ref.: https://goo.gl/U68EC6
  17. Sukontason KL, Narongchai P, Sukontason K, Methanitikorn R, Piangjai S. Forensically important fly maggots in a floating corpse: the first case report in Thailand. J Med Assoc Thail. 2005; 88: 1458-1461. Ref.: https://goo.gl/e1pCyK
  18. Sukontason K, Narongchai P, Kanchai C, Vichairat K, Sribanditmongkol P, et al. Forensic entomology cases in Thailand: A review of cases from 2000 to 2006. Parasitol Res. 2007; 101: 1417-1423. Ref.: https://goo.gl/mdnYUB
  19. Manlove JD, Disney RHL. The use of Megaselia abdita (Diptera: Phoridae) in forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Int. 2008; 175: 83-84. Ref.: https://goo.gl/1ovQuv
  20. Vanin S, Tasinato P, Ducolin G, Terranova C, Zancaner S, et al. Use of Lucilia species for forensic investigations in Southern Europe. Forensic Sci Int. 2008; 177: 37-44. Ref.: https://goo.gl/UvX1GF
  21. Wallace JR, Merritt RW, Kimbirauskas R, Benbow ME, McIntosh M. Caddisflies assist with homicide case: determining a postmortem submersion interval using aquatic insects. J Forensic Sci. 2008; 53: 219-221. Ref.: https://goo.gl/tZYyHg
  22. Oliveira TC, Vasconcelos SD. Insects (Diptera) associated with cadavers at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Pernambuco, Brazil: Implications for forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Int. 2010; 198: 97-102. Ref.: https://goo.gl/1GBrvE
  23. Al-Mesbah H, Al-Osaimi Z, El-Azazy OME. Forensic Entomology in Kuwait: The first case report. Forensic Sci Int. 2011; 206: 5-26. Ref.: https://goo.gl/rT2dJT
  24. Barros M, Wolff M. Initial study of arthropods succession and pig carrion decomposition in two freshwater ecosystems in the Colombian Andes. Forensic Sci Int. 2011; 212: 164-172. Ref.: https://goo.gl/kbPh12
  25. Cherix D, Wyss C, Pape T. Occurrences of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) on human cadavers in Switzerland, and their importance as forensic indicators. Forensic Sci Int. 2012; 220: 158-163. Ref.: https://goo.gl/edgWtQ
  26. Sanford MR, Whitworth TL, Phatak DR. Human Wound Colonization by Lucilia eximia and Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae): Myiasis, Perimortem, or Postmortem Colonization? J Med Entomol. 2014; 51: 716-719. Ref.: https://goo.gl/cmK9JM
  27. Patitucci LD, Mulieri PR, Domínguez MC, Mariluis JC. An inventory of saprophagous Calyptratae (Insecta: Diptera) in urban green spaces of Buenos Aires City. Rev Mus Arg Cienc Nat. 2015; 17: 97-107. Ref.: https://goo.gl/VRh2fT
  28. Bala M, Sharma A. Postmortem Interval Estimation of Mummified Body Using Accumulated Degree Hours (ADH) Method: A Case Study from Punjab (India). J Forensic Sci and Criminal Inves. 2016; 1: 1-5. Ref.: https://goo.gl/pQ5gJ6
  29. Hayman J, Oxenham M. Peri-mortem disease treatment: a little known cause of error in the estimation of the time since death in decomposing human remains. Austr J Forensic Sci. 2016; 48: 178-185. Ref.: https://goo.gl/TUihir
  30. Talebzadeh F, Ghadipasha M, Gharedaghi J, Yeksan N, Akbarzadeh K, et al. Insect Fauna of Human Cadavers in Tehran District. J Arthropod-Borne Dis. 2017; 11: 363-370. Ref.: https://goo.gl/a5Xfe1
  31. Oliveira-Costa J, Mello-Patiu CA. Application of forensic entomology to estimate of the post mortem interval (PMI) in homicide investigations by the Rio de Janeiro Police Department in Brasil. Aggrawal’s I J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2004; 5: 40-44. Ref.: https://goo.gl/hdr4dT
  32. Pujol-Luz JR, Marques H, Ururahy-Rodrigues A, Rafael JA, Santana FHA, Arantes LC, et al. A forensic entomoly case from the Amazon rain forest of Brazil. J Forensic Sci. 2006; 51: 1151-1153. Ref.: https://goo.gl/oFyczB
  33. Pujol-Luz JR, Francez PAC, Ururahy-Rodrigues A, Constantino R. The black soldier-fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomiidae), used to estimate the postmortem interval in a case in Amapá state, Brazil. J Forensic Sci. 2008; 53: 476-478. Ref.: https://goo.gl/r5FZz6
  34. Kosmann C, Macedo MP, Barbosa TAF, Pujol-Luz JR. Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) used to estimate the postmortem interval in a forensic case in Minas Gerais, Brazil Rev Bras Entomol. 2011; 55: 621-623. Ref.: https://goo.gl/63sQdH
  35. Vasconcelos SD, Soares TF, Costa DL. Multiple colonization of a cadaver by insects in an indoor environment: first record of Fannia trimaculata (Diptera: Fanniidae) and Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Sarcophagidae) as colonizers of a human corpse. Int J Leg Med. 2014; 128: 229-233. Ref.: https://goo.gl/hZSMvS
  36. Vairo KP, Caneparo MFC, Corrêa RC, Preti D, Moura MO. Can Sarcophagidae (Diptera) be the most important entomological evidence at a death scene? Microcerella halli as a forensic indicator. Rev Bras Entomol. 2017; 61: 275-276. Ref.: https://goo.gl/6N4Bdu
  37. Triplehorn CA, Johnson NF. Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects. Thomson Brooks/Cole, USA, 864.
  38. Carvalho CJB, Mello-Patiu CA. Key to the adults of the most common forensic species of Diptera in South America. Rev Bras Entomol. 2008; 52: 390-406. Ref.: https://goo.gl/cp5bXu
  39. Grella MD, Thyssen PJ. Chave taxonômica interativa para espécies de dípteros califorídeos.
  40. Grella MD, Savino AG, Paulo DF, Mendes FM, Azeredo-Espin AML, et al. Phenotypic polymorphism of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) may lead to species misidentification. Acta Trop. 2015; 141: 60-72. Ref.: https://goo.gl/BBicgb
  41. Thyssen PJ. Keys for identification of immature insects in.
  42. Amendt J, Campobasso CP, Goff ML Grassberger M. Current concepts in Forensic Entomology. Springer, London. 25-42.Ref.: https://goo.gl/nYoZyF
  43. Estrada DA, Grella MD, Thyssen PJ, Linhares AX. Taxa de desenvolvimento de Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) em dieta artificial acrescida de tecido animal para uso forense. Neotrop Entomol. 2009; 38: 203-207. Ref.: https://goo.gl/q82XZk
  44. Rabelo KCN, Thyssen PJ, Salgado RL, Araújo MSC, Vascon celos SD. Bionomics of two forensically important blowfly species Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reared on four types of diet. Forensic Sci. Int. 210: 257-263.
  45. Queiroz M.M.C., Milward-de-Azevedo W.M.V. (1991) Técnicas de criação e alguns aspectos da biologia de Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), em condições de laboratório. Rev. Bras. Zool. 2011; 8: 75-84. Ref.: https://goo.gl/GH812R
  46. França GVF. Medicina Legal. Guanabara-Koogan, Rio de Janeiro. 2008; 210. Ref.: https://goo.gl/zHhnr6
  47. Campobasso CP, Vella G, Introna F. Factors affecting decomposition and Diptera colonization. Forensic Sci Int. 2001; 120: 18-27. Ref.: https://goo.gl/akFo5A
  48. Thyssen PJ. Caracterização das formas imaturas e determinação das exigências térmicas de duas espécies de califorideos (Diptera) de importância forense. 2017.
  49. Martins E. Análise dos processos de decomposição e sucessão ecológica em carcaças de suíno (Sus scrofa L.) mortos por disparo de arma de fogo e overdose de cocaína e protocolo de procedimento diante de corpo de delito.
  50. Wells JD, Kurahashi H. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) development: rate, variation, and the implications for forensic entomology. Jpn J Sanit Zool. 1994; 45: 303-309. Ref.: https://goo.gl/bHHGZz
  51. Souza AM. Biologia em laboratório dos estágios imaturos de espécies de Calliphoridae e Sarcophagidae (Diptera) de importância médico legal na região de Campinas. 1997. Ref.: https://goo.gl/XDxgRK
  52. Anderson GS. Determining time of death using blow fly eggs in the early postmortem interval. Int J Leg Med. 2004; 118: 240-241. Ref.: https://goo.gl/jUHrV8
  53. Greenberg B. Nocturnal oviposition behavior of blow flies (Diptera Calliphoridade). J Med Entomol. 1990; 27: 807-810. Ref.: https://goo.gl/PNsQuW
  54. Adair TW. Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) collected from a human corpse above 3400 m in elevation. J Forensic Sci. 2008; 53: 1212-1213. Ref.: https://goo.gl/itKk3o
  55. Farrell JF, Whittington AE, Zalucki MP. A review of necrophagous insects colonizing human and animal cadavers in south-east Queensland, Australia. Forensic Sci Int. 2015; 257: 149-154. Ref.: https://goo.gl/AFfmTa
  56. Moopayak K, Vogtsberger RC, Olson JK, Sukontason KL. Forensic entomology cases in Thailand: a review of cases from 2000 to 2006. Parasitol Res. 2007; 101: 1417-1423. Ref.: https://goo.gl/6bHsVG

Figures:

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 2

Similar Articles

Recently Viewed

Read More

Most Viewed

Read More

Help ?