Microbes in Decomposing Corpses Provide Clues for Determining Time of Death, Study Finds
Determining the time of death of a corpse has long been a challenge for forensic scientists. However, a recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology reveals that studying the microbes present in decomposing corpses can provide valuable insights. Researchers have identified approximately 20 microbes that they believe form a universal network responsible for the decomposition of dead animal flesh.
The National Institute of Justice, which funded the research, sees great potential in this line of investigation. Nancy La Vigne, the director of the institute, explains that determining the time of death is a crucial aspect of death investigations. The ability to predict the time of death can aid in identifying the deceased, identifying potential suspects, and confirming or refuting alibis.
This study builds upon nearly a decade’s worth of prior research. In 2015, scientists successfully estimated the time of death of mice and human corpses within a two-to-four-day window, even after weeks of decomposition. Previous experiments had shown that regardless of season, surroundings, or the species of the deceased, communities of flesh-eating microbes follow a predictable timetable for consuming corpses.
The researchers were uncertain if this microbial timetable would remain consistent in different scenarios, such as corpses in deserts versus forests, or during different seasons. However, the 2015 experiments revealed that temperature determined the pace of microbial activity. Surprisingly, the microbial dining schedule remained remarkably similar across different human bodies and even mice, despite outdoor exposure. This suggests that the microbial munching pattern could serve as a universal clock for determining the time of death.
The latest study delves deeper into the specific types of microbes that thrive in decomposing corpses. Co-author David Carter, a forensic scientist at Chaminade University of Honolulu, highlights the significance of microbial evidence in death investigations. Unlike other types of physical evidence that may or may not be present at a crime scene, microbes are always present. This study focuses on outdoor death scenes, which can pose challenges when gathering information.
To conduct their research, the team performed outdoor experiments on 36 human cadavers between 2016 and 2017. The bodies were studied over 21 days during different seasons at three different facilities known as body farms. These facilities are located in two distinct climate types, yet the researchers identified the same 20 decomposing microbes on all of the bodies. The microbes displayed consistent patterns of activity regardless of outdoor variables.
The presence of these particular microbes is not commonly found in soil databases or human microbiomes. The authors suggest that insects, such as carrion beetles and blowflies, likely play a role in transporting these universal decomposer microbes to decomposing flesh.
In addition to identifying these microbes, the researchers used machine learning to develop a predictive model for determining the time of death based on microbial activity. The model performed exceptionally well, accurately predicting the time of death within a three-day window in independent tests. However, there were some errors attributed to factors like body mass index, scavengers, and precipitation. Future research will focus on studying these factors to further improve the accuracy of predictive models.
This groundbreaking study opens up new avenues for ecological research and has the potential to revolutionize the field of forensic science. By harnessing the power of microbial activity, forensic scientists may be able to provide more precise estimates of the time of death, leading to more accurate investigations and justice for the deceased.