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Splitting hairs: differentiating between entomological activity, taphonomy, and sharp force trauma on hair

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Abstract

Purpose

The analysis of hair can provide useful information for the correct evaluation of forensic cases, but studies of trauma on hair are extremely rare. Hair may present lesions caused by traumatic events or by animals: in fact, signs of sharp force weapons on hair may provide important information for the reconstruction of the manner of death, and, for example, may suggest fetishist practice. This study stemmed from a judicial case where it was fundamental to distinguish between sharp force lesions and insect activity on hair.

Methods

In order to highlight differences between sharp force lesions and insect feeding activity, different experiments were performed with high power microscopy: hair samples were subjected to several lesions by blunt and sharp force trauma; then samples were used as pabulum for two taxa of insects: the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella Lepidoptera, Tineidae) and the carpet beetle (Anthrenus sp., Coleoptera, Dermestidae). Hairs were examined from a macroscopic and microscopic point of view by stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM): the morphological characteristics of the lesions obtained from the different experimental samples were compared.

Results

Results show that sharp force trauma produces lesions with regular edges, whereas insects leave concave lesions caused by their “gnawing” activity. These two types of lesions are easily distinguishable from breaking and tearing using SEM.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that insect activity leaves very specific indications on hair and sheds some light on different hair lesions that may be found in forensic cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, V. Mangiagalli, 37, Milan, Italy

    Debora Mazzarelli, Daniele Gibelli, Davide Porta & Cristina Cattaneo

  2. School of Applied Science, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK

    Stefano Vanin

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena Reggio Emilia, Emilia, Italy

    Lara Maistrello

  4. CNR IDPA – Istituto Dinamica Processi Ambientali, Berryville, AR, USA

    Agostino Rizzi

Authors
  1. Debora Mazzarelli
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  2. Stefano Vanin
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  3. Daniele Gibelli
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  4. Lara Maistrello
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  5. Davide Porta
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  6. Agostino Rizzi
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  7. Cristina Cattaneo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debora Mazzarelli.

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Mazzarelli, D., Vanin, S., Gibelli, D. et al. Splitting hairs: differentiating between entomological activity, taphonomy, and sharp force trauma on hair. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 11, 104–110 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9636-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9636-6

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