Skip to main content
Log in

Decomposition and insect succession on cadavers inside a vehicle environment

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study presents differences in rate of decomposition and insect succession between exposed carcasses on the soil surface and those enclosed within a vehicle following carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Nine 45-kg pigs were used as models for human decomposition. Six animals were sacrificed by CO gas, half of which were placed within the driver’s side of separate enclosed vehicles and half were placed under scavenger-proof cages on the soil surface. A further three animals were sacrificed by captive headbolt and placed under scavenger proof cages on the soil surface. The pattern of insect succession and rate of decomposition were similar between surface carcasses within trials regardless of the mode of death. Progression through the physical stages of decomposition was 3–4 days faster in the enclosed vehicle due to higher temperatures there compared to external ambient temperatures. Patterns of insect succession also differed between the vehicle and surface treatments. Carcass attendance by representatives of the Calliphoridae was delayed within the vehicle environment by 16–18 h, while oviposition was not observed until 24–28 h following death. In contrast, attendance by Calliphoridae at surface carcasses occurred within 1 h of death, and oviposition occurred within 6–8 h of death. Typical patterns of insect succession on the carcasses were also altered. Carcass attendance by representatives of the Coleoptera occurred during the bloat stage of decomposition at surface carcasses but was delayed until the onset of wet decomposition (as defined by carcass deflation and breakage of the skin) within the vehicle environment. This study provides baseline data outlining the decomposition patterns of a carcass enclosed within a vehicle following CO poisoning in Western Australia. Understanding how variations in decomposition situations impact on the rate of decomposition and patterns of insect succession is essential to obtaining an accurate estimate of minimum post-mortem interval (PMI).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Avila F, Goff ML. Arthropod succession patterns onto burnt carrion in two contrasting habitats in the Hawaiian Islands. J Forensic Sci 1998;43:581–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson G, VanLaerhoven S. Initial studies on insect succession on carrion in southwestern Bristish Columbia. J Forensic Sci 1996;41:617–25.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Shalaby O, deCarvalho L, Goff ML. Comparison of patterns of decomposition in a hanging carcass in contact with soil in a xerophytic habitat on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. J Forensic Sci 2000;45:1267–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Early M, Goff ML. Arthropod succession patterns in exposed carrion on the island of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, USA. J Med Entomol 1986;23:520–31.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Schoenly K. A statistical analysis of successional patterns in carrion-arthropod assemblages: implications for forensic entomology and determination of the postmortem interval. J Forensic Sci 1992;37:1489–1513.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Amendt J, Krettek R, Niess C, Zehner R, Bratzke H. Forensic entomology in Germany. Forensic Sci Int 2000;113:309–14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Archer MS, Elgar MA. Yearly activity patterns in southern Victoria (Australia) of seasonally active carrion insects. Forensic Sci Int 2003;132:173–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dadour IR, Cook DF, Fissioli JN, Bailey WJ. Forensic entomology: application, education and research in Western Australia. Forensic Sci Int 2001;120:48–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Goff ML. Problems in estimation of postmortem interval resulting from the wrapping of a corpse: a case study from Hawaii. J Agric Entomol 1992;9:237–43.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Catts EP, Goff ML. Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annu Rev Entomol 1992;37:253–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Goff ML, Omori A, Gunatilake K. Estimation of postmortem interval by arthropod succession: three cases from the Hawaiian Islands. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1988;9:220–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Goff ML, Brown WA, Hewadikaram KA, Omori A. Effect of heroine in decomposing tissue on the development rate of Boettcherisca peregrine (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and implications to the estimation of postmortem intervals using arthropod development patterns. J Forensic Sci 1991;36:537–42.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ruszkiewicz A, De Boer B, Robertson S. Unusual presentation of death due to carbon monoxide poisoning: a report of two cases. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1997;18:181–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Skopek MA, Perkins R. Deliberate exposure to motor vehicle exhaust gas: the psychosocial profile of attempted suicide. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 1998;32:830–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ostrom M, Thorson J, Eriksson A. Carbon monoxide suicide from car exhausts. Soc Sci Med 1996;42:447–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kumazawa T, Watanabe-Suzuki K, Seno H, Ishii A, Suzuki O. A curious autopsy case of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in a motor vehicle. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2000;2:181–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Di Maio V, Di Maio D. Forensic pathology. Boca Raton: CRC Press;2001.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Osawa M, Horiuchi H, Yoshida K, Tada T, Harada A. A death in a stationary vehicle whilst idling: unusual carbon monoxide poisoning by exhaust gases. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2003;5 Suppl 1:S132–4.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Plueckhahn VD. Ethics, legal medicine and forensic pathology. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press; 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Morgen C, Schramm J, Kofoed P, Steensberg J, Theilade P. Automobile exhaust as a means of suicide: an experimental study with a proposed model. J Forensic Sci 1998;43:827–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tsunenari S, Yonemitsu K, Kanda M, Yoshida S. Suicidal carbon monoxide inhalation of exhaust fumes. Investigation of cases. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1985;6:233–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. DiMaio VJ, Dana SE. Deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in an open environment (outdoors). J Forensic Sci 1987;32:1794–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shattuck SO, McMillan P. Revision of the species of the Iridomyrmex conifer group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with notes on their biology. Aust J Zool 1998;46:301–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wooller R, Wooller S. Consistent individuality in the timing and magnitude of flowering by Adenanthos obovatus (Proteaceae). Aust J Bot 1998;46:595–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zar JH. Biostatistical analysis, 2nd edn. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall; 1984.

  26. Reed HB. A study of dog carcass communities in Tennessee, with special reference to the insects. Am Midl Nat 1958;59:213–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hewadikaram KA, Goff ML. Effect of carcass size on rate of decomposition and arthropod succession patterns. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1991;12:235–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Morris B, Dadour I. Forensic Entomology; The use of insects in legal cases. In: Freckelton I, Selby H, editors. Expert evidence. Australia: Lawbook Co; 2005. pp 91A.1051–91A.

  29. Rodriguez WC, Bass WM. Decomposition of buried bodies and methods that may aid in their location. J Forensic Sci 1985;30:836–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fuller M. The insect inhabitants of carrion: a study in animal ecology. Counc Sci Ind Res Bull 1934;82:1–63.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Bornemissza GF. An analysis of arthropod succession in carrion and the effect of its decomposition on the soil fauna. Aust J Zool 1957;5:1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. O’ Flynn M. The succession and rate of development of blowflies in carrion in Southern Queensland and the application of these data to forensic entomology. J Aust Entomol Soc 1983;22:137–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Archer M. Annual variation in arrival and departure times of carrion insects at carcasses: implications for succession studies in forensic entomology. Aust J Zool 2003;51:569–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Shean B, Messinger L, Papworth M. Observations of differential decomposition on sun exposed vs. shaded pig carrion in coastal Washington State. J Forensic Sci 1993;38:938–49.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Goff ML. Estimation of postmortem interval using arthropod development and successional patterns. Forensic Sci Rev 1993;5:82–94.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Andy Szito, Department of Entomology, Agriculture Western Australia, for species determination, Natalie Campman, Jeremy Lindsey and Dr. Michelle Harvey for their assistance with sampling and rearing of entomological samples. For helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript, we thank Dr. Alexander Larcombe, Clinical Sciences, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Western Australia. Thanks are also extended to the Western Australian Police Property Tracing Section who provided the vehicles used in this study. Special thanks to Bob Cooper (University of Western Australia) for granting access to the study site and ongoing field support. This research was conducted with the approval of the University of Western Australia Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (Ethics no. RA/3/100/022).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sasha C. Voss.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Voss, S.C., Forbes, S.L. & Dadour, I.R. Decomposition and insect succession on cadavers inside a vehicle environment. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 4, 22–32 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-007-0028-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-007-0028-z

Keywords

Navigation