Ronald K. Wright

Age Estimation from the Rib by Phase Analysis: White Males

The determination of age at death is an important part of physical and forensic anthropology. Techniques now in use vary from direct observation of a bone to microscopic examination of a given segment. This study introduces the sternal end of the rib as a new site for age estimation by direct observation. The sample consisted of 118 white male ribs of verified age, sex, and race. The ribs were assigned to one of nine phases (0 through 8) based on changes noted at the costochondral junction. These included the formation of a pit, its depth and shape, configuration of the walls and rim surrounding it, and the overall texture and quality of the bone. Statistical analysis indicated that these changes were age related. It was further revealed that metamorphosis was most rapid and uniform from the mean age of 17 to 28 years (Phases 1 through 4). The rib morphology was more varied after age 39 (Phase 5) resulting in a wider range for the predicted age. Our study concluded that the sternal rib end may yield a similar degree of accuracy to the pubic symphysis and perhaps better than that for cranial sutural closure. Our technique also enables the forensic scientist to use the rib for corroboration with age estimations obtained by traditional methods.

Racial Variation in the Sternal Extremity of the Rib and Its Effect on Age Determination

Most research on the aging process in the skeleton has not considered or elaborated differences that may exist between the races. Thus, techniques developed for the estimation of age assume that the racial background of the standards is compatible with the specimens to be assessed. However, racial differences in areas such as skeletal growth and bone density have been reported, along with specific variations in the aging process, in the ribs of disparate populations. The present investigation examines metamorphosis in the sternal ribs of American blacks (N = 53 males, N = 20 females), and tests the application of age estimation standards developed by the authors from a white population. All specimens were obtained from medical examiners cases of known age, sex, and race. Although the sample was limited in both quantity and age range, analysis of the data revealed racial differences in both rate and pattern of metamorphosis. Statistical analysis showed that the calculated mean age per phase for black ribs was nearly identical to whites in Phases 1 through 4 or until the mean age of 28 years. By the early 30s, differences in morphology and their chronological association with the aging process became apparent and increased with age in both sexes. Blacks were consistently overaged from 3 to 10 years in Phases 5 through 7. Therefore, it was concluded that biological differences between these populations do exist and can affect age estimation from the rib. Social factors may also be involved, but they cannot be demonstrated from the available data. While the degree of interracial variation does not require completely new standards, the authors have suggested specific modifications of the white standards for use on black specimens.

The Investigation of Electrical Deaths: A Report of 220 Fatalities

We present the results of our investigation of 220 electrocutions. The ratio of high voltage to low voltage electrocution is found to be nearly 1:1. Further, in low voltage electrocution deaths electrical burns were absent in over 40% of the cases. Our approach to the investigation of possible electrocution, including equipment analysis, is discussed.

Homicidal Hanging Masquerading as Sexual Asphyxia

Accidental asphyxiation occasionally results from autoerotic activity related to the sexual perversion of bondage, a variant of sadomasochism [1–4]. These deaths occur predominantly in the adolescent male population but also rarely in females [5, 6]. They are generally accepted as being accidental, although a recent textbook describes them as suicides [7].

Massive metoprolol ingestion associated with a fatality--a case report

An unusual fatality involving a 26-year-old male who intentionally ingested approximately 10 g of metoprolol is presented. Autopsy findings revealed foreign material in the gastric content with an acute thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Microscopic studies showed evidence of an extremely early infarct. Metoprolol concentrations in the blood, liver, gastric content, and urine are reported by both capillary gas chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometric analysis. A review of the literature confirmed that little information has been published concerning intoxication with this drug.

Evaluation of clinician accuracy in describing gunshot wound injuries.

A large series of gunshot wounds is analyzed to determine, first, whether the wounds were described with enough detail to estimate the distance and direction of fire; and second, to utilize the autopsy description to determine accuracy. All of the University of Miami-Jackson Medical Center (UM-JMC) records coded as gunshot wounds and treated during calendar year 1995 were included in this study. The analysis is of 566 shootings from bullets in which 1259 wounds were described in the hospital records. Of the 1259 bullet wounds, the size and/or shape was described in only 63 (5%) and only four wounds (0.3%) had any indication of distance of fire. The location of the wound could be determined to within 3 cm in 655 (52%) and only 39 (3%) of the wounds were measured from some landmark. Directionality was neither indicated nor determinable in 897 (71%) of the wounds examined. Fifty-five (9%) cases resulted in death and were compared with medical examiner autopsies. Clinical information was inadequate for comparison in three (6%) of these cases. In 22 cases that were said to have one wound, only 14 (64%) of these were correctly documented. Of 16 cases with 2 wounds, 9 (56%) were correctly identified by the clinicians. When greater than 2 wounds were present (14), the clinicians were wrong 93% of the time. This study demonstrates that clinicians responsible for treating gunshot-wounded persons do not adequately document or interpret these wounds.

Influence of the medical examiner on cadaver organ procurement.

Patients who die from severe head injuries constitute a major reservoir of potential kidney donors, for such injuries usually occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Death from injury mandates a medical examiners investigation, and jurisdiction over the body occurs at the moment of pronouncement of death. In Florida, when any person dies of criminal violence, by accident, by suicide, suddenly when in apparent good health, when unattended by a practicing physician or other recognized practitioner, in any prison or penal institution, in police custody, in any suspicious or unusual circumstances, by criminal abortion, by poison, by disease constituting a threat to public health, by disease, injury, or toxic agent from employment; or when a dead body is brought into the state without proper medical certification; or when a body is to be cremated, dissected, or buried at sea, the medical examiner shall determine the cause of death and shall make or have performed such examinations, investigations, and autopsies as he shall deem necessary [1]. It is the duty of any person who becomes aware of such a death under the circumstances described above to report such death and circumstances immediately to the medical examiner [2].

Studies in the Epidemiology of Murder—A Proposed Classification System

The Medical Examiners Office of Dade County has investigated 3282 homicides during the years 1956 through 1975. Forty-one percent (1340) of the homicides occurred in the last five years, 25% of the time period. The overall homicide rate has risen from 11.2 per 100 000 population during 1956–1960 to 20.0 per 100 000 population during 1970–1975. The 1975 homicide rate was 20.9 per 100 000 population.

Review of Tainting Evidence Inside the Scandals at the FBI Crime Lab

Science and law approach problems and arrive at solutions in completely different ways. Law arrives at conclusions by taking established principles and applying them to new facts, a deductive process. Science arrives at conclusions by observing facts, creating hypotheses and testing them, an inductive process. Law relies upon precedence and procedure. Science is innovative and iconoclastic.

The Use of a Xerox 6500 Color Copier in Forensic Sciences

Photographic documentation of wounds and disease processes is a well-established supplemental method of recording pathological findings both within the hospital and the forensic environment. The first recorded use of a photograph in a homicide trial was in 1874, when an antemortem photograph was used for the purpose of body identification [1].