Common and much less common scenarios in which botany is crucial for forensic pathologist and anthropologists: a series of eight case studies

• DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02456-0
• Publication Date: 2020-12-19T20:11:43Z
• Authors: Marco Caccianiga; Giulia Caccia; Debora Mazzarelli; Dominic Salsarola; Pasquale Poppa; Daniel Gaudio; Annalisa Cappella; Lorenzo Francesch...; Stefano Tambuzzi; Lidia Maggioni; Cristina Cattaneo
• Keywords: Identification; Crime scene; Plant identification; Scientific evidence

Abstract It is commonly accepted that crime scene recovery and recording are key moments of any judicial inspection in which investigators must decide on the correct strategies to put into place. Complex outdoor scenarios, presenting partially or entirely skeletonised remains, can benefit more than others by intervention environmental specialists (forensic anthropologists, archaeologists, entomologists botanists). These experts capable singling out, correctly recovering evidence lead a comprehensive reconstruction given criminal episode. If human remains discovered an scenario, on-site presence botanist will guarantee approach identification, botanical evidence. not available, operators be both evaluation implementation sampling protocols. The following collection unusual case histories aim at underlining efficacy forensic botany examine determination post mortem depositional interval, for victim’s transfer, identification primary dismemberment site. In another two cases, one, we illustrate important role played discrimination between material used voluntarily conceal victim vegetation had grown naturally above disposal site, whereas other highlight protocols implemented murder weapon.