[hermantheshocker]

Police divers were recovering cars from a canal when they pulled up an overturned vehicle that had sunken into the sludge. A right hand and a left foot floated out of the vehicle, and the remainder of the body was on the left rear seat with the legs between the two front seats (Fig.1). The body was clad in a tank top, denim jeans, a watch and two rings. Moderate putrefactive decomposition was associated with focal disintegration of the soft tissues on the head (Fig.2) and distal extremities.


Fig.1 The body was on the left rear seat with the legs between the two front seats.


Fig.2 Moderate putrefactive decomposition of the soft tissues on the head.

Adipocere formation involved the entire body externally, and large portions of pale yellow adipocere (Fig.3) were found throughout the vehicle, clinging to the seats and floating in several inches of turbid water in the front and rear floor compartments. The vehicle was registered to a 26-year-old woman who was last seen almost 3.5 months prior to recovery of her body. A suicide note in her apartment outlined her intentions.


Fig.3 Large portions of pale yellow adipocere were found throughout the vehicle.

Adipocere, also known as corpse wax, grave wax or mortuary wax, is a wax-like organic substance formed by the anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis of fat in tissue, such as body fat in corpses. In its formation, putrefaction is replaced by a permanent firm cast of fatty tissues, internal organs, and the face. The transformation of fats into adipocere occurs best in an environment that has high levels of moisture and an absence of oxygen, such as in wet ground or mud at the bottom of a lake or a sealed casket, and it can occur with both embalmed and untreated bodies. Adipocere formation begins within a month of death, and, in the absence of air, it can persist for centuries.
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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence or harassment. All/some of the images have been upscaled and sharpened/enhanced. The text might have been shortened and simplified, and/or reorganized for online view. Dolinak D., Matshes E.W., Lew E.O. - Elsevier 2005

[William May]

Excellent post! Wish we knew her identity, so we could find out who she was and what the circumstances were.

[Karma]

Wow. What a find! Excellent post, agreed.

[K53]

Perfect time for the scheduled morgue worker to call out sick

[HeyJealousy]

Where exactly did this happen?

[Izumi]

Digging your posts Herman. Cheers!

[Killgaad]

Did you say moderate putrefaction?

[hermantheshocker]

Originally Posted by HeyJealousy ↗

Where exactly did this happen?

Unfortunately there was no mention of where this happened. But I believe the images come from the original authors who at least in 2005 worked for Dallas County Medical Examiner Department, Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department and University of Saskatchewan/University of Calgary.

[Ttrainedchimp]

Can't even tell which end is up in the initial photo.

[Shadolife]

That's an excellent slab of adipocere, thank you sir!