[hermantheshocker]

Some of the stuff I work on doesn't make the cut so I thought about gathering them up in a single post. So basically it's images I have little or no info about or I've decided that they don't get their own thread, for example, because of low image/content quality, lack of backstory or additional info/knowledge, possibly uninteresting, only one image but not very special. I still do the usual image work including upscaling and color correction as needed, as I prefer to have my content high quality and educational.

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Case 1


Fig1.1 A bumble bee drinking "death nectar" from a corpse.


Fig1.2 A bumble bee drinking "death nectar" from a corpse.

Various insects may take advantage of the nutritional factors a decomposing body has to offer whether through natural orifices or as a result of scavenging, hence the phrase “death nectar”. In the image a bumble bee (Bombus) can be seen drinking "death nectar" from a corpse at the body farm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, US.

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Case 2


Fig2.1 Wasps drinking "death nectar" on a scavenged human limb.


Fig2.2 Wasps drinking "death nectar" on a scavenged human limb.

In the image, Yellowjackets (Vespula) are seen utilizing "death nectar" and meat/protein in addition to fly and larval activity on a scavenged human limb in summer months at the body farm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, US.

Much research on how decomposition affects the soil takes place to help with analysing crime or archaeological scenes. Moisture, temperature and the nature of the soil are key factors in the rate of decay and, if these are understood and taken into account, the forensic scientist can work out how long the body has been there. Soil bacteria and chemical changes are also of interest to the forensic world – what they are and how long they have been there – because these changes can also suggest how long remains have been in place, influencing the microbial and chemical composition of the soil.

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Case 3


Fig3.1 Body at the bodyfarm at The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility.


Fig3.2 Completely skeletal arm with a strand of skin left that still attached the wrist to the shoulder girdle.


Fig3.3 The right side of the face exhibited bone exposure due to scavenging.


Fig3.4 Scratches on the back from raccoons.

The images are of a body at the bodyfarm at The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility. The first day of scavenging on this individual occurred 17 days after late fall placement. The first evidence of raccoon activity was scratches on the right scapular region, but no points of entry were observed, and no oviposition was present on the remains. On Day 2 of scavenging the right ear was scavenged, and the left lower and upper arm was scavenged extensively resulting in bone exposure.

The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) is famous as a facility for study of the decomposition of human remains, with human corpses laid outside in different settings and their changes recorded. This has a forensic focus, but a study of the soil, with its long-term history of continuous decomposition, has found it to be fairly uniformly enriched by high-quality nutrients, compared with the soil outside the facility. This raises the question of whether generalised fertilising of a site which was also used for grass or grazing could be achieved by simple, shallow burial at the right density.

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Case 4


Fig4.1 Shotgun exit wound.

Initially, it may be difficult to distinguish the entrance and exit wounds, but by loosely reconstructing the skull and the wound edges, the injuries can be seen. In this case an exit wound. Despite the extreme amount of cranial destruction, careful and meticulous reapproximation (bring separated parts back together) of the calvarium, scalp, and tears allows for the demonstration and confirmation of an exit wound. Reconstruction of the wound can be very important to determine particular wound characteristics in cases of alleged homicide.

Head injuries from shotguns are typically quite devastating, often with extensive soft tissue destruction, skull fractures, and pulpifaction of the brain. Occasionally, the brain is largely expelled from the cranial vault and may be found near the body.

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Case 5


Fig5.1 Postmortem carnivore activity around the mouth of a decedent.

A typical area of carnivore activity centered around the mouth of a decedent can be seen in this image, no further info. Postmortem animal interference of human corpses or remains is a well known phenomenon to forensic death investigators, the morphological appearance of these injuries can be misinterpreted by police officers investigating the suspected crime scene or by the consulted medical practitioner.

Death scene investigators should be aware of the following while undertaking a detailed assessment of the scene of questioned cases of postmortem animal interference: damage is primarily caused to the exposed areas of the body, where clothes are not in the way, no selfdefense injuries can be found on the deceased’s body, compared to the large defects a relatively small amount of blood or the total absence of bloodstains should be expected at the scene, possibly a spoor deriving from the animal’s paws can be detected in bloodstains, an inquiry of pets living free in the house or wild animals having possible access to the scene should be conducted and a careful look for animal faeces or rodents nests should be made.

Frequently the face, hands and legs are destroyed by postmortem animal interference as they are unclothed and thus easily accessible. However there are cases where such lesions having been noted in other areas of the body which have been covered by the cloths including genitals but they are rare.

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Case 6


Fig6.1 A hard-contact gunshot wound of the head.


Fig6.2 Expansion of subcutaneous space from gas pressure.

A hard-contact wound of the head with the central entrance wound containing a marginal abrasion, soot, and searing on the margins of the wound, and distortion by a large stellate tear. The tearing is caused by the gun discharging in contact with the skin and the hot gases escaping into the tissue between the skin and the skull. No further info.

In contact gunshot wounds with bony tissue underlying the injury, the injuries are typically called a stellate wound, where the gases exit the barrel before the projectile. As a result, the gas collides with the bone tissue, resulting in the reflection of the gases. This gas causes the expansion of subcutaneous space and pressure, which results in an explosive injury, tearing, and lacerating the skin and subcutaneous tissue, resulting in the stellate wound. Additionally, the expanding gases also cause a back-splatter of soft-tissue and blood onto the firearm and fingers.

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Case 7


Fig7.1 A near-contact rifle entrance and exit wound.

A near-contact wound of a rifle showing only a very small amount of soot deposition due to the efficiency of the longer barrel. It does show the typical marginal abrasion characterizing it as an entrance wound. The corresponding exit wound with the massive release of kinetic energy causing severe destruction of the head.

Head injuries from shotguns and high-powered rifles are typically quite devastating, often with extensive soft tissue destruction, skull fractures, and pulpifaction of the brain. Occasionally, the brain is largely expelled from the cranial vault and may be found near the body. Self-inflicted submental and transoral wounds may produce serious but survivable brain injuries if the path of the bullet is limited to the frontal area.

The head is the most common location for a suicidal gunshot wound (74%), followed by the chest (20%) and then the abdomen (6%). In head wounds, the most common location was intraoral (50%), followed by under the chin (19%); side of head, including parietal and temporal wounds (15%); and the face, including the forehead (13%).

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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. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.

[tdsantmyers]

This was awesome. Enjoyed it, very much. Took time, I'm sure. Case #3 was gnar-gnar.

[Cathedral]

Case 3 is Vixənn drunk from too much death nectar.

[ride]

Great work, Herm! Happy Christmas Death Montage!

[William May]

Another superb entry, Herman!

[dogleg818]

Looked like case # 3 had a small steel plate in the temple.

[Pyramid_Head]

I've never seen bees active on a corpse, interesting.

[Vixənn]

as a former apiarist (bee keeper/farmer), learning about "death nectar" for the very first time in my life, has invoked many different emotions in me.

[Lil_Lisa]

Cremate me.

[LuckiiDevil21]

I want to go there when I die!