Mass Fatality Incidents: A Guide for Forensic Identification

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MASS FATALITY INCIDENTS: A GUIDE FOR HUMAN FORENSIC IDENTIFICATIONJ. Document the presence or absence ofany items or objects that may be relevant(including internal prostheses,implants, etc.).K. Document the dental examination (see“Section 4.6: Identification of HumanRemains—Odontology” for procedures).L. Collect appropriate DNA and toxicologysamples (see “Section 4.4:Identification of Human Remains—DNA Analysis” for procedures).M. Conduct a complete autopsy (ifindicated).Summary. The medical examiner/coronerevaluates and documents all evidencerelated to the remains to establish theidentity of the deceased and determinethe cause and manner of death.IV. Collect, Inventory, and SecurePersonal Effects and Evidenceon/in RemainsPrinciple. Medical examiners/coroners areexpected to safeguard the valuables andproperty of the deceased to ensure properprocessing and eventual return to the legalnext of kin. They also are expected to safeguardevidence on or near the remains toensure its availability for further evaluation.Procedure. The medical examiner/coroneris expected to ensure that all property andevidence is collected, inventoried, protected,and released as required by lawaccording to the following functions—A. Photograph the evidence (include anidentification number with each photograph),including:1. Remains.2. Physical characteristics (e.g.,tattoos, scars, or marks).3. Wounds.4. Personal effects (e.g., clothing andjewelry).B. Collect associated physical evidence(e.g., explosives residue or other tracematerial).C. Collect, inventory, and safeguardmoney at the scene and the morgue(with a witness present).D. Collect, inventory, and safeguard personalvaluables/property (e.g., clothingand jewelry) at the scene and themorgue:1. Collect and store personal effects inpaper bags (for airing and drying).2. Clean each personal item removedfrom the remains (especially jewelry)and preserve with an appropriateidentification number.Take DNA samples from personal effectsbefore cleaning and cataloging them.3. Use photographs when applicablefor viewing and recognition by familymembers.Summary. Collecting property and preservingevidence is critical for ensuring thechain of custody and admissibility in casesof legal action.V. Establish Identification of theDeceasedPrinciple. Confirming the identity of thedeceased is critical to the death investigation.Proper identification is necessary tonotify the legal next of kin, resolve estateissues and criminal/civil litigation, andissue death certificates.Procedure. The medical examiner/coroneris responsible for establishing the identityof the deceased using the followingmethods—17
SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05A. Presumptive:1. Direct visual or photographic identificationof the deceased if visuallyrecognizable.2. Personal effects (e.g., wallets,jewelry), circumstances, physicalcharacteristics, tattoos, and anthropologicaldata.B. Confirmatory:1. Fingerprints (including handprints,toe prints, and footprints ifindicated).2. Odontology.3. Radiology.The medical examiner/coroner is expected toconduct regular meetings with those assistingwith the identification of the deceased to ensureconcordance and resolve discrepanciesbefore releasing the remains.4. DNA analysis.5. Forensic anthropology.Summary. The medical examiner/coroneris expected to use all available methods ofidentification to confirm the identity of thedeceased. Confirming identity is essentialfor resolving investigative, family, estate,judicial, and vital record issues.18
Page 3 and 4: JUNE 05Mass Fatality Incidents: A G
Page 5 and 6: Message From the DirectorEvery acti
Page 7 and 8: Technical Working Group for Mass Fa
Page 9 and 10: Cook County HospitalChicago, Illino
Page 11 and 12: AcknowledgmentsThe National Institu
Page 13 and 14: Appendix D. Procedures for DNA Samp
Page 15 and 16: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05III. Consid
Page 17 and 18: Section 2: Arriving at the SceneI.
Page 19 and 20: MASS FATALITY INCIDENTS: A GUIDE FO
Page 21 and 22: Section 3: Processing the Scene I.
Page 25: Identification of Human Remains SEC
Page 30 and 31: Section 4.2: Identification of Huma
Page 34 and 35: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05idiosyncras
Page 36 and 37: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05inventory,
Page 38 and 39: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05b. Train in
Page 40 and 41: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 0530g. Conduc
Page 46 and 47: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05remains. A
Page 48 and 49: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05C. Establis
Page 52 and 53: Section 5: Disposition of Human Rem
Page 56 and 57: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 58 and 59: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Procedure.
Page 60 and 61: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Federal Avi
Page 62 and 63: Appendix B. Disaster Mortuary Opera
Page 64 and 65: Appendix C. Facilities/Organization
Page 66 and 67: Appendix D. Procedures for DNASampl
Page 68 and 69: SPECIAL REPORT / JUNE 05Potential L
Page 70 and 71: Appendix F. Dental Numbering System
Page 72 and 73: Appendix G. Sample Remains ReleaseA
Page 74 and 75: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05AFIP, Office
Page 76 and 77: SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Indiana Stat
Page 78 and 79:
SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05National Gov
Page 80 and 81:
SPECIAL REPORT /JUNE 05Tarrant Coun
Page 82 and 83:
About the National Institute of Jus
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