Introduction. Forensic medical examination of corpses subjected to long-term criminal burial for the purpose of concealing a homicide is one of the most complex problems in forensic medicine. In cases of adipocere formation, the morphological signs of trauma are altered. The additional use of polymer sealing materials to conceal the crime slows down putrefactive processes and enhances saponification. The available literature lacks criteria for determining the burial period in soil and the antemortem nature of injuries in a body sealed in plastic film. Objective. To identify the features of changes in cadaveric tissues, including antemortem injuries, under conditions of long-term placement in moist clay soil and sealing in polymer film. Materials and Methods. The object of the study is a male body exhumed from a criminal burial site, with a post-burial interval of 9 years. The condition of the body: total adipocere, partial skeletonization. A description of the body's tissues is provided. Restoration of a skin flap was performed using a standard method with 70% ethanol, along with bone maceration, stereomicroscopy in polarized light, and histological examination of soft tissues stained with hematoxylin-eosin and subjected to the Dunn-Thompson reaction. Results. A description of the tissues of the corpse exhumed from the criminal burial site with a burial period of 9 years is presented, and features of antemortem injuries are identified. Forensic medical and criminalistic investigation methods made it possible to mitigate saponification and restore the elasticity of the dermis, which ensured clear visualization of the elements of a contused wound (abrasion, undermined edges, tissue bridges). Maceration of a rib revealed an incomplete extension fracture caused by a blunt object with a limited surface. Histochemical analysis (weakly positive Dunn-Thompson reaction) confirmed the antemortem nature of the soft tissue injuries. Conclusion. A comprehensive approach, including macroscopic description, tissue restoration, bone maceration, polarization microscopy, and histochemical reactions, allows for reliable reconstruction of injuries 9 years after death under conditions of adipocere formation. The possibility of diagnosing the mechanism of injury and the antemortem nature of injuries in cases of total saponification has been proven.
Sudden cardiac death remains one of the leading causes of premature mortality among the working-age population, particularly in young individuals. In a substantial proportion of cases, conventional autopsy methods fail to establish a definitive cause of death. The need for new diagnostic approaches to unexplained deaths has led to the emergence and rapid development of the concept of molecular autopsy. This review analyzes the applications, limitations, and prospects of molecular genetic methods in forensic practice. This review discusses current knowledge on the genetic basis of inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies, the leading causes of sudden death in the absence of structural myocardial abnormalities. The evolution of technologies is outlined, from Sanger sequencing, which formed the basis of early molecular autopsies, to next-generation sequencing, which now enables the simultaneous analysis of hundreds of genes associated with arrhythmogenic disorders. Particular attention is given to the interpretation of genetic variants, classification of their clinical significance, challenges in analyzing variants of uncertain significance, and the need for their reclassification as scientific evidence accumulates. A separate section addresses cascade family testing as a key element in preventing recurrent cases of sudden death and in organizing genetic counseling for relatives. The review substantiates the rationale for integrating molecular autopsy into the forensic medical system as a tool to enhance the evidentiary value of conclusions and to promote interdisciplinary integration of forensic medicine, cardiology, and clinical genetics. The analysis demonstrates that molecular autopsy not only expands diagnostic capabilities but also provides a foundation for the development of preventive medicine aimed at reducing inherited sudden deaths.
This article describes a case of forensic identification of skeletal remains discovered in the firebox of a wood-burning kitchen stove. According to the investigation materials and the mother’s confession, the body of her child had been burned in the stove. The relevance of this case lies in the limited specialized data on thermally destroyed pediatric remains, as well as in the difficulty of determining species and age when bones are reduced to an ash-like state. The article presents the process of expert examination of 190 bone fragments in the stage of white and gray calcination. Using visual, metric, photographic, anatomical-morphological, and comparative anatomical methods, the specimens were sorted, allowing identification of fragments of the skull, vertebrae, ribs, and long bones. The analysis found that the remains belong to a human child. Taking into account ossification centers and the absence of synostoses in the bones of the skull base, vertebrae, and foot bones, the estimated age was under one year. Sex and height could not be assessed due to the lack of valid methods. This case report demonstrates the possibility of successful identification of species and age using anatomical-morphological and comparative anatomical methods, even in cases of remarkable thermal destruction of bone tissue.
Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval is one of the key tasks of forensic medical examination and is of critical importance for investigative processes. In routine forensic practice, postmortem interval is commonly assessed based on well-known early and late postmortem changes, which often results in substantial variability of the estimated time interval. Although more precise physical, biochemical, and biophysical methods have been developed for postmortem interval estimation, they have not been widely implemented in forensic practice due to several limitations, including high cost, technical complexity, and labor-intensive application. In this review, we briefly analyze conventional methods for postmortem interval estimation and evaluate the effectiveness and prospects of innovative approaches under conditions of high-temperature exposure. In particular, we consider the potential application of laser-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy of the cofactors NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). A scientific data search was conducted using PubMed, eLibrary, and Scopus databases. Full-text access was obtained via the Russian State Library, the National Electronic Library, ResearchGate, and the Elsevier and Wiley platforms for the period 1960–2026. The following keywords were used in Russian and English: постмортальный период / postmortem interval, ДНС/PMI, коферменты/coenzymes, НАДН/NADH, ФАД/FAD, аутофлюоресценция/autofluorescence, посмертная гипертермия / postmortem hyperthermia, судебно-медицинская танатология / forensic thanatology, давность наступления смерти / time of death, посмертные изменения / postmortem changes, температура окружающей среды / ambient temperature, лазерно-индуцированная аутофлуоресцентная спектроскопия / laser-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy. The relative simplicity and low labor intensity of laser-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy of NADH and FAD represent substantial advantages. Further development of criteria for postmortem interval estimation under various environmental conditions, particularly in cases of exposure to high temperatures, appears promising and holds considerable potential for forensic medicine.
These practice guidelines are intended to support the organization of forensic medical examination units for living persons and provide a structured methodology for conducting such examinations. The guidelines are designed for forensic medical experts, faculty members of forensic medicine departments and courses, residents, and postgraduate trainees in relevant academic programs. The guidelines outline general principles for forensic medical examinations of living persons, as well as specific features of individual types of examinations. Key issues encountered by forensic medical experts in the examination of living persons are addressed, including what objects should be examined and how their assessment should be performed. Specific aspects of the examination of a living person are described, and an algorithm for describing injuries is proposed. A structure for conclusions is proposed for forensic medical examinations of living persons. Specific considerations for examinations of female and male individuals are discussed depending on the forensic questions being addressed. Two sections of the practice guidelines focus on the specific aspects of forensic medical examinations in determining the permanence of injuries and in cases involving the use of electroshock devices. The guidelines conclude with recommendations on the proper documentation of forensic medical examinations of living persons in accordance with applicable legislation.
