The PRSAR forensics applied sciences & technology (fast) Team
Digging a hole is easy. Locating clandestine graves is extremely difficult, especially if several years or decades old. However locating the remains is crucial to the adjudication of a criminal. Memories fade with time, the environment changes, and even when the suspect is brought to the scene, the victim is never found or is later found nowhere close to where initially indicated.
Techniques or methods used to find clandestine graves have been unreliable, conflicting and are only suitable for small search areas. Random digging is physically demanding, expensive, time-consuming, and requires significant manpower resources which, for LE, is better served assisting the living.
There is no one technology that can be used for every scenario since each death scene is unique and poses its unique challenges, whether man-made or environmental. Technology which can be applied to locating human remains (whether buried or on the surface) changes based on soil type, terrain, size of the search area, the manner of death, the age of scene, moisture, flora, fauna, etc.
In order to be most effective in locating human remains, you must have an intimate knowledge of the decompositional process (what we break down into and where do these products go). We combine a multitude of technologies with a team of experienced, dedicated individuals who have a strong background in various scientific fields.
These disciplines include; biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, in addition to instrumentation, mapping techniques, research design, and implementation, etc. Even with all of this, success is NOT guaranteed, but the likelihood of finding missing grave sites has never been better with a multi-disciplined approach.
TECHNOLOGIES EFFECTIVELY USED TOGETHER
Technologies which must be used in combination in order to successfully locate human remains may include:
Odor Analysis – very difficult to change – can’t really cover it up like fingerprints (wear gloves) or hair (wear a hat) or skin flakes (wear clothing) A person’s odor has three (3) major components:
Piezoelectric Properties of Bone - Bone produces an electric field when pressure is applied (for example, soil pressing on the bone when buried). This can be detected using various instruments and can be detected as much as a mile away.
Soil Chemistry - During decomposition, soft tissue and bone break down into their chemical building blocks. These products soak into the matrix upon which the body resides (soil, clothing, etc.) and can be detected using chemical assays and various instrumentation. Some of these products are human specific and can differentiate human from animal remains.
Soil Microbiology - The microbiology surrounding a decompositional event changes since many nutrients are released into the soil during decomposition. Culturing the microbial flora in the soil or performing PCR analysis can assist in confirming a clandestine grave location.
Geophysical methods (GPR, magnetometer, soil resistivity, thermal, hyperspectral) - A variety of instruments which can assist in confirming disturbed soil or subsurface anomalies. These are useful in confirming the location of potential clandestine graves.
Canines (grave-detection dogs) A highly trained grave detection dog is the gold standard. Usually, the first technology to be deployed due to the unmatched sensitivity of the canine olfactory detection system. Must be used in conjunction with additional confirmatory technologies.
Resonance Frequency - Bone/tissue produces a unique resonant frequency which can be detected and utilized in narrowing down the search area for human remains.
Forensic Botany - In some situations, nutrients released from the decompositional process will allow for the growth and proliferation of unusual or unique flora. This should be used in conjunction with soil chemistry to assist in pinpointing the search area.
Major Instrumentation:
The scientists, searchers and volunteer staff members of FAST are dedicated to helping find the loved ones of people who suffer due to lack of closure. We use science in combination with tried and true methods such as a good grave detection dog. We work as a team to solve the crime and bring closure. It’s what we do.
For Case submission and consideration, please call 941-548-7560 or email [email protected]. We will need the Case number, the Lead Agency and the Detective in charge of the case. All cases are reviewed by the PRSAR Board of Directors before any assets are deployed.
Techniques or methods used to find clandestine graves have been unreliable, conflicting and are only suitable for small search areas. Random digging is physically demanding, expensive, time-consuming, and requires significant manpower resources which, for LE, is better served assisting the living.
There is no one technology that can be used for every scenario since each death scene is unique and poses its unique challenges, whether man-made or environmental. Technology which can be applied to locating human remains (whether buried or on the surface) changes based on soil type, terrain, size of the search area, the manner of death, the age of scene, moisture, flora, fauna, etc.
In order to be most effective in locating human remains, you must have an intimate knowledge of the decompositional process (what we break down into and where do these products go). We combine a multitude of technologies with a team of experienced, dedicated individuals who have a strong background in various scientific fields.
These disciplines include; biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, in addition to instrumentation, mapping techniques, research design, and implementation, etc. Even with all of this, success is NOT guaranteed, but the likelihood of finding missing grave sites has never been better with a multi-disciplined approach.
TECHNOLOGIES EFFECTIVELY USED TOGETHER
Technologies which must be used in combination in order to successfully locate human remains may include:
Odor Analysis – very difficult to change – can’t really cover it up like fingerprints (wear gloves) or hair (wear a hat) or skin flakes (wear clothing) A person’s odor has three (3) major components:
- Genetic-based (part of major histocompatibility complex – MHC, which cannot be changed) – microbial flora can be part of this.
- Odors created from a person’s diet
- Odors created from chemicals like perfumes/deodorants.
Piezoelectric Properties of Bone - Bone produces an electric field when pressure is applied (for example, soil pressing on the bone when buried). This can be detected using various instruments and can be detected as much as a mile away.
Soil Chemistry - During decomposition, soft tissue and bone break down into their chemical building blocks. These products soak into the matrix upon which the body resides (soil, clothing, etc.) and can be detected using chemical assays and various instrumentation. Some of these products are human specific and can differentiate human from animal remains.
Soil Microbiology - The microbiology surrounding a decompositional event changes since many nutrients are released into the soil during decomposition. Culturing the microbial flora in the soil or performing PCR analysis can assist in confirming a clandestine grave location.
Geophysical methods (GPR, magnetometer, soil resistivity, thermal, hyperspectral) - A variety of instruments which can assist in confirming disturbed soil or subsurface anomalies. These are useful in confirming the location of potential clandestine graves.
Canines (grave-detection dogs) A highly trained grave detection dog is the gold standard. Usually, the first technology to be deployed due to the unmatched sensitivity of the canine olfactory detection system. Must be used in conjunction with additional confirmatory technologies.
Resonance Frequency - Bone/tissue produces a unique resonant frequency which can be detected and utilized in narrowing down the search area for human remains.
Forensic Botany - In some situations, nutrients released from the decompositional process will allow for the growth and proliferation of unusual or unique flora. This should be used in conjunction with soil chemistry to assist in pinpointing the search area.
Major Instrumentation:
- Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer
- Hyperspectral imagery
- Thermal imagery
- Inductively coupled argon plasma spectroscopy (ICAP)
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Ion chromatography (IC)
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
- Side scanning/Down Imaging Sonar (for water searches)
The scientists, searchers and volunteer staff members of FAST are dedicated to helping find the loved ones of people who suffer due to lack of closure. We use science in combination with tried and true methods such as a good grave detection dog. We work as a team to solve the crime and bring closure. It’s what we do.
For Case submission and consideration, please call 941-548-7560 or email [email protected]. We will need the Case number, the Lead Agency and the Detective in charge of the case. All cases are reviewed by the PRSAR Board of Directors before any assets are deployed.
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