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FIRST 48: Desert Bones/Party's Over
About The Programme
Detectives Dillian and Jewell join forensic anthropologist Laura Fulginiti to determine the identity of a female skeleton found in the desert.
Also, the shooting of a teenager at a high-school party puts Detectives Rodriguez and Kulesa on the trail of a shooter wearing a ski mask.
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the examination of skeletal remains. This examination can be used to first determine if the remains are in fact human. Then the forensic anthropologist can determine the gender, approximate age, physical stature, and likely racial affiliation of the person in life.
The examination can also yield approximate time since death, likely cause of death and any identifying illnesses or wounds suffered in life that could leave traces in the bone structure. This information can then be used to help identify the remains.
Forensic anthropology is a branch of the forensic sciences concerned with the application of anthropological knowledge and methods to the process of law. In the most typical scenario a law enforcement agency finds skeletal remains and asks a forensic anthropologist for help in identifying who the deceased individual is. There are many other applications of forensic anthropology as well, including identifying war dead and victims of human rights abuses, and recovery of buried evidence in general.
When the skeleton is first discovered, samples are taken from around the remains including any bugs you come across. Insects such as blowflies have a very distinct lifecycle and often plant their eggs on newly deceased bodies. By identifying the stage of the lifecycle, a near-exact time of death can be established. This science is known as forensic entomology.
A forensic anthropologist needs to have a strong stomach as they deal with the sights, smells, and impact of death. This work is not for the faint hearted - rotten smells, decomposing flesh, maggots, and body fluids are everyday occurrences.
Early Beginnings
World War II and the Korean War further helped develop a database of information that became the basis of identification used by anthropologists today. It all started with the task of identifying dead soldiers.
As all soldiers had thorough health records taken before they were shipped off to war — records that included age, height, illness history and dental records — researchers were able to discover the names of soldiers, and develop a database of bone and skull statistics.
Bones offer amazing clues to the trained eye. A trained forensic anthropologist, using techniques favoured by archaeologists, can identify gender, ethnicity, age, illness, pregnancies and even possible careers.
Craniosacral measurements (skull measurements) have been established for all ages and race groups, which allow forensic anthropologists to establish a better picture of the deceased. The skull features unique racial identifiers such as the length of jaw and the distance between eye sockets.
The bones also hold clues to what work the person did. Bony ridges form where the muscles attach and have pulled over the years. A forensic anthropologist might find a bony ridge on the wrist and decide the decedent may have been someone who used their hands for a living, such as a chef or seamstress.
Anthropological Research Facility
The Research Facility, begun in 1972 by Dr. William M. Bass, provides an ideal setting to scientifically document post-mortem change. This outdoor field laboratory enables the investigation of parameters which are crucial in time since death estimates. Donated remains make this research possible and simultaneously provide a modern teaching collection.
Presently, this demographically-rich collection consists of almost 400 skeletons. These individuals are essential for providing education and training in forensic anthropology and skeletal biology for students and law enforcement agencies. They are also invaluable for updating demographic and biological standards.