In the post-Daubert era, forensic science disciplines are increasingly informed by robust, statistically-sound experimental research. The educational value of the well-documented case study, however, remains as important as ever. Emphasizing known contextual information, this volume serves as a case-driven guide to skeletal trauma analysis through the unique perspective of each chapter's authors. Both forensic anthropologists and pathologists contribute skeletal trauma cases covering a range of topics including child abuse, blunt force trauma, descents from height, plane crashes, sharp force trauma and dismemberment, gunshot wounds, blast trauma, and burned body interpretation. Several chapters also include a discussion of potentially confounding taphonomic influences such as animal scavenging, water immersion, burning, and extended postmortem intervals. Detailed descriptions with multiple supporting images allow the practitioner's skeletal trauma interpretation to be compared to the "answer" as it pertains to the known circumstances surrounding the traumatic events of each case.

List of contributors xi1 Introduction 1Nicholas V. Passalacqua and Christopher W. RainwaterSkeletal trauma analysis: case studies in context 2References 62 Atypical gunshot and blunt force injuries: wounds along the biomechanical continuum 7Brian F. SpatolaIntroduction 7Background 8Gunshot trauma 10Blunt force trauma 11Biomechanical continuum 12Case 1: depressed fracture of inner table from historic gunshot contusion 14Case 2: depressed fracture from .32 caliber, short, Smith & Wesson projectile 15Case 3: penetrating depressed fracture from detached umbrella tip 17Case 4: depressed fracture from perforating blunt impact from edged metal foreign object 19Discussion 19Conclusion 23Acknowledgments 24Disclaimer 24References 243 Over-interpretation of bone injuries and implications for cause and manner of death 27João Pinheiro, Eugénia Cunha, and Steven SymesIntroduction 27The cases 29Scene context 33Autopsy and police investigation 35Discussion and conclusions 38Acknowledgments 40References 404 Skeletal injuries in cases of child abuse: two case studies from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences 42Jason M. Wiersema and Jennifer C. LoveIntroduction 42Case 1 43Case 2 50Conclusions 55References 555 Blunt force trauma patterns in the human skull and thorax: a case study from northern California 56Eric J. BartelinkIntroduction 56Case background 58Biological profile 58Antemortem trauma 59Perimortem trauma 61Trauma interpretation 66Case resolution 68Conclusions 69Acknowledgments 70References 706 Patterns of skeletal trauma inflicted during the Spanish Civil War 74Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Ciarán Brewster, Marina Martínez de Pinillos González, and José Miguel Carretero DíazIntroduction 74The Spanish Civil War 74Materials 76Examples of trauma from Monte Costaján 77Patterns of skeletal trauma 85Conclusions 88References 897 Shot and beaten to death? Suspected projectile and blunt force trauma in a case involving an extended period of postmortem water immersion 90Hugo F.V. Cardoso, Katerina S. Puentes, and Luís F.N. CoelhoIntroduction 90Case description 92Trauma analysis 94Discussion and conclusions 102Acknowledgments 106References 1068 Man's best friend: a case study of ballistics trauma and animal scavenging 108Gina HartIntroduction 108Bone biomechanics 108Case study 110References 1169 Skeletal evidence of violent sexual assault in remains with excessive evidence of scavenging 118Hugh E. Berryman and Tiffany B. SaulIntroduction 118Case history 118Analysis 119An additional finding 124Discussion 126Conclusions 128References 12910 Neurocranial fractures 130Jennifer C. LoveIntroduction 130Case 1 130Case 2 131Understanding neurocranial fracture patterns 136Experimental studies 139Computer modeling 141Case studies 144Conclusions 145References 14511 Blunt force trauma associated with a fall from heights 147MariaTeresa A. Tersigni-TarrantIntroduction 147Trauma analysis 149Summary 154Case outcome 154References 15512 Low-velocity impact trauma: an illustrative selection of cases from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command - Central Identification Laboratory 156Paul EmanovskyIntroduction 156Case 1 158Case 2 161Case 3 163Conclusions/takeaways 164References 16613 Blast trauma 167Angi M. Christensen and Victoria A. SmithIntroduction 167Blast traumas 167Experimental studies on skeletal blast trauma 169Differentiating blast trauma from other types of trauma 174Disclaimer 175References 17514 Case studies in skeletal blast trauma 177Nikki A. Willits, Joseph T. Hefner, and MariaTeresa Tersigni-TarrantIntroduction 177Case background 177Case reports 179Discussion 184Conclusions 187Disclaimer 187Acknowledgments 188References 18815 Burned human remains in a double homicide: a forensic case in Cyprus 189Popi Th. ChrysostomouIntroduction 189Case study overview 190Initial anthropological analysis 191Pattern analysis and injury mechanism 192Taking the next step: in search for the torso 199Discussion 201Acknowledgments 202References 20216 The utility of spatial analysis in the recognition of normal and abnormal patterns in burned human remains 204Christina L. Fojas, Luis L. Cabo, Nicholas V. Passalacqua, Christopher W. Rainwater, Katerina S. Puentes, and Steven A. SymesIntroduction 204Classifying the severity of fire modification 206Recognizing process signatures 207Methods 209Results 212Discussion 212Conclusions 218Acknowledgments 219References 21917 Three modes of dismemberment: disarticulation around the joints, transecting of bone via chopping, and transection of bone via sawing, 222Christopher W. RainwaterIntroduction, 222Modes of dismemberment, 224Case 1: Disarticulation around the joints, 225Case 2: transection via chopping, 231Case 3: transection via sawing, 239Conclusions, 244References, 24418 Kreischer Mansion homicide, 246Lauren Regucci and Bradley AdamsIntroduction, 246Case background/investigation, 246Homicide details, 248Search and recovery efforts - I, 250Search and recovery efforts - II, 252Initial findings/interpretation, 255Search and recovery efforts - III, 257Findings/interpretations, 259Trial and conviction, 263Disclaimer, 264References, 26519 Postmortem trauma and the "CSI Effect:" is television making smarter criminals? 266Elizabeth A. Murray and Anthony E. DwyerIntroduction 266The "CSI Effect" 266Criminal behavior and forensic anthropology 268The case 269Conclusions 285References 286Index 289