Crime Scene Intelligence. An Experiment in Forensic Entomology
Abstract
Forensic entomology is the study of how insects consume decomposing human remains and can aid medical/legal investigations. Common questions answered include time since death, movement of a body from one location to another, location of traumatic wound sites, identification of toxicological deaths, and location of drug trafficking. However, forensic entomology has not been commonly utilized by the Intelligence Community (IC). Carrion insects, in particular blowflies, may be a valuable tool for analysts and investigators dealing with international crimes in the area of homicide, suicide, and untimely deaths from terrorist bombings. This is made possible due to blowfly larvae feeding on postmortem human tissue, tissue which may have been exposed to the chemical residues from a detonated IED. Past entomological studies which would back up this theory of transferability through larvae have involved human DNA and drug uptake in blowfly larvae. The significance of this finding is that if human DNA can be passed to fly larvae via feeding, it is plausible that explosive residues can be absorbed by fly larvae. The relevance of such information would allow IC analysts and operators to detect and identify compounds in terrorist bombings when other means of identification are not available. These forensic determinations are possible, but only if entomological evidence is recognized, properly collected, and sent to a professional entomological laboratory for analysis by a qualified forensic entomologist. Intelligence and law enforcement officers must become fully aware of the complex processes associated with the decay process and the important role that insects play. Investigators must understand the need for specimen collection and recording of other pertinent field data. If the proper steps are followed, it is possible for insects to reveal silently the information we need to solve some international crimes, including terrorist-related bombings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA476638
Entities
People
- Albert M. Cruz
Organizations
- National Intelligence University