Crime Scene Forensics--Determining the Location of a Missing Corpse

Suppose a person has been missing for quite some time and the boyfriend is the prime suspect as in the 1996 Cincinnati, Ohio case in which Vincent Doan was suspected of killing his girlfriend, Carrie Culberson. He committed the crime of murder and got rid of the body with no trace whatsoever. He must be thinking, "no body, no crime, right?"

In the case of a missing person, crime scene investigators (CSI's) employ a few time-tested methods for discovering the location of a missing person.

When searching for a missing person, forensic investigators use any and all evidence to eliminate a wide range of possibilities and focus in on pertinent information. For instance, a witness may have seen the suspect's truck or found the victim's handkerchief in a remote area, pointing the investigation in a particular direction.

Crime scene investigators use a slew of low- and high-tech methods when embarking on the search of a missing individual. They include the following:

• Looking downhill--Suppose that a body is believed to be interred near a remote stretch of road where the land falls away on either side. Investigators could begin their search downhill because physics dictates carrying a heavy object such as a body downhill is much easier on the offender's shoulders than carrying it uphill.
• Noting variations in the terrain--Freshly disturbed dirt, trenches, and elevations or depressions in the terrain can be a good indication. Fresh gravesites, in general, are elevated above the surrounding area, whereas, older ones are depressed due to the fact that as the body decays the skeletal remains will collapse from the weight of the dirt.
• Making use of tracking dogs--When dogs smell a sample of the victim's clothing, they may be able to follow a scent trail to the burial site.
• Variations in vegetation--Offenders usually disturb the soil conditions in areas where the grave is located. This could cause plants to grow on gravesites where plants usually do not grow.
• Making an aerial reconnaissance--Using thermal imaging from the air, freshly turned dirt appears colder when scanned as compared to densely, compacted dirt. Conversely, a decaying corpse gives off heat which may show up on a thermal imager
• Checking for byproducts of decaying corpses--If a body is suspected to be in a particular location, special machinery can be used to detect the sources of heat and the presence of nitrogen, both of which are byproducts of the decaying process.
• Checking for electrical conductivity--A decaying body adds moisture to the soil thereby increasing the soil's electrical conductivity. By inserting two metal electrodes into the soil and passing an electrical current between them, an increase in the current flow in this soil compared to soil in another location may indicate the presence of a decaying body.
• Making use of metal detectors--Using a metal detector can disclose the location of the victim's jewelry or bracelet.

As one can see, taking advantage of these scientific principles can lead forensic scientists and criminal investigators to the location of a missing person and bring the families of the victim one step closer to finding closure in the case of a missing loved one.

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Missing $15.65 Ruth Rendell-style suspense set in Stockholm, by Sweden''s Queen of Crime. *Felony & Mayhem arrived onto the mystery publishing scene in late 2005 with its successful US launch of British author Elizabeth Ironside. The publisher''s second international publishing coup will Karen Alvtegen''s U.S. debut of Missing for January of 2008. Missing is the first of a multi-book deal with Felony & Mayhem to establish Alvtgen in her rightful place in the US market. *Felony & Mayhem Publisher Maggie Topkis recently moderated a mystery panel at Scandinavia House hosted in concert with the Swedish embassy and attended by several hundred people. Topkis is making plans for an event with the Swedish embassy in support of Missing. Details of that event, of the publicity plan, and other marketing for Missing, will be coming soon. *U.S. debut for a writer who has been called Sweden''s Queen of Crime. *Winner of Scandinavia''s prestigious Glass Key (Glassnyckeln) award for Best Nordic Crime Novel of 2000.