Effects of confinement in a vehicle trunk and arson on the progression and survivability of forensic entomological evidence

Forensic entomology is the application of insect development and successional patterns to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) of a dead body. Establishing the PMI estimation is paramount for efficient homicide investigations. This research investigates the effects of two under-studied factors in the area of forensic entomology. First, the effects of confinement in a vehicle trunk were analyzed to determine if the species composition and progression of insect development differs versus bodies left exposed to the environment. Second, the vehicles were burned after insect colonization and progression had occurred to assess whether enough viable entomological evidence remained for an accurate PMI estimation. Oviposition was delayed for corpses in the trunk, though decomposition and insect development was accelerated. Pronounced differences in species composition were observed. Following the controlled burn, sufficient entomological evidence remained to estimate PMI. This research advances the current understanding of PMI estimation in relevant homicide circumstances.