Genetic Identification of Communist Crimes' Victims (1944-1956) Based on the Analysis of One of Many Mass Graves Discovered on the Powazki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland

Andrzej Ossowski; Marta Diepenbroek; Tomasz Kupiec; Milena Bykowska-Witowska; Grażyna Zielińska; Teresa Dembińska; Andrzej Ciechanowicz

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13205

Genetic Identification of Communist Crimes' Victims (1944-1956) Based on the Analysis of One of Many Mass Graves Discovered on the Powazki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland

J Forensic Sci. 2016 Nov;61(6):1450-1455. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13205. Epub 2016 Oct 7.

Authors

Andrzej Ossowski^{1

2}, Marta Diepenbroek^{1

2}, Tomasz Kupiec^{2

3}, Milena Bykowska-Witowska^{2

4}, Grażyna Zielińska^{1

2}, Teresa Dembińska⁵, Andrzej Ciechanowicz⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Genetics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
² The Polish Genetic Database of Totalitarianism Victims, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
³ Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow, Westerplatte Street 9, Kraków, Poland.
⁴ Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Stare Miasto 29, Warszawa, Poland.
⁵ Department of Forensic Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.
⁶ Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Molecular Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Street 72, Szczecin, Poland.

PMID: 27714814
DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13205

Abstract

As the result of the communist terror in Poland, during years 1944-1956 more than 50,000 people died. Their bodies were buried secretly, and most places are still unknown. The research presents the results of identification of people buried in one of many mass graves, which were found at the cemetery Powązki Military in Warsaw, Poland. Exhumation revealed the remains of eight people, among which seven were identified genetically. Well-preserved molars were used for the study. Reference material was collected from the closest living relatives. In one case, an exhumation of victim's parents had to be performed. DNA from swabs was extracted with a PrepFiler^® BTA Forensic DNA Extraction Kit and organic method. Autosomal, Y-STR amplification, and mtDNA sequencing were performed. The biostatistical calculations resulted in LR values from 1608 to 928 × 10¹⁸ . So far, remains of more than 50 victims were identified.

Keywords: DNA; DVI; HID; STR; Exhumation; communism; forensic science; victims of totalitarianism; war graves.

MeSH terms

Cemeteries*
Crime
Forensic Anthropology*
Military Personnel*
Poland