A scream from the past: a multidisciplinary approach in a concealment of a corpse found mummified

Abstract

When a mummified body is found, it requires the forensic pathologist to determine the manner and cause of death. The mummified body of an older man was found walled in an alcove in a silicon-sealed bedroom, in a semi-supine position with the back on the floor and the legs on the wall. Two plastic bags covered the body. Having removed the plastic bags, the body was fully wrapped in a brown adhesive tape. At the scene, there was no evidence of microfauna. The subject's son stated that after his father's death, he concealed the corpse in order to obtain his annual pension. A postmortem CT scan was performed before the autopsy, which excluded traumatic injuries. The autopsy together with the toxicological and microscopic findings helped us to understand the manner of death. In this case, the mummification process developed under specific environmental conditions and a multidisciplinary approach was required in order to solve it.

Keywords: Concealment; Forensic science; Manner of death; Multidisciplinary approach; Mummification; PMCT.