The Challenge of Identifying Commingled Skeletal Remains via CT Imaging and Morphometric Analysis

Human skeletal remains were discovered at a construction site in lower Manhattan. Officially determined that the post‐cranial material was not of medicolegal significance, our team undertook an anatomically driven forensic evaluation of the remains. Post‐cranial isolated bony elements were identified (n = 52), digitally photodocumented, morphometrically assessed and CT scanned for graphical examination. Post‐cranial commingled remains consisted mostly of lower limb bones from at least 3 distinct individuals based on three left cuboid bones found. 31 foot bones were measured and classified using bony landmarks. Comparison to homologous bones of known stature individuals was used to approximate the size differences found among the unknown sample. Maximum a‐p lengths of the three left cuboids measured 44.5, 35.8 and 35.6 mm while the two left calcaneal bones measured 89.2 and 77.5 mm. Size difference was used to group the tarsal bones to either the larger or two smaller individuals. CT imaging of adult femurs revealed their intensity of femoral curvature to fall within the Caucasian spectrum while overall rugosity of the larger bones indicated that the larger individual was male. A combination of CT, comparative and morphometric assessment was the key to overcoming the challenge of cataloging and identifying commingled skeletal remains, and may be the ideal approach for similar future forensic investigations. Grant Funding Source None