Dead Bodies

Imagine the scenario – a missing person, a distressed family. Limited information leads the investigation to a big remote area of land where a body may have been buried: a clandestine grave. Methods used to detect these graves include aerial photography, ground penetrating radar, odour analysis and victim remains detection dogs. Now there are new techniques in the Police tool kit: the chemical analyses of soil and water for the location of a buried body. These techniques may speed-up the investigation and save public money, aid the Criminal Justice system and help families of missing persons.

It is critical that murder victims are found, not only for communities to see that justice is served, but also for the family to have some closure. Most victims are quickly found using standard policing methods, but some are more difficult, which is where forensic geoscience can come in. Different detection techniques can and are used, as every case is unique.