J Forensic Sci. 2026 Mar 29. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.70316. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Postmortem decomposition changes of bodies in aquatic environments may offer valuable insights into the postmortem submergence interval (PMSI) for medicolegal death investigators. However, the effects of immersion on the onset of such changes are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to augment what is known about the statistical relationship between PMSI and observable decomposition changes across three body regions (head, torso, and limbs) and to quantify the influence of extrinsic (e.g., clothing, immersion, location, and body position) and intrinsic (e.g., height, weight, BMI) moderating covariates for bodies in aqueous anthropogenically constructed environments. This study retrospectively examined 79 deceased adults recovered from pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, and spas between January 2010 and December 2019 in Victoria, Australia. Mean estimated PMSI was 18.33 h (SE = 3.83), and bivariate t-tests and ANOVA showed that PMSI was significantly related to gaseous distension of the face and torso, discoloration of the skin, marbling, skin sloughing, and discoloration of the torso and limbs. Univariate GLM (two-way factorial ANOVA) results showed that each moderating factor had a unique profile of influence on the various relationships between PMSI and the decomposition change being evaluated. Multiple linear regression modeling demonstrated the importance of including only specific moderators in estimations of PMSI. One model predicted nearly two-thirds of the variance in PMSI (adjusted R2 = 0.656, SE of estimates = 18.150), but more cases involving lengthier submergence intervals are needed to understand with greater confidence the onset of advanced decomposition changes in such aqueous settings.
PMID:41906193 | DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.70316
