Body identification is the process of determining the identity of a deceased person, which can be simple or complex. It is important for forensic purposes and closure for families. Identification can be done through witnesses, distinguishing features, dental records, and DNA testing. In some cases, forensic techniques are needed to identify the body.
Body identification is the process of determining the name and details of a deceased person. This can be simple or complex, depending on the circumstances and condition of the body. It is sometimes needed for forensic purposes, where investigations can determine if crimes have occurred and if someone can be prosecuted for them. Families also rely on body identification for closure, to definitively determine if a loved one is dead. It is not possible in all cases.
The simplest form of body identification can occur when someone dies with witnesses present who can quickly identify the deceased. When someone dies in a hospital, for example, the hospital can generate documents to use in identifying the body. Other easy identifications can occur when a body is fresh and family friends can identify it based on distinguishing features.
This activity has been immortalized in a number of crime dramas, where an obligatory scene of identification can be inserted throughout the story. People may be asked to conclusively identify someone after a homicide or unattended death, where officials want to be absolutely sure who died. Supporting documentation such as dental records, driver’s licenses, and similar materials can be used to match the body to the person and confirm identity for legal purposes.
Sometimes it is not possible to identify a recent body with most of the identifying features intact. In this situation, a coroner can conduct a thorough investigation to document information about the case and can keep this information on file. The body can be buried or cremated, but the file remains available. If a report or request comes in from a missing person investigator, the examiner may be able to review the case and identify the body. Genetic evidence is commonly stored in the form of hair or blood samples to allow the body to be compared to a known sample in the future.
In other cases, a body is too badly damaged for positive identification by visual means. This can occur in the event of fire and serious injury or when only skeletal remains are available. Forensic techniques can be applied to identifying the body in these cases. These cases begin with the development of a profile, as a white woman in her 30s, and can be narrowed down to match the identity to any missing person. Some bodies also carry clues such as occupational markers, distinctive wear marks on the bones associated with activities such as being an athlete or a waitress, which can help narrow down identification.
The specific medical records in these cases can help an examiner confirm an identity. Dental records, skeletal radiographs, and medical history may be helpful; for example, someone may have had a distinctive fracture in childhood that would still be visible on the bone. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test can also be used to match unknown remains with a sample from a missing person or family member.
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