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Advanced adipocere formation after 2.5 years in a grave. Exhumation due to exclusion of an accidental death (fall) in a bathtub. The rate of decay of bodies buried in earth is much slower than of those in either air or water. In fact the process of putrefaction may be arrested to a remarkable degree in certain conditions, allowing exhumations several years later to be of considerable value. In this respect the prospect of an exhumation should never be dismissed on the grounds that because of the lapse of time, it is bound to be worthless. It may turn out to be of little value, but this cannot be anticipated, and not infrequently the condition of the body may be surprisingly good.

Fig.1 Advanced adipocere formation after 2.5 years in a grave.

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