Decomposition
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There are five stages of decomposition, namely fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay, and skeletal stage. These stages…
Marbling is a common finding usually found after at least 24 h since death occurred and is a…
Italy. The victim was a 56-year-old woman whose body was found by the rescue team to be in…
Decomposition of a corpse is a continual process that can take from weeks to years, depending on the…
Body in stages of black putrefaction. Black putrefaction is the stage where the exposed flesh blackens, and the…
The body of a 35-year-old woman was recovered from the bank of a swamp in the southeastern United…
Adipocere, also known as corpse wax, grave wax or mortuary wax, is a wax-like organic substance formed by…
Inspection of teeth in a skeletonized corpse. The teeth and dental restorations are the strongest elements in the…
Adipocere formation occurs by alteration of subcutaneous fat of a corpse into a grey-white lipid mixture. With time,…
Toronto, Canada. Body is bloated with increased internal gases heightened during mid-stages of putrifaction. Note the bagging of…
If a body is placed in water containing a large amount of bacteria, such as that from sewage…
Spain. Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin…
Advanced decomposition is characterized by an extremely bloated, greasy, and darkened body. This is the decomposed body of…
Although putrefaction is a mainly anaerobic bacterial reduction process, decomposition is dominated by aerobic microbiological processes that may…
Maggots are the larval form of flies. Flies lay their eggs in small and sometimes large bulky clusters…
The body of a man was seen floating in a lake near the shore. Once the body was…
This image is an example of how clothing can slow down the decomposition process. Note that the skin…
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
Maggots cause most of the body's decomposition because the maggot will do the majority of the eating. Maggots…
India. This body was found in a pond, no further info. Associated with putrefaction is the production of…
An example of a body demonstrating relatively advanced decomposition, with bloating, skin discoloration, and abundant purge fluid. The…
Nassau County, New York. Skeletal remains of a body found outdoors. No further info. Skeletonization is the state…
Lehigh Acres, Florida, US, 2002. A 63-year-old woman lived with her 34-year-old son in a residential neighborhood in…
This individual died and his body was scavenged by animals, no further info. The phenomenon of postmortem animal…
Germany. This individual was murdered and the body then dumped in a river. A stab wound was noted…
This woman’s face was eaten by the family dog postmortem, which increased putrefactive changes to the internal components…
Brain tissue that has undergone pulp-like transformation (burial time, 7 weeks). In the case of a naturally mummified…
Bloating of face and effusion of blood-tinged fluid from the nostrils and mouth. A body recovered from water,…
In this case, police and scene investigators were suspicious that this individual was killed by blunt force injuries…
The body of this woman had been in the water for approximately one week. Notice the effects of…
Associated with putrefaction is the production of gases. These gases, primarily located in the abdomen, cause the body…
On 11 July 2017, the dead body of a 39-year-old man was found in his apartment in a…
Here we see an extensive whitish-gray fungal colonization on a corpse's face following a burial time of 7…
The body of this decomposed individual was pulled from the sea. The loss of tissue around eyes and…
Postmortem protrusion of the tongue due to putrefactive gas formation and purging of putrefactive fluid from the nostrils.…
Maggots are the larval form of flies. Flies lay their eggs in small and sometimes large bulky clusters…
San Rafael del Yuma, Dominican Republic - 2019. Janel Aquiles Cedano de León, a 35 year old teacher…
A 71-year-old man was found dead in his locked apartment in a prone position on the floor of…
This individual was found in a state of advanced decay, he had committed suicide by hanging. No further…
Skeletonization is the removal of tissues from the skeleton or bones. It may be complete where all soft…
Madrid, Spain. Corpse of a 48-year-old woman, found in the bathroom in her home address, in a bathtub…
2005 - Italy. A young man was found dead in the garage of his house. Extremely poor hygiene…
Maggots cause most of the body's decomposition because the maggot will do the majority of the eating. Maggots…
2001 - Ventura County, California. The decomposed body of an elderly male was found floating in the ocean…
Nassau County, New York. The body of a homicide victim recovered from the waters with the hands still…
These remains were found in a ditch along a gravel road, at the edge of a National Forest.…
Clothing on a drowning victim will alter the buoyancy and the progression of decomposition. It may also be…
Maggots cause most of the body's decomposition because the maggot will do the majority of the eating. Maggots…
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Body in stages of black putrefaction apparent in extensive mottling, the draining of purge fluid,…
This body was exhumed 5 years after death. Decompositional changes (putrefaction, mummification, and adipocere formation) are fueled by…
This individual was found dead in water. Postmortem activity by eels were discovered on the body. Such injuries…
Many times it is difficult to make a physical identification of the victim’s bloated body recovered from the…
A young man in Brazil was found hanged and decomposed in the forest, he had been missing for…
Spain. Mummified body of a woman preserving her facial features, weighing 13 kilos. Mummification occurs in hot, dry…
In Sri Lanka, a 76-year-old female was found dead in her house lying supine on the bed and…
Decomposition of the gastrointestinal tract results in a dark, foul-smelling liquid called "purge fluid" that is forced out…
Spain. This individual committed suicide by hanging, with possible change of mind and attempt to remove the ligature,…
Maggots cause most of the body's decomposition because the maggot will do the majority of the eating. Maggots…
This decomposed man was found in the prone position, having collapsed to the ground face first near his…
Post-mortem decomposition showing varying degrees of putrefactive changes in the face, trunk and extremities. The image shows the…
Maggots are the larval form of flies. Flies lay their eggs in small and sometimes large bulky clusters…
Spain. Mummified body with cobwebs in the oral cavity. No further info. Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments.…
The body of this male had been in the water for approximately one week. Notice the effects of…
Cadaver decomposition island is the area of concentrated decomposition fluid surrounding decomposing remains. Associated with active decomposition is…
Associated with putrefaction is the production of gases. These gases, primarily located in the abdomen, cause the body…
The first type of insect to arrive at a dead body is usually a blowfly (Calliphoridae), attracted by…
Decomposition, or putrefaction, is a combination of two processes: autolysis and bacterial action. Autolysis is the breakdown of…
Moderate to marked putrefaction. Identification may sometimes be challenging with advancing decomposition. This individual had a tattoo on…
Decomposition of the entire body, including discoloration, skin slippage, bloating, mummification of lower arms, legs, and thighs, and…
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
C.a. 1995. This individual died during autoerotic activity, it is possible the individual was inhaling some chemical inside…
This body was recovered after fourteen days in a well-heated residence. The necks of the teeth display ‘pink’…
Swelling of the scrotum and abdomen occurs with putrefaction as gases accumulate from bacterial action. Numerous maggots can…
Bodies removed from water show excessive gas production and tissue discoloration, owing to explosive bacterial gas production. The…
Australia. This elderly woman was located in a state of advanced decomposition. Because of decomposition the body was…
Decomposed sclera showing hemorrhagic discoloration of the whites of the eyes. This is sometimes misinterpreted as true injury.…
In this case, police and scene investigators were suspicious that this individual was killed by blunt force injuries…
Decomposition studies have elucidated many different factors affecting the rate and process of decomposition. However, no study has…
Badly decomposed bodies like the one shown here are typically not visually identifiable. I have no further info…
August 2016 - Italy. The police was called to a villa, following the reporting by neighbors of malodorous…
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
From the very little info I found, this happened in 2015 in Saudi Arabia, this guy had been…
This individual who was an alcoholic was found dead, and in the bloating stage of decomposition. The t-shirt…
The decomposing body of a woman was discovered in a bathroom in Indonesia, no further info. Putrefaction begins…
This old man died and was then partially consumed by some mice, no further info. Postmortem animal interference…
Note the bulging face with protrusion of the tongue on these decomposing individuals, all related to the decomposition…
Australia. This elderly male individual was significantly decomposed and not visually identifiable. Postmortem CT showed a metal orthopedic…
This individual received the injuries postmortem by rats, cause of death unknown. No further info on the case.…
Chicago, Illinois. This photo illustrates decomposition, skin slippage, lividity, and marbling. No further info. Skin slippage is something…
Decomposition: extreme tissue discoloration and gas formation in a body removed from water. Bodies removed from water show…
Forensic entomology is the study of insects as they relate to death investigation. For example, fly larvae can…
This individual was found in the Northern Adriatic Sea, near Italy. No further info. Many times it is…
Woman’s body lying face down in a bathtub in an advanced state of decomposition and with no apparent…
Chicago, Illinois. This victim was inhaling an unknown chemical substance while practicing autoerotic activities. He was wearing a…
This individual shown here had been dead approximately two weeks in an unheated, unventilated room. Note the extreme…
A 52-year-old man was found dead, already putrefied, in his apartment. He wore women’s underwear with a female…
The corpse of this individual was found in his apartment, the deceased is partially clothed and partially covered.…
This individual died from natural causes while taking a bath. Dark-yellow and brown discoloration can be seen due…
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
Skeletonization is the total or partial loss of soft tissue (complete or incomplete skeletonization, respectively) with resultant exposure…
Marked putrefactive change with dark brown discoloration and maggot feeding. Note the small circular perforations caused by maggots…
This individual was found in the Northern Adriatic Sea, near Italy. No further info. Many times it is…
March 18, 2003 - Bonn, Germany. A lethal occupational accident occurred at the Bonn Salierweg sewage treatment plant…
This decomposing individual died of natural causes while sitting in a warm tub. Note the bloating from putrefactive…
Note the bulging eyes and face on this decomposing individual, all related to the decomposition process. No further…
This individual was found mummified in a locked room 10 weeks after death. The corpse is dry and…
In mid-November 2010 a hunter walking on the Po river bank near Parma (Emilia-Romagna Region, in the north-east…
Brazil. A 38-year-old man was found dead in his house, already in a state of decomposition, with no…
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on these decomposing individuals, all related…
Australia. This middle aged male individual was located at home in an advanced state of decomposition. Postmortem CT…
Figs.1-2 Advanced skeletonization of the skull after 1 week of lying on the ground in the woods in…
The decomposition of the gastrointestinal tract results in a dark, foul-smelling liquid called "purge fluid" that is forced…
Although putrefaction is a mainly anaerobic bacterial reduction process, decomposition is dominated by aerobic microbiological processes that may…
Moderately early changes of decomposition, showing gaseous distension of the breasts and abdomen. Skin slippage, marbling, and blistering…
This individual was found in a state of decomposition inside plastic bags buried in soil. No further info…
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
This is the body of a 74-year-old woman who died while taking a hot bath, she was found…
Drowning victim in Australia showing evidence of prolonged immersion, focal skeletonization, and evidence of postmortem marine feeding activity.…
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
Skeletonization is the total or partial loss of soft tissue (complete or incomplete skeletonization, respectively) with resultant exposure…
This body was found floating in the Hudson River just to the west of Manhattan. The missing hands…
Skeletonization is the state of a dead organism after undergoing decomposition. Skeletonization refers to the final stage of…
New York. Note the bloating and peeling of skin. This body was indoors with the windows closed and…
