Forensic experts give up-to-date instruction on death investigations

WATERVILLE — The body of a 21-year-old woman was found in deep woods. There were no apparent signs of a struggle, no visible wounds. She was lying on her back, shoeless and shirtless. An autopsy revealed that her leg had been broken and her lungs incredibly lacerated. There were no other obvious injuries. How did this young woman die?

This type of scenario faces physicians and medical examiners regularly. Often called “detectives of death,” it is up to them to take clues at the scene and the information that a body can provide and determine what happened, to give a victim’s family a cause of death.

They often are called on to testify in criminal cases, their investigations revealing information that proves foul play or murder. To keep themselves abreast of new developments in their field, forensic experts, physicians, coroners and pathologists gathered at Colby College this week for the 17th annual seminar in forensic science.

The program was intended to provide up-to-date instruction for death investigators. The theme for this year’s seminar focused on the changing environment, political and economic, and its impact on death investigation. The seminar provided information to allow coroners and medical examiners to learn to be effective and cost-efficient.

The director for the seminar was Dr. Eleanor N. McQuillen, a forensic pathologist from Shelburne, Vt. Dr. Michael Baden, executive director of the Forensic Sciences Consulation Unit of the New York State Police, was the moderator. Guest faculty included Dr. Henry Ryan, chief medical examiner for the State of Maine; Dr. Robert Goode, chief medical examiner for the State of New Jersey; Dr. George Katsas, forensic pathologist for the State of Massachusetts; Dr. Ulrich Jacobsohn, Department of Mental Retardation, Augusta; Dr. Joseph Rupp, chief medical examiner, Nueces County, Texas; and Dr. James B. McQuillen, forensic neuropathologist, Shelburne, Vt.

Some of the topics covered in the accredited five-day course included: Natural Causes — Whose Responsibility?; Quality Death Investigation and Cost Efficiency; Changing Times; Death in the ER; Suicide Criteria; Suicide Masquerades; Certification and Reporting of Deaths Due to Road Trauma; Is An Autopsy Necessary?; and Interesting Cases: Death in the Country — Death in the City. The Maine Medical Examiners business meeting was conducted during the course.

Dr. Ryan, Maine’s chief medical examiner, conducted the Death in the Country session, pointing out the unique problems that arise when a death occurs out of doors or in a remote location. Using a great deal of humor to balance the seriousness of the topic, Ryan pointed out that rural deaths are more likely to be “a question of frequency. At rural outdoor scenes you are more likely to see more drownings, more hunting and farming accidents, and more people hit by lightning. The vast majority of Maine pedestrians struck by vehicles are struck while lying prone on the roadway,” he said.

Ryan spoke about the importance of the death scene and how this scene can be enormous in rural locations. He recalled roping off a 1 1/4-mile crime scene once. “There seems to be less care by first responders at outdoor scenes,” he said.

Ryan narrated a slide show of unusual rural settings that showed death sites and the discoveries of bodies. He explained how each site was discovered and processed and the importance of using metal detectors.

The seminar ended Thursday with a session regarding “Dealing With Media With Grace” and a review of cases discussed.

Colby College sheduled 16 summer medical programs this season, ranging from allergy and asthma to child abuse, orthopaedics and surgical techniques. Many Colby medical programs are planned in cooperation with Mid-Maine Medical Center.

P.S. The woman found in the woods had cocaine in her bloodstream. It was deduced that she had taken off her shirt and shoes, climbed 50 feet up a pine tree and either fell or attempted to fly. Soft spring ground cushioned her fall and prevented severe damage, except to her lungs, which caused her death.