2002 How high do flies fly - Forensic Entomology in Suburbia

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Quelle: International Academy of Forensic Sciences (IAFS), Meeting in Montpellier, France, OC269

Meeting of the IAFS

HOW HIGH DO FLIES FLY? FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY IN SUBURBIA

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VON M. BENECKE

Objectives: Determination of flight height, and species of blow flies attracted to decaying flesh in a 20+ storey suburban apartment complex in Cologne.

Nature of the study: Police case report vs. on-site experimentation.

Materials and methods: A case report made by police officers (no homicide detectives) who directly responded to n notification call concerning a dead body in an apartment in suburban Cologne (Germany) is compared to experiments carried out in the same apartment complex using liver as a bait. The police officers had reported that no blow flies or larvae were found on a corpse during a warm summer season (August 2001). The now dead person was last seen ca. 4 weeks before the police was called. The body was found naked in a bathroom in the 20th floor. It was mummified to one part, and in greenish discoloration to the other part. The entrance door of the apartment was tightly closed. However, a door to a balcony was open, and was said to having been open as the police entered the flat. Therefore, the Crime Response Unit asked for a comment on the unusual non-presence of blow flies. Due to the number of storeys of the apartment building, it was suggested that flies might not reach the 20th floor under the conditions given in the suburban environment. We used liver baits to determine if blow flies can or cannot reach this hight in the given surroundings, and/or which height they actually reach. We were also interested in the question what species could be found in the highly contrasting habitat where the case took place: an untidy suburban apartment complex surrounded by fields, and rural structures, bordering to a large city.

Statistical analysis: Straight observation and counting, SD.

Results: Species list, flight height, scientific check of police report, relevance to determination of post mortem interval.

Conclusion: In progress.


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Dr. rer. medic. Mark Benecke · Diplombiologe (verliehen in Deutschland) · Öffentlich bestellter und vereidigter Sachverständiger für kriminaltechnische Sicherung, Untersuchung u. Auswertung von biologischen Spuren (IHK Köln) · Landsberg-Str. 16, 50678 Köln, Deutschland, E-Mail: forensic@benecke.com · www.benecke.com · Umsatzsteueridentifikationsnummer: ID: DE212749258 · Aufsichtsbehörde: Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Köln, Unter Sachsenhausen 10-26, 50667 Köln, Deutschland · Fallbearbeitung und Termine nur auf echtem Papier. Absprachen per E-mail sind nur vorläufige Gedanken und nicht bindend. 🗺 Dr. Mark Benecke, M. Sc., Ph.D. · Certified & Sworn In Forensic Biologist · International Forensic Research & Consulting · Postfach 250411 · 50520 Cologne · Germany · Text SMS in criminalistic emergencies (never call me): +49.171.177.1273 · Anonymous calls & suppressed numbers will never be answered. · Dies ist eine Notfall-Nummer für SMS in aktuellen, kriminalistischen Notfällen). · Rufen Sie niemals an. · If it is not an actual emergency, send an e-mail. · If it is an actual emergency, send a text message (SMS) · Never call. · Facebook Fan Site · Benecke Homepage · Instagram Fan Page · Datenschutz-Erklärung · Impressum · Archive Page · Kein Kontakt über soziale Netzwerke. · Never contact me via social networks since I never read messages & comments there.