A body has been pulled from the Spokane River and was unable to be identified as a male or female. How is this possible? Why can't investigators look at the sex organs to determine the gender?
2007-06-28 19:54:20 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
There are two possibilities here. One, just as others have said bodies decompose and/or get eaten by fish or other animals so it is very possible that the state of the body was such that there were no obviousl sex organs, it could be a very decomposed body that is not much more than a skeleton.
The other possibility here is that the investigators on scene know what the sex of the deceased is or atleast have a pretty good idea but they do not want to release that information at this time until they know for certain. Often times investigators on scene can have a pretty good idea about the age, sex, and manner of death but certainly do not want to release that information until it is confirmed by a more thorough investigation and autopsy.
2007-06-28 20:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by CountyMounty 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The body may be do badly bloated and decomposed, infested with insects, or scavanged by fish and other animals that the outward genetalia are not longer recognizeable or even on the body.
If the body in that condition, it can be turned over to a forensic anthropologist (after the autopsy is completed, if there is one) that can most likely will be able to tell the sex, race and probable age of the victim (the only time they cannot conclusively determine the sex is generally in very young children and babies). In order to do this, all remaining flesh has to be removed from the bones and they are boiled in a detergent solution to accomplish this.
If the skull is intact, it can also be turned over to forensic odontologist that could compare to a list of missing persons to see if there are any possible matches (provided dental records are available on the missing person).
2007-06-29 05:41:14 · answer #2 · answered by bottleblondemama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not so uncommon, depending if the body has been in the water for a while. Decomposition could be a factor, but it was most likely the river inhabitants. Fish and other marine life tend to go for the soft parts first; eyes, lips, ears, etc. It could also be possible that the body was mutilated before being placed in the water.
2007-06-29 03:02:30 · answer #3 · answered by Brian C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how long it was in the water there is a certain amount of decomposition that happens.
Also, being in the water there are fish, scavenger birds and other meat eaters that will eat flesh away.
That's when an autopsy looking at bone structure will determine the sex of the body.
2007-06-29 02:58:38 · answer #4 · answered by Saishoku 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe this was put on the news on initial finding. "CSIs" don't cut open bodies on scene so the news media has more to report.
Give the ME some time to do an autopsy. They know the sex based on bone structure and some other non-DNA things.
2007-06-29 03:10:17 · answer #5 · answered by California Street Cop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was obviously in a state of advanced decomposition and the "parts" were missing. Sounds to me that it was mostly skeletal for them to not be able to determine sex, or they are unwilling to say at this point.
2007-06-29 03:02:36 · answer #6 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably both of the "private parts" rotted away or were eaten, maybe even flies and maggots could of infested because the womans' part is "soft muscle tissue".
2007-06-29 03:01:29 · answer #7 · answered by Adam 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe there gone??? but they should be able to tell from the bones male and female bones are different and DNA testing will tell for sure
2007-06-29 02:58:04 · answer #8 · answered by bethpihlaja 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fish gotta eat too.
2007-06-29 02:58:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe the body had clothes on.
2007-06-29 03:43:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋