A Novel Protocol for the Forensic Investigation of Body Dismemberment: A Case Series and Report
Main Article Content
Abstract
The phenomenon of "criminal dismemberment" remains underexplored in the scientific literature, despite its significant relevance as a post-homicidal behavior. This study seeks to address this gap by proposing an innovative, multifactorial methodology for the analysis of dismemberment cases. The methodology is structured into several key phases essential to ensure the technical and scientific validity of the results, and it is aimed at facilitating the reconstruction process of injuries on dismembered cadaver sections to delineate criminodynamics, establish the post-mortem interval, and assess injury vitality.
Following an extensive review of existing literature, the study initially focused on Italian national cases relevant to the period 1923-2022, before expanding to include US case studies. The analysis reveals persistent gaps in both forensic pathology and legal practice, emphasizing the need for improved methodologies in criminal dismemberment investigations. This study provides essential guidelines for forensic practitioners and legal professionals, offering valuable insights into the characteristics of criminal dismemberment and the psychology of its perpetrators. By consolidating and applying these procedures, the study aims to enhance forensic and legal investigations, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of this rare but critical criminal behavior. The proposed protocol offers a scalable framework for complex homicide investigations, especially in cases lacking judicial access.
Article Details
How to Cite
POSA, F. et al.
A Novel Protocol for the Forensic Investigation of Body Dismemberment: A Case Series and Report.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 13, n. 7, july 2025.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6771>. Date accessed: 06 dec. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v13i7.6771.
Section
Research Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
1. Black SM, ed. Criminal Dismemberment: Forensic and Investigative Analysis. CRC Press; 2017. doi:10.1201/9781315373126
2. Maiese A, Scopetti M, Santurro A, et al. Corpse dismemberment: A case series. Solving the puzzle through an integrated multidisciplinary approach. J Forensic Leg Med. 2020;74:102005. doi:10.10 16/j.jflm.2020.102005
3. Tidrick M, Brucato G, Petreca V, Burgess AW, Stone MH. The insanity defense in cases of homicide involving post-mortem dismemberment. Forensic Science International: Mind and Law. 2020;1:100 033. doi:10.1016/j.fsiml.2020.100033
4. Porta D, Amadasi A, Cappella A, et al. Dismemberment and disarticulation: A forensic anthropological approach. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2016;38:50-57. doi:10.1016/j.jfl m.2015.11.016
5. Kamaluddin MR, Mahat NA, Mat Saat GA, et al. The Psychology of Murder Concealment Acts. IJERPH. 2021;18(6):3113. doi:10.3390/ijerph18063113
6. Kagan K. Maskowanie przestępstwa zabójstwa przez jego sprawcę. sil. 2019;27(4):19. doi:10.1795 1/sil.2018.27.4.19-38
7. Franco Posa, Jessica Leone, Valeria Rondinelli. Psychological Autopsy. A Possible Innovative Revision of the MAPI: Psychological Autopsy Structured on Individual Cases (PASIC). SS. 2021;11(5). doi:10.17 265/2159-5526/2021.05.004
8. Passalacqua NV, Rainwater CW, eds. Skeletal Trauma Analysis: Case Studies in Context. 1st ed. Wiley; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118384213
9. Brickley M, Ferllini R, eds. Forensic Anthropology: Case Studies from Europe. Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD; 2007.
10. Weiss SL, ed. Handbook of Forensic Photography. CRC Press; 2022.
11. Reid KM, Martin LJ, Heathfield LJ. Understanding the burden of unidentified bodies: a systematic review. Int J Legal Med. 2023;137(4):1193-1202. doi:10.1007/s00414-023-02968-5
12. Posa F, Leone J, Rondinelli V, Sclavi F, Posa M. Psychological Autopsy Structured on Individual Cases: Methodological Considerations for A New Protocol. MRAJ. 2023;11(3). doi:10.18103/mra.v11 i3.3719
13. Konopka T, Strona M, Bolechała F, Kunz J. Corpse dismemberment in the material collected by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Cracow, Poland. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2007;9(1):1-13. doi:10.10 16/j.legalmed.2006.08.008
14. Matzen J, Ondruschka B, Fitzek A, Püschel K, Jopp-van Well E. Dismemberment and Body Encasement-Case Report and an Empiric Study. Biology (Basel). 2022;11(2):328. doi:10.3390/biolo gy11020328
15. Knüsel CJ, Robb J. Funerary taphonomy: An overview of goals and methods. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 2016;10:655-673. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.05.031
16. Mata-Tutor P, Villoria-Rojas C, Benito-Sánchez M, Marquez-Grant N. Dismemberment as a Method of Body Disposal in Spanish Forensic Cases. Forensic Sciences. 2022;2(3):492-504. doi:10.3390/forensic sci2030036
17. Cunha E, Hale AR, Ross AH. Criminal Dismemberments. In: Dismemberments. Elsevier; 2019:1-6. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-811912-9.00001-0
18. Baldino G, Mondello C, Sapienza D, et al. Multidisciplinary Forensic Approach in “Complex” Bodies: Systematic Review and Procedural Proposal. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(2):310. doi:10.3390/di agnostics13020310
19. Dorland WAN, Neumann PE, Gest TR, Mejino JLV, eds. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 33rd edition. Elsevier Saunders; 2020.
20. Petreca VG, Burgess AW, Stone MH, Brucato G. Dismemberment and Mutilation: A Data‐Driven Exploration of Patterns, Motives, and Styles. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2020;65(3):888-896. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14274
21. Thomas Grant. Criminal Dismemberment Determining and Defining Commonly Available Cutting Implements and the Analysis of Kerf Morphology on Proxy Mediums. University of Dundee; 2018. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/28422717/THOMSON_Grant_PhD_Thesis_FINAL_VERSION_180911.pdf
22. Di Nunno N, Costantinides F, Vacca M, Di Nunno C. Dismemberment: A Review of the Literature and Description of 3 Cases. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology. 2006; 27(4):307-312. doi:10.1097/01.paf.0000188170.55 342.69
23. Amadasi A, Mazzarelli D, Oneto C, Cappella A, Gentilomo A, Cattaneo C. Dismemberment and Toolmark Analysis on Bone. In: Dismemberments. Elsevier; 2019:113-131. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-811912-9.00008-3
24. Chopin J, Beauregard E. Body dismemberment in sexual homicide cases: lust murder or rational decision? Psychology, Crime & Law. 2021;27(9):869-889. doi:10.1080/1068316X.2020.1863403
25. Hackman L, Black S. The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Cases of Dismemberment: Forensic and Investigative Analysis. In: ; 2017:113-134. doi:10.1201/9781315373126-10
26. Guggenheimer D, Caman S, Sturup J, Thiblin I, Zilg B. Criminal mutilation in Sweden from 1991 to 2017. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2021;66(5): 1788-1796. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14736
27. Hedlund J, Ahlner J, Kristiansson M, Sturup J. A population-based study on toxicological findings in Swedish homicide victims and offenders from 2007 to 2009. Forensic Science International. 2014;244: 25-29. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.07.015
28. Michael AR, Blatt SH, Isa M, Redgrave A, Ubelaker DH. Identification of a Decedent in a 103-Year-Old Homicide Case Using Forensic Anthropology and Genetic Genealogy. Forensic Sciences Research. 2022;7(3):412-426. doi:10.1080/20961790.2022.2 034717
29. Ploeg OHJ, Grace RC, Cording JR. An examination of body disposal patterns in sexual and non-sexual homicides. Police Practice and Research. 2025;26(3):251-275. doi:10.1080/15614263.2024.2 415448
30. Martin DL, Anderson CP, eds. Bioarchaeological and Forensic Perspectives on Violence: How Violent Death Is Interpreted from Skeletal Remains. 1st ed. Cambridge University Press; 2014. doi:10.1017/CB O9781107051409
31. Giulia Caccia. INTERAZIONE CORPO AMBIENTE: IL FIL ROUGE TRA ANALISI TAFONOMICHE E TRACCE IN CONTESTO FORENSE. 2021. https://air.unimi.it/handle/2434/929684
32. Esposito M, Sessa F, Cocimano G, Zuccarello P, Roccuzzo S, Salerno M. Advances in Technologies in Crime Scene Investigation. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(20):3169. doi:10.3390/diagnostics13203169
33. Barazzetti L, Sala R, Scaioni M, et al. 3D scanning and imaging for quick documentation of crime and accident scenes. In: Carapezza EM, ed. ; 2012:835910-835910-835914. doi:10.1117/12.920 728
34. Mundia L, Matzin R, Mahalle S, Hamid H, Osman R. Contributions of sociodemographic factors to criminal behavior. PRBM. Published online June 2016:147. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S95270
35. Kendler KS, Lönn SL, Maes HH, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. The etiologic role of genetic and environmental factors in criminal behavior as determined from full- and half-sibling pairs: an evaluation of the validity of the twin method. Psychol Med. 2015;45(9):1873-1880. doi:10.1017/S003329 1714002979
36. Evans DJ, Herbert DT, eds. The Geography of Crime. Routledge; 2014.
37. Agosto E, Ajmar A, Boccardo P, Giulio Tonolo F, Lingua A. Crime Scene Reconstruction Using a Fully Geomatic Approach. Sensors. 2008;8(10):62 80-6302. doi:10.3390/s8106280
38. Dey A, Rao PK, Rawtani D. Forensic Photography. In: Rawtani D, Hussain CM, eds. Modern Forensic Tools and Devices. 1st ed. Wiley; 2023:315-334. doi:10.1002/9781119763406.ch13
39. Gouse S, Karnam S, Girish H, Murgod S. Forensic photography: Prospect through the lens. J Forensic Dent Sci. 2018;10(1):2. doi:10.4103/jfo.j fds_2_16
40. Jeet Arora C, Mitchell J, Rafiq M, Shumack S. Clinical photography of skin lesions: Professional and legal considerations in primary care. Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(7):492-494. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-18-4803
41. Kruth JP, Bartscher M, Carmignato S, Schmitt R, De Chiffre L, Weckenmann A. Computed tomography for dimensional metrology. CIRP Annals. 2011;60(2):821-842. doi:10.1016/j.cirp.2011.05.006
42. Akbulut N, Çetin S, Bilecenoğlu B, et al. The micro-CT evaluation of enamel-cement thickness, abrasion, and mineral density in teeth in the postmortem interval (PMI): new parameters for the determination of PMI. Int J Legal Med. 2020;134 (2):645-653. doi:10.1007/s00414-019-02104-2
43. Sangwan A, Singh SP, Singh P, Gupta OP, Manas A, Gupta S. Role of molecular techniques in PMI estimation: An update. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2021;83:102251. doi:10.1016/j.jfl m.2021.102251
44. ENFSI-GUIDELINE-FOR-DNA-CONTAMINATION-MINIMIZATION-IN-DNA-LABORATORIES.pdf. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://enfsi.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ENFSI-GUIDELINE-FOR-DNA-CONTAMINATION-MINIMIZATION-IN-DNA-LABORATORIES.pdf
45. Isometsä ET. Psychological autopsy studies--a review. Eur Psychiatry. 2001;16(7):379-385. doi:10.10 16/s0924-9338(01)00594-6
46. Wilke-Schalhorst N, Schröder AS, Püschel K, Edler C. Criminal corpse dismemberment in Hamburg, Germany from 1959 to 2016. Forensic Sci Int. 2019; 300:145-150. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.038
2. Maiese A, Scopetti M, Santurro A, et al. Corpse dismemberment: A case series. Solving the puzzle through an integrated multidisciplinary approach. J Forensic Leg Med. 2020;74:102005. doi:10.10 16/j.jflm.2020.102005
3. Tidrick M, Brucato G, Petreca V, Burgess AW, Stone MH. The insanity defense in cases of homicide involving post-mortem dismemberment. Forensic Science International: Mind and Law. 2020;1:100 033. doi:10.1016/j.fsiml.2020.100033
4. Porta D, Amadasi A, Cappella A, et al. Dismemberment and disarticulation: A forensic anthropological approach. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2016;38:50-57. doi:10.1016/j.jfl m.2015.11.016
5. Kamaluddin MR, Mahat NA, Mat Saat GA, et al. The Psychology of Murder Concealment Acts. IJERPH. 2021;18(6):3113. doi:10.3390/ijerph18063113
6. Kagan K. Maskowanie przestępstwa zabójstwa przez jego sprawcę. sil. 2019;27(4):19. doi:10.1795 1/sil.2018.27.4.19-38
7. Franco Posa, Jessica Leone, Valeria Rondinelli. Psychological Autopsy. A Possible Innovative Revision of the MAPI: Psychological Autopsy Structured on Individual Cases (PASIC). SS. 2021;11(5). doi:10.17 265/2159-5526/2021.05.004
8. Passalacqua NV, Rainwater CW, eds. Skeletal Trauma Analysis: Case Studies in Context. 1st ed. Wiley; 2015. doi:10.1002/9781118384213
9. Brickley M, Ferllini R, eds. Forensic Anthropology: Case Studies from Europe. Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD; 2007.
10. Weiss SL, ed. Handbook of Forensic Photography. CRC Press; 2022.
11. Reid KM, Martin LJ, Heathfield LJ. Understanding the burden of unidentified bodies: a systematic review. Int J Legal Med. 2023;137(4):1193-1202. doi:10.1007/s00414-023-02968-5
12. Posa F, Leone J, Rondinelli V, Sclavi F, Posa M. Psychological Autopsy Structured on Individual Cases: Methodological Considerations for A New Protocol. MRAJ. 2023;11(3). doi:10.18103/mra.v11 i3.3719
13. Konopka T, Strona M, Bolechała F, Kunz J. Corpse dismemberment in the material collected by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Cracow, Poland. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2007;9(1):1-13. doi:10.10 16/j.legalmed.2006.08.008
14. Matzen J, Ondruschka B, Fitzek A, Püschel K, Jopp-van Well E. Dismemberment and Body Encasement-Case Report and an Empiric Study. Biology (Basel). 2022;11(2):328. doi:10.3390/biolo gy11020328
15. Knüsel CJ, Robb J. Funerary taphonomy: An overview of goals and methods. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 2016;10:655-673. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.05.031
16. Mata-Tutor P, Villoria-Rojas C, Benito-Sánchez M, Marquez-Grant N. Dismemberment as a Method of Body Disposal in Spanish Forensic Cases. Forensic Sciences. 2022;2(3):492-504. doi:10.3390/forensic sci2030036
17. Cunha E, Hale AR, Ross AH. Criminal Dismemberments. In: Dismemberments. Elsevier; 2019:1-6. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-811912-9.00001-0
18. Baldino G, Mondello C, Sapienza D, et al. Multidisciplinary Forensic Approach in “Complex” Bodies: Systematic Review and Procedural Proposal. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(2):310. doi:10.3390/di agnostics13020310
19. Dorland WAN, Neumann PE, Gest TR, Mejino JLV, eds. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 33rd edition. Elsevier Saunders; 2020.
20. Petreca VG, Burgess AW, Stone MH, Brucato G. Dismemberment and Mutilation: A Data‐Driven Exploration of Patterns, Motives, and Styles. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2020;65(3):888-896. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14274
21. Thomas Grant. Criminal Dismemberment Determining and Defining Commonly Available Cutting Implements and the Analysis of Kerf Morphology on Proxy Mediums. University of Dundee; 2018. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/28422717/THOMSON_Grant_PhD_Thesis_FINAL_VERSION_180911.pdf
22. Di Nunno N, Costantinides F, Vacca M, Di Nunno C. Dismemberment: A Review of the Literature and Description of 3 Cases. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology. 2006; 27(4):307-312. doi:10.1097/01.paf.0000188170.55 342.69
23. Amadasi A, Mazzarelli D, Oneto C, Cappella A, Gentilomo A, Cattaneo C. Dismemberment and Toolmark Analysis on Bone. In: Dismemberments. Elsevier; 2019:113-131. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-811912-9.00008-3
24. Chopin J, Beauregard E. Body dismemberment in sexual homicide cases: lust murder or rational decision? Psychology, Crime & Law. 2021;27(9):869-889. doi:10.1080/1068316X.2020.1863403
25. Hackman L, Black S. The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Cases of Dismemberment: Forensic and Investigative Analysis. In: ; 2017:113-134. doi:10.1201/9781315373126-10
26. Guggenheimer D, Caman S, Sturup J, Thiblin I, Zilg B. Criminal mutilation in Sweden from 1991 to 2017. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2021;66(5): 1788-1796. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.14736
27. Hedlund J, Ahlner J, Kristiansson M, Sturup J. A population-based study on toxicological findings in Swedish homicide victims and offenders from 2007 to 2009. Forensic Science International. 2014;244: 25-29. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.07.015
28. Michael AR, Blatt SH, Isa M, Redgrave A, Ubelaker DH. Identification of a Decedent in a 103-Year-Old Homicide Case Using Forensic Anthropology and Genetic Genealogy. Forensic Sciences Research. 2022;7(3):412-426. doi:10.1080/20961790.2022.2 034717
29. Ploeg OHJ, Grace RC, Cording JR. An examination of body disposal patterns in sexual and non-sexual homicides. Police Practice and Research. 2025;26(3):251-275. doi:10.1080/15614263.2024.2 415448
30. Martin DL, Anderson CP, eds. Bioarchaeological and Forensic Perspectives on Violence: How Violent Death Is Interpreted from Skeletal Remains. 1st ed. Cambridge University Press; 2014. doi:10.1017/CB O9781107051409
31. Giulia Caccia. INTERAZIONE CORPO AMBIENTE: IL FIL ROUGE TRA ANALISI TAFONOMICHE E TRACCE IN CONTESTO FORENSE. 2021. https://air.unimi.it/handle/2434/929684
32. Esposito M, Sessa F, Cocimano G, Zuccarello P, Roccuzzo S, Salerno M. Advances in Technologies in Crime Scene Investigation. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(20):3169. doi:10.3390/diagnostics13203169
33. Barazzetti L, Sala R, Scaioni M, et al. 3D scanning and imaging for quick documentation of crime and accident scenes. In: Carapezza EM, ed. ; 2012:835910-835910-835914. doi:10.1117/12.920 728
34. Mundia L, Matzin R, Mahalle S, Hamid H, Osman R. Contributions of sociodemographic factors to criminal behavior. PRBM. Published online June 2016:147. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S95270
35. Kendler KS, Lönn SL, Maes HH, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. The etiologic role of genetic and environmental factors in criminal behavior as determined from full- and half-sibling pairs: an evaluation of the validity of the twin method. Psychol Med. 2015;45(9):1873-1880. doi:10.1017/S003329 1714002979
36. Evans DJ, Herbert DT, eds. The Geography of Crime. Routledge; 2014.
37. Agosto E, Ajmar A, Boccardo P, Giulio Tonolo F, Lingua A. Crime Scene Reconstruction Using a Fully Geomatic Approach. Sensors. 2008;8(10):62 80-6302. doi:10.3390/s8106280
38. Dey A, Rao PK, Rawtani D. Forensic Photography. In: Rawtani D, Hussain CM, eds. Modern Forensic Tools and Devices. 1st ed. Wiley; 2023:315-334. doi:10.1002/9781119763406.ch13
39. Gouse S, Karnam S, Girish H, Murgod S. Forensic photography: Prospect through the lens. J Forensic Dent Sci. 2018;10(1):2. doi:10.4103/jfo.j fds_2_16
40. Jeet Arora C, Mitchell J, Rafiq M, Shumack S. Clinical photography of skin lesions: Professional and legal considerations in primary care. Aust J Gen Pract. 2019;48(7):492-494. doi:10.31128/AJGP-12-18-4803
41. Kruth JP, Bartscher M, Carmignato S, Schmitt R, De Chiffre L, Weckenmann A. Computed tomography for dimensional metrology. CIRP Annals. 2011;60(2):821-842. doi:10.1016/j.cirp.2011.05.006
42. Akbulut N, Çetin S, Bilecenoğlu B, et al. The micro-CT evaluation of enamel-cement thickness, abrasion, and mineral density in teeth in the postmortem interval (PMI): new parameters for the determination of PMI. Int J Legal Med. 2020;134 (2):645-653. doi:10.1007/s00414-019-02104-2
43. Sangwan A, Singh SP, Singh P, Gupta OP, Manas A, Gupta S. Role of molecular techniques in PMI estimation: An update. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2021;83:102251. doi:10.1016/j.jfl m.2021.102251
44. ENFSI-GUIDELINE-FOR-DNA-CONTAMINATION-MINIMIZATION-IN-DNA-LABORATORIES.pdf. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://enfsi.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ENFSI-GUIDELINE-FOR-DNA-CONTAMINATION-MINIMIZATION-IN-DNA-LABORATORIES.pdf
45. Isometsä ET. Psychological autopsy studies--a review. Eur Psychiatry. 2001;16(7):379-385. doi:10.10 16/s0924-9338(01)00594-6
46. Wilke-Schalhorst N, Schröder AS, Püschel K, Edler C. Criminal corpse dismemberment in Hamburg, Germany from 1959 to 2016. Forensic Sci Int. 2019; 300:145-150. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.038