Postmortem Scavenging of Human Remains by Domestic Cats

Authors

  • Ananya Suntirukpong Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700
  • Robert W. Mann Departments of Anatomy and Pathology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 86813
  • John R. DeFreytas Professor retired, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

Keywords:

Postmortem scavenging; human remains; human skeleton; domestic cat

Abstract

Objective:  Crime scene investigators, forensic medicine doctors and pathologists, and forensic anthropologists frequently encounter postmortem scavenging of human remains by household pets.
Case presentation: The authors present a case report of a partially skeletonized adult male found dead after more than three months in his apartment in Thailand. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition with nearly complete skeletonization of the head, neck, hands, and feet. The presence of maggots and necrophagous (“flesh eating”) beetles on the body confirmed that insects had consumed much of the soft tissues. Examination of the hand and foot bones revealed canine tooth puncture marks. Evidence of chewing indicated that one or more of the decedent’s three house cats had fed on the body after death. Recognizing and identifying carnivore and rodent activity on the soft flesh and bones of human remains is important in interpreting and reconstructing postmortem damage. Thorough analysis may help explain why skeletal elements are missing, damaged, or out of anatomical position.
Conclusion: This report presents a multi-disciplinary approach combining forensic anthropology and forensic medicine in examining and interpreting human remains. 

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Published

20-12-2017

How to Cite

Suntirukpong, A., Mann, R. W., & DeFreytas, J. R. (2017). Postmortem Scavenging of Human Remains by Domestic Cats. Siriraj Medical Journal, 69(6), 384–387. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/article/view/106192