Report on found human remains, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (Edmonton), case file # 1013-1830 Owen Beattie Professor Emeritus Department of Anthropology University of Alberta Edmonton, AB T6G 2H4 January 29, 2011Background At the request of Dr. Bernard Bannach, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Edmonton (OCME), on August 11, 2010, and again on August 16, 2010, I examined human skeletal remains at the OCME facility (case file #1013-1830). The August 11 examination was conducted from 12:20 PM to ca. 3:20 PM, and the August 16 examination was conducted from 2:20 PM to 3:20 PM. Dr. Bannach asked for comments and opinions on dismemberment characteristics and skeletal damage associated with the case. As such, this examination does not constitute a full osteological report. Although Dr. Bannach discussed some of the factors of the case with me, I did not review any of the related OCME records or documents. Descriptions of the examined remains The following section provides a review of observed features interpreted to be cut marks and saw marks on the examined bones, as well as bone breaks interpreted as relating to trauma or actions associated with the cut and saw marks, Bones examined and determined to lack cut and saw marks and/or breaks are also noted, All twelve left ribs were examined, with ten reflecting various levels of perimortem damage: -left first rib: four cut marks are present on the superior border of the body; three of these are closely grouped toward the vertebral end and run parallel to each other, and the fourth is located at the mid-body -left second rib: one cut mark is present on the superior surface, at the mid- body; the chondral end has been broken/cut approximately 2/3 of the distance from the vertebral articulation -left rib (upper/mid): this rib has been broken/cut at the mid-body, with some cut marks on the extemal surface at the angle of the rib -two left ribs (upper/mid): these ribs have been broken/cut at the mid-body -left rib (upper/mid): this rib has been broken/cut near the chondral end -left rib (upper/mid): this rib has been broken/cut 1/3 of the length measured from the vertebral articulation -two left ribs (mid/lower): no cuts or breaks are observed -left rib (mid/lower): the chondral end is damaged with a cut mark on the superior surface three cm from the chondral end -left eleventh rib: the chondral end of this rib has been broken/cut-left twelfth rib: no cuts or breaks are observed Eleven right ribs were examined, with the first rib missing, and three ribs reflecting various levels of perimortem damage: -right second rib: no cuts or breaks are observed -right third rib: no cuts or breaks are observed -right fourth rib: no cuts or breaks are observed -right rib (upper/mid): no cuts or breaks are observed ight rib (upper/mid): no cuts or breaks are observed; the chondral end shows a recent break, possibly occurring at autopsy -three right ribs (mid/lower): no cuts or breaks are observed -right rib (mid/lower): this rib has been broken/cut 1/3 of the length measured from the vertebral articulation; the separated section is present and the fracture ends match -right eleventh rib: this rib has been broken/cut near the chondral end and three cut marks are visible ight twelfth rib: this rib has been cu/broken 2/3 of the length measured from the vertebral articulation; there is a possible cut mark located on the superior border of the body at the angle; there is a cut mark located on the external surface two em from the inferior part of the cut/break Eighteen pre-sacral vertebrae (one cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar), the sacrum, and one coccygeal vertebra were examined: -the sixth cervical vertebra is complete; a cut is noted and a thin layer of bone has been removed at the superior border of both laminae (more on the left side); cut marks are present on both transverse processes, the superior rim of the body (the lefi side), and on both uncinate processes -the first through fifth thoracic vertebrae, the seventh through ninth thoracic vertebrae, the eleventh thoracic vertebra, the first lumbar vertebra, and the fifth lumbar vertebra are complete and free of cuts or breaks -the sixth thoracic vertebra has an incomplete fracture of ‘the tip of the spinous process and additional damage to the superior surfaces of both transverse processes-the tenth thoracic vertebra has damage to the anterior parts of both transverse Processes -the twelfth thoracic vertebra has breaks and damage to both transverse processes and the left inferior articular process; there is a cut mark on the anterior right side of the superior vertebral rim -the second lumbar vertebra has extensive damage with the inferior one half of the spinous process and inferior articular processes having been removed by cutting/sawing, with at least two different planes of cuts/sawing represented; 2, and possibly 3 cut/saw marks run transversely across the posterior surfaces of both inferior articular processes; the inferior posterior 1/3 of the body is cut/sawn at an angle running upward posteriorly at approximately 30 degrees; the inferior parts of the right and left laminae are cut/sawn from the posterior to anterior, and exhibit a break-away spur; the right transverse process is fractured 1/3 of the distance medially from the lateral tip, and is displaced posteriorly, with 3, and possibly more cut marks on the posterior surface of the right transverse process, and connected with the cutting of the laminae -the third lumbar vertebra has three transverse cut marks on the mid-right body: three, possibly four cut marks occur on the superior part of the right superior articular process, with another cut mark located on the left side; damage has also occurred to the right transverse process and inferior body and anterior portion of the superior border -the fourth lumbar vertebra has broken transverse processes and superior articular processes, damage to the right side of the body, a large compression indentation and a damaged inferior rim -the sacrum is complete with damage to the right side of the fifth sacral vertebra and to the posterior part ofthe left sacral ala; the first coceygeal vertebra is also damaged on its right side; the other coceygeal vertebrae have been broken off and are not observed Other postcranial bones examined include the sternum, the right and left innominates, the left femur, and the left patella -the left femur is represented by a proximal end fragment, including the head, and part of the shaft distally to (and including) the lesser trochanter; there are a series of cut marks on the posterior surface of the neck (8 or more in number); the posterior/superior part of the head is partially collapsed/compressed and flattened; the shaft has been sawn from the level of the inferior part of the lesser trochanter, medial to lateral, approximately one third of the way through the shaft (roughly transversely); a near vertical cut (roughly in the coronal plane) has been made through the posterior shaft and lesser trochanter, running obliquely downward and transversely to theanterior part of the shaft; there is evidence of cut marks on the greater trochanter surfaces and the anterior part of the shaft -the left innominate has various areas of damaged bone, with two or more cut marks present on the superior and posterior part of the iliac fossa near the crest, and possible damage to the anterior part of the acetabular rim (pic) -the right innominate has aca. 2 cm long cut mark on the superior 1/3 of the internal surface of the right pubic body; another cut mark occurs on the internal border of the iliac crest near the midpoint (pic) -the sternum (both manubrium and sternal body) is represented by only half of the bone (side to be confirmed), and has been extensively damaged by a single bisecting cut running along a sagittal plane near the midline. -the left patella is complete and undamaged Comments From the examined materials some general comments and interpretations can be made. First, the bisecting of the sternum suggests that the thorax was opened prior to dismemberment of the upper torso. Some of the breaks identified in the ribs could relate to forces applied to the bones after the sternum was sectioned, perhaps in splaying open the thorax. ‘The cuts and breaks on the ribs appear concentrated on the superior left thorax, the bottom left thorax, and the bottom right thorax. The left femur may have been seetioned to remove most of the left leg; some possible damage to the left acetabulum may indicate dismemberment, or an attempt at dismemberment, of the left leg at the hip. Further cuts on the innominates are located along or near the iliac crests, and may relate to removal of muscle and/or the abdominal contents, Cuts and breaks on the vertebrae are more complex and may relate to sectioning of the torso into segments. The cuts on the sixth cervical vertebra appear to relate to removal of the head. Owen Beattie January 29, 2011