Recovery of Human Remains from a Vehicle Submerged for 43 Years Using a Marine Venturi Vacuum System

Abstract

Forensic recovery of submerged human remains may present logistical challenges for forensic anthropologists. In the case reported here, a decedent was recovered from a submerged car that could not be moved or dissembled per environmental safety standards. A recovery approach uniting forensic anthropologists, dive teams, and private contractors operating a marine venturi vacuum system resulted in a successful and nearly complete recovery.