The mourning process and “living with the dead”: Two case reports and a review of the literature

Abstract

Nowadays, the finding of a mummified body preserved by chance in a domestic environment is an occasional but not rare event in urban society [1]. Mummification can maintain intact a dead body, or parts of it, in a warm dry environment with an air current, such as in closed apartments [2]. The time of death is often difficult to estimate, requiring a multidisciplinary team of forensic pathologists, geneticists, entomologists, and possibly forensic psychiatrists. Mummification usually occurs in about 12 weeks, and the early stages may involve putrefactive changes. Elderly people are at greater risk of dying suddenly and unnoticed by others [3,4]. Victims' corpses can remain undiscovered in their homes for several months or years after their death, being well preserved if environmental conditions promote their desiccation [5]. The delayed discovery is often explained by the social isolation of the subjects when alive, with limited contact with other people and society. In addition, the absence of family support and poor neighborly relationships can worsen their social living conditions [6,7].

Mummification in a forensic context: an observational study of taphonomic changes and the post-mortem interval in an indoor setting

“…Desiccation is a rather sparsely studied process, especially in a forensic context, with regard to estimation of the post-mortem interval (PMI). Most published studies are case reports describing desiccation of human remains in an indoor setting [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Leccia et al [8] presented a retrospective study of 35 mummified cases where the degree of desiccation in each case was estimated, using the "rule of nines" for burns.…”

Blunt head trauma in a peculiar case of partial mummification. Murder or accidental event?

“…Mummification is a transformational phenomenon that involves partial conservation of the tissues in a condition of arrested decay. 1,2…”

“…Mummification is a transformational phenomenon that involves partial conservation of the tissues in a condition of arrested decay. 1,2 In the medico-legal field, when a mummified body is found, investigations must be carried out to establish the cause of death with a view to excluding the possibility of violent death or homicide. In such cases, forensic pathologists should perform a thorough autopsy and analyse the various findings with the support of an interdisciplinary team.…”