Estimation of Late Postmortem Interval: Where Do We Stand? A Literature Review

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The estimation of the time of death, or post-mortem interval, is a crucial aspect of forensic death-related investigations. However, accurate estimation can be challenging, especially when dealing with cadavers in advanced stages of decomposition and skeletal remains. The decomposition process and taphonomic changes can affect the body’s external appearance, making it difficult to determine even an approximate time since death. Additionally, factors such as temperature, humidity, and the presence of insects and scavengers can accelerate or slow down the decomposition process, further complicating the estimation of postmortem interval. Forensic practitioners rely on various methods, such as the examination of post-mortem changes in the body, the analysis of bone structures, and instrumental and molecular approaches. Despite these efforts and new methodologies, accurate estimation of PMI remains a complex task. The present review illustrates the main methods that can be used in such distinctive cases, seeking to provide forensic experts with useful elements to understand which approach best fits the case they have to evaluate in their ordinary practice. ABSTRACT: Estimating time since death can be challenging for forensic experts, and is one of the most challenging activities concerning the forensic world. Various methods have been assessed to calculate the postmortem interval on dead bodies in different stages of decomposition and are currently widely used. Nowadays, the only well-recognized dating technique is carbon-14 radioisotope measurement, whereas other methods have been tested throughout the years involving different disciplines with different and sometimes not univocal results. Today, there is no precise and secure method to precisely determine time since death, and late postmortem interval estimation remains one of the most debated topics in forensic pathology. Many proposed methods have shown promising results, and it is desirable that with further studies some of them might become acknowledged techniques to resolve such a difficult and important challenge. The present review aims at presenting studies about the different techniques that have been tested in order to find a valuable method for estimating time since death for skeletal remains. By providing a comprehensive overview, the purpose of this work is to offer readers new perspectives on postmortem interval estimation and to improve current practice in the management of skeletal remains and decomposed bodies.