I began volunteering at the Grady Early Forensic Anthropology Research Laboratory in March of 2011, and after a few weeks of lab work I was able to help out with some of the research being conducted at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility out on the Freeman Ranch. The three components, both labs and the facility, make up FACTS. Among the many daily activities conducted at both labs, I have had the unique opportunity to participate in: processing of remains, labeling and curating of the donated collection, casting of skeletal elements, pick-up and placement of donors, documentation of decomposition and taphonomic changes, skeletal measurement and analysis, and field search and recovery
The first research aspect of FACTS is human decomposition research in determination of the postmortem interval, which encompasses a very wide variety of research designs. The majority of those individuals who willingly donate their body to the center are set out at the facility on the Freeman Ranch and left to the elements to decompose under a metal cage, as to deter carnivore activity; in particular vultures. There are those special few who are left uncaged to monitor vulture activity and later to document the scatter of skeletal elements. There is also equipment available for aquatic decomposition,and many donations are also buried for our research and for training purposes for law enforcement. The second research aspect of the center is the development of a diverse osteological collection. In order to accurately develop the biological profile from the skeletal remains of an unknown individual, rigorous research must be conducted on individuals of know age, sex, stature and ancestry. These four elements make up the biological profile necessary to identify unknown individuals.
In addition to these two research goals of the center, it also functions as an identification laboratory for victims of homicide, or any unidentified human skeletal remains. Any time skeletal remains have been found, regardless of the condition or manner of their discovery, a Forensic Anthropologist must be consulted for their examination and consequent development of a biological profile. This profile is a vital tool for law enforcement to narrow down any missing persons to be compared with the remains found. The lab also has many tools available for the extraction of bone samples to be sent to the University of North Texas’ human identification laboratory for the development of a full DNA profile to definitively identify unknown remains
One of the first projects I was asked to participate in during my internship was the casting of certain skeletal age and sex markers in the donated collection. Some of the most important sex markers are the pubic symphisis, the sternal rib ends, and the fusion of the medial clavicle. In theory, this task seemed to be straight forward and relatively easy, this is definitely not the case as I have found out. There are many factors which can make this process difficult such as, the porosity and degeneration of the bone, how much material is used to make a mold of the bone, the size of the container being used, the proper ratio of ingredients, the proper extraction of all air bubbles in the molding material itself, the depth of the bone into the molding material, the stabilization of the bone while pouring the mold…just to name a few..
Among the different ways I have been involved in the documentation of the donations, two in particular stand out. Dr. Jarvis Hayman, a visiting professor from The Australian National University, was conducting research at FACTS to more accurately determine the time since death of individuals found decomposing in an indoor environment. Dr. Hayman was interested in performing postmortem autopsies on individuals during the early putrefaction stages, more specifically the state of decomposition of the brain, liver, heart and spleen. I was present for both of his autopsies, which were performed at two weeks postmortem on the first individual and at one week postmortem on the second individual. Without a doubt, these experiences were the most interesting and fascinating scientific opportunities I have ever had. They were also, while leaving out a few gross details, the most intensely horrific experiences I have ever had and am forever grateful to the FACTS staff, Dr. Hayman and to the individuals who donated their bodies for letting me help and experience something so vital to my future in forensic anthropology.
Second, FACTS was called to help in the search and recovery of a girl who went missing in November 2004 during a flood. Along with her car, this young woman was swept away by the rising waters at a low water crossing in San Marcos. In May 2011, a partial skull was recovered and sent to The University of North Texas for DNA analysis, but came back as inconclusive. In an attempt to find other skeletal elements, students and faculty at FACTS along with the Hays County Sheriff’s office set out on September 9, 2011 to search for the young woman’s remains. We were actively searching for about seven hours and although we did not recover any human remains, we did recover some clothing that matched the descriptions of what she had been wearing at the time of her disappearance. I learned how to conduct a line search, how to distinguish animal remains from human while in the field (we found quite a few sets of faunal remains), what to wear to a search and recovery, what to expect when dealing with law enforcement under such conditions, and how to collaborate with a large group functioning for the greater good of helping a family get closure for the disappearance of their daughter. It is easy while in the shelter of the lab to forget about the emotion that goes along with forensic case work. This experience was really touching in that we were able to help a family in their search for their daughter. Although we did not find any of her remains, her family was very grateful that so many people were willing to donate their time and energy to search for her.
In November 2011, Drs. Jeff Tomberlin and Eric Benbow held a day-long Forensic Entomology workshop. Topics discussed included forensic entomology’s importance in a medicolegal context, entomological evidence collection, preservation and shipment, indoor versus outdoor insect activity, taxonomy and the most common species in the Central Texas area, acarological evidence (mite and tic activity in a forensic setting), DNA testing on entomological evidence in relation to human decomposition, and aquatic decomposition and the variables affecting certain insect species in Texas. This workshop was a fascinating learning experience and I will be applying the knowledge I gained there for years to come.
I also participated in the Human Remains Field Recovery course, held on the FARF/ORPL facility grounds, in December 2011. We learned proper bioarchaeological excavation techniques such as: location of a site or crime scene, mapping and gridding procedures, photography, tools used and how to use them, proper documentation of each step of the process and lab analysis.
Trying to encompass what I have experienced as an intern for FACTS seems like an unfair task since it would in no way do justice to the mountain of career knowledge I have gained. I have witnessed, from the bottom up, the tasks involved in running a lab and the stress that goes along with it. I have also gained a little ethnographic insight into the cultural world of academic Anthropology, and how to be a functioning member of academia.