Jeff Abbott - No Rest for the Dead

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

1. Specimen jar containing multiple puparial casings. No data on outside or inside of jar.

2. Specimen jar containing multiple dead insects. Labeled NMBa 03-73; collect: 26-8-98.

3. Specimen jar containing preserved maggots. Labeled NMB 03-73b; collect 26-8-98

4. Specimen jar containing a single dead insect. No data on outside or inside of jar.

IDENTIFICATIONS

1. Diptera: Calliphoridae: Chrysomya rufifacies -23 empty pupae

2. Diptera: Calliphoridae: Chrysomya rufifacies -23 adults

3. Diptera: Piophilidae: Piophila casei -3rd instar larvae

4. Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Dihammus szechuanus

ESTIMATED MINIMUM PERIOD OF INSECT ACTIVITY

18 to 30 days prior to collection on 26 August 1998. This estimate is based on the presence of late third instar larvae of Piphilia casei . These maggots arrive typically around day 15 in decomposition and complete their development by day 36. The maggots in the collections here are consistent with development of approximately 30 days. The empty puparial cases of C. rufifacies , while not definitive, are consistent with this time frame. During decomposition studies conducted at 26°C, empty puparial cases of C. rufifacies were first reported on day 14. The presence of C. rufifacies suggests exposure of the body outside or near a window prior to or during shipping. Depending on available food materials, degree of exposure, and temperature ranges, the estimate of 18 to 30 days must be considered a minimum and a longer postmortem interval is possible.

Document Identifier:C1998073042

Name:Unknown (presumed, Thomas, Christopher, DOB 19 09 52)

Analysis:Radiologic observation, skull, torso, upper and lower limbs

Request By:Dr. Bruno Muntz, ILM

Received From:Hand to hand, Mette Brinkman

Date of Exam:20/07/1998

Time of Exam:1100 hours

Place of Exam:Institute of Legal Medicine, Berlin

DECEDENT

Decomposed human adult found at German Historical Museum 18-7-1998

CRANIAL

The skull is complete and that of an adult. Bone quality is good. No antemortem healed or healing fractures are present. No congenital abnormalities or anomalies are present.

POSTCRANIAL

The skeleton is complete and that of an adult. Bone quality is good. Moderate remodeling is present in the right and left acromioclavicular and in the left tibiofemoral joint. No antemortem healed or healing fractures are present. No congenital abnormalities or anomalies are present.

A total of twenty-five (25) fractures and perforations are present in the following locations:

2-right humerus

3-right radius

2-right ulnas

2-left radius

1-right clavicle

1-left clavicle

1-sternum

5-ribs

6-vertebrae (4 thoracic, 2 lumbar)

1-right innominate

1-right femur

DENTAL

Thirty-two (32) permanent teeth are present at the time of death. All maxillary and mandibular roots are fully formed. Only fragmentary crowns remain, rendering observation impossible. (See odontology report.)

SUMMARY

The decedent is an adult male whose bones exhibit no congenital anomalies or deformities, no evidence of disease, and no healed fractures or surgical modifications. Perimortem blunt and sharp force trauma has caused extensive damage to the dentition, skull, torso, and long bones of the lower and upper extremities.

Hanne L. Windman, M.D.I 20 July 1998

Hanne Windman, MD20 July 1998

FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY:

POSTMORTEM ORIENTATION AND RECONSTITUTION

AUTOPSY: 20-07-1998

DECEDENT: THOMAS, CHRISTOPHER (PRESUMED),

DOB 1952-09-19

ODONTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS: 20-07-1998

ILM: 2000-43271-CO01

MORGUE: 32885

POLICE INCIDENT REPORT: BPD 08443

ME: DR. BRUNO MUNTZ

At the request of Dr. Muntz, I examined, at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Berlin, radiographs of the jaws and teeth of human remains found in the German Historical Museum in an apparatus called an iron maiden. The body was identified as ILM 2000-43271-CO01. See appendix 2.

• The victim had at least 32 permanent teeth present in the jaws at death;

• The victim had 32 teeth present when postmortem radiographs were taken;

• All crowns had been destroyed by blunt force trauma, leaving only roots embedded in the alveoli.

• Second lower left molar broken off and discovered in victim’s shirt pocket (sent to U.S. lab for further testing)

INDIVIDUATING FACTORS

Age is estimated at 35 to 50 years based on the following observations: full formation of the wisdom tooth roots, very large pulp chambers, minimal periodontal resorption.

CONCLUSIONS

The remains designated 2000-43271-CO01 are those of an adult aged 35 to 50 years at the time of death. No crowns remain for observation. All crowns appear to have been destroyed by blunt force trauma. No antemortem dental records exist for comparison.

Hermine Kettgen, DDS 20 July 1998

Hermine Kettgen, DDS.

Forensic Odontologist

Report:01-32432

Latent Examiner:Liesl Schwede #2766

Case Title:BNM

Comparison Date:July 20, 1998

Victim:Unknown

Location:German Historical Museum

INKED IMPRESSIONS

Print(s) of:Unknown

Print(s) taken by:Bruno Muntz, MD

Date print(s) taken:July 20, 1998

Total number of print(s):1

Location of print(s):left fifth digit, hand

Condition of print(s):partial

Comparison requested by:Bruno Muntz, MD, Institute of Legal Medicine, Berlin

Dossier supplied by:San Francisco PD (USA), via Bruno Muntz, MD

RESULTS OF EXAMINATION

Lift 1:Positive identification to left fifth finger of THOMAS, CHRISTOPHER, DOB 09/19/52

OTHER SUBJECTS COMPARED WHO WERE

NOT IDENTIFIED

None

It is impossible to thank everyone who has been a part of this enormous project. The first person I have to thank is my sister Lamia. I can’t think of a better person to collaborate with, and were it not for her attention to detail, her foresight, and vision, I doubt this book would be as gripping a read as it is today.

When I first embarked on this project, I approached some of the writers I knew well and asked them if they wanted to participate. Jonathan Santlofer, John Lescroart, and Tess Gerritsen agreed without asking how much they were getting paid or even receiving many details about the project. Participation from other writers snowballed from there.

As originally conceived, this book would have been an anthology had it not been for my late friend Les Pockell. An experienced hand in publishing and a vice president at Grand Central Publishing, Les possessed a mind that was as sharp as Sherlock Holmes. We became good friends and whenever I visited New York we had lunch or drinks with another friend, Susan Richman. One day, over drinks, Les suddenly paused when he heard about my plans to publish an anthology and donate the money to cancer charities. “If you want sales, Andrew, turn this into a novel in chapters,” he said. “I read one of those when I was a kid and it had a huge impact on me.” Then he picked up his credit card from the table and with raincoat in hand said good-bye. Susan Richman turned to me and said, “What a genius.” Sadly, cancer took the life of Les last summer; during rocky times with this project I’ve often felt Les’s invisible hand guiding me along.