Forensic Sciences Research, Volume. 9, Issue 3, owae038(2024)

Applying multidisciplinary methods to forensic casework in North Carolina

Nicole Long1、*, Kimberly Sheets2, Erin Kennedy Thornton2, and Ann H. Ross1
Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
  • 2Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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    Figures & Tables(10)
    Map displaying recovery location of unidentified skeletonized human remains in North Carolina, USA by county. UID: unidentified.
    Lateral radiograph of the cranium of Identified Mecklenburg John Doe 2021 showing hair-on-end appearance (arrows) indicative of anemia.
    δ18Ovpdb values vs. 87/86Sr of Unidentified (UID) Mecklenburg Jane Doe plotted against known samples from regions within the USA and known samples from Mesoamerica and the Circum-Caribbean [39, 46–48].
    δ18Ovpdb values vs. δ13Cvpdb of Unidentified (UID) Mecklenburg Jane Doe plotted against known samples from regions within the USA and known samples from Mesoamerica and the Circum-Caribbean [39, 46–48].
    δ13Ccoll values vs. δ15N from bone collagen of Unidentified (UID) Mecklenburg Jane Doe plotted against observed range of the US American diet and known samples within the Mesoamerica and the Circum-Caribbean [51, 52].
    δ18Ovpdb values vs. 87/86Sr of Identified (ID) Mecklenburg John Doe plotted against known samples from regions within the USA [39].
    δ18Ovpdb values vs. 87/86Sr of Identified (ID) Mecklenburg John Doe plotted against known samples from regions within the USA, known samples from the Circum-Caribbean and, possibly Barbadian-born and African-born individuals [39, 46, 54].
    δ18Ovpdb values vs. δ13Cvpdb of Identified (ID) Mecklenburg John Doe plotted against known samples from regions within the USA, known samples from the Circum-Caribbean and, possibly Barbadian-born and African-born individuals [39, 46, 54].
    Decision tree demonstrating the process of applying various methods to current cases of unidentified remains and to cold case re-examination. These analyses are completed under grant and law enforcement funding at the North Carolina State University Human Identification and Forensic Analysis Laboratory.
    • Table 1. Isotope ratios from measured osteological samples.

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      Table 1. Isotope ratios from measured osteological samples.

      CasesMaterial87/86Srδ18Ovpdb (‰)δ13Cvpdb (‰)δ13Ccoll (‰)δ15N (‰)
      Identified Mecklenburg John Doe 2021Bone0.708307--−15.9810.05
      Unidentified Mecklenburg Jane Doe 2011Tooth enamel0.706827−2.01−7.10--
       Bone0.708043--−13.4110.97
      Identified Mecklenburg John Doe 1987Tooth enamel0.708905−4.22−8.93--
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    Nicole Long, Kimberly Sheets, Erin Kennedy Thornton, Ann H. Ross. Applying multidisciplinary methods to forensic casework in North Carolina[J]. Forensic Sciences Research, 2024, 9(3): owae038

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Apr. 23, 2024

    Accepted: Jul. 20, 2024

    Published Online: Sep. 22, 2025

    The Author Email: Nicole Long (nlong4@ncsu.edu)

    DOI:10.1093/fsr/owae038

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