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Role of Forensic Anthropology in the Recovery and Analysis of Branch Davidian Compound Victims: Recovery Procedures and Characteristics of the Victims

NCJ Number
155735
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1995) Pages: 335-340
Author(s)
D H Ubelaker; D W Owsley; M M Houck; E Craig; W Grant; T Woltanski; R Fram; K Sandness; N Peerwani
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Anthropological contributions to the investigation of the events at the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Tex., in early 1993 were of two major types: the recovery of human remains from the site and the analysis of most of those individuals at the Medical Examiner's Office in Fort Worth, Tex., following the fire that began on April 19, 1993.
Abstract
Working with teams of odontologists, fingerprint analysts, forensic pathologists, and criminalists, forensic anthropologists contributed significantly to the analysis of the Mt. Carmel victims. These contributions included recovery of the human remains at the site, with the maximum amount of information about their positions and condition, assessment of biological characteristics of each individual to assist in identification, and interpretation of the skeletal evidence for trauma. Analysis revealed variability in the condition of the remains, largely reflecting their locations within the site and the timing of their recovery. Remains of women and children displayed significantly less severe heat-related alterations because of their disproportionate presence within the bunker where the heavy concentration of ordinance and clustering of the people offered greater protection from heat exposure. The Mt. Carmel experience also showed that standardized procedures can produce continuity in analysis in spite of the rotation of personnel as well as showing the ways in which forensic anthropology can contribute to a multidisciplinary investigation. 4 figures, 4 tables, and 2 references