Vol. 38, No. 18

10-31-2007
By: Richard Gillette

No case too 'cold' for OSU forensic team

In two separate, unsolved murder cases, police have called on a team of Ohio State students to help search for and identify human remains.

Nothing was found in either case, but Deborrah Pinto, an anthropology Ph.D. candidate, said the experience gave her something she couldn’t learn in a book.

The Department of Anthropology formed the Forensic Archaeology Cold Case Team two years ago to provide assistance to law enforcement and other agencies in the recovery and analysis of human remains.

FACCT is under the direction of Professor Sam Stout and comprises both undergraduate and graduate students interested in forensic anthropology who volunteer their time.

Stout, a forensic osteological expert who has provided expertise to the FBI and local and state agencies, said FACCT performs a community service. And Pinto adds the experience can’t be measured.

“I can teach my students about these things I have learned in a book. But it’s a whole other thing when you actually get to go out and do it,” Pinto said.

Last year the team undertook two recovery operations: One for the Lima Police Department and another for the Belmont County Sheriff ’s Office. In both cases, the team was asked to provide its expertise in forensics.

Forensic anthropologists can assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable.

Stout said borrowing from disciplines learned in physical anthropology, forensic anthropologists can determine the age and sex of human remains. He said a coroner in all cases determines the cause of death, but he said their opinions are often sought.

Jules Angel and Lara McCormick, both Ph.D. candidates in anthropology, have been involved with the team since it was organized with seven students.

“It’s another way for us to gain experience in areas we have not worked in. But it also allows us to provide our expertise to these law enforcement agencies,” Angel said.

Forensic work is something Angel knows about. She spent 10 years with Scotland Yard in London, England, as a forensic photographer and has 10 years of experience in the United States as an archaeologist.

McCormick, who worked for three years at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, said the experience isn’t just about finding and analyzing human bones.

“There’s so much more to it. You learn how important teamwork and organization are in the field. Every crime scene is different so it is important to have as much experience as possible,” McCormick said.

Angel said she was surprised Ohio State did not have such a team in the past.

“It only makes sense for us to be partners with law enforcement agencies. We’re an untapped resource that can provide expertise in the fields of archaeology and anthropology,” Angel said.

More than 20 students are involved with the team this fall. Stout said the growth has a lot to do with the field schools the university offers to high school and college students and the new forensic science minor available.

Stout said the team is in the early stages of collaborating with the Ohio State police to host training workshops.

“We can provide them the expertise needed to identify human remains and they can provide our students with the knowledge needed in completing police investigations,” he said.

For more information on FACCT, e-mail stout.126@osu.edu.

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