The dead squirrel

[Tulessa]

Posted By: Michael Weaver, Staff, Biology/Microbiology, Merck & Co., Inc.
Area of science: General Biolog

First of all let’s look at what happens to the human body at the time of
death and soon after. At the very moment of death the heart stops
beating and the lungs stop breathing. This means that the cells in the
body will no longer receive blood and oxygen. Since the blood is no
longer being pumped through the body it will drain from the blood vessels
at the top of the body and collect in the blood vessels on the lower part
of the body. The upper part of the body will become pale and the lower
part of the body will become dark. If the person is lying on their back,
the front of their body and face will be very pale or even grey while
their back will be much darker and look almost like it is bruised. This
is called lividity or liver mortis and is one of the first things that a
scientist will look at to try to determine when someone died and if they
were moved after death.

At this point most of the cells in the body are still not dead. While
the brain cells die in the first few minutes after the heart stops,
muscle cells can live for several hours and skin and bone cells can stay
alive for days! How is this possible? Well, the cells use a different
type of respiration than when the heart and lungs were working. While
the person was alive the cells used aerobic respiration (with oxygen),
but after death the cells continue to survive using what is called
anaerobic respiration (without oxygen). However, one of the by-products
of anaerobic respiration is lactic acid. Lactic acid eventually builds
up and causes the muscles to stiffen. This is the same thing that
happens to a person’s legs when they run a long distance. The heart and
lungs can’t keep up with the demand so the leg muscles start to use
anaerobic respiration. In a living person this lactic acid will
eventually be cleared out by the circulatory system, but in a dead body
this isn’t possible so the entire body stiffens. This is called rigor
mortis. Rigor mortis usually starts about 3 hours after death and lasts
36 hours. Eventually all of the cells die and the body can no longer
fight of bacteria. The cells’ own enzymes and the enzymes of bacteria
begin to cause the body to decompose and the muscles lose their
stiffness. Like liver mortis, rigor mortis is another tool that
scientists can use to determine the time of death.

OK. Now comes the actual process of decomposition, or breakdown and
decay of the body. Decomposition can be broken down into 5 steps:

1. Initial decay
2. Putrefaction
3. Black putrefaction
4. Butyric putrefaction
5. Dry decay

Let’s look at each of these steps in more detail.

Step 1: Initial decay
Initial decay occurs from 0 to 3 days after death. Although the body
appears fresh from the outside, many things are going on inside the body
to contribute to the process of decomposition. The bacteria that are
normally inside the intestines of a living person begin to feed on the
contents of the intestine and the intestine itself. Eventually these
bacteria break out into the body cavity and start to digest other
organs. Since the intestine is no longer intact, the body’s digestive
enzymes, which were kept safely inside the intestine and stomach, leak
out and spread through the body helping to break down more organs and
tissues. At the same time, enzymes inside individual cells leak out and
digest the cell and its connections with other cells.

Let’s not forget about the insects! From the moment of death flies are
attracted to the smell of the decomposing body. Without the normal
defenses of a living body, these flies are able to lay their eggs around
wounds and other body openings (mouth, nose, eyes. etc.). Within 24
hours most of these eggs hatch and the larvae, or maggots, move into the
body to feed on the dead tissue.

Step 2: Putrefaction

Putrefaction occurs from 4 to 10 days after death. As the bacteria are
breaking down the tissues and cells they are also producing a lot of
gas. These gases include hydrogen sulfide, methane, cadaverine, and
putrescine. All of these gases really stink, but insects love the
smell. More and more flies start to show up along with beetles and
mites. The gases also cause the body to inflate forcing more fluids out
of the cells and blood vessels and into the body cavity. This provides
even more food for the bacteria and a nice warm living space for the
maggots.

Step 3: Black putrefaction

This stage occurs from 10 to 20 days after death. The bloated body
eventually collapses and the flesh has gotten creamy (like cottage
cheese). The exposed parts of the body have turned black and the body
really begins to stink. A lot of the fluids have now leaked out of the
body into the soil attracting more insects and mites. These insects and
mites will eventually consume most of the flesh on the body. Bacteria
are still at work also, and will consume the flesh if there are no
insects around. The temperature of the body also increases due to all of
the insect activity.

Step 4: Butyric fermentation

Butyric fermentation occurs from 20 to 50 days after death. All of the
remaining flesh on the body is removed during this time and the body
starts to dry out. It has a “cheesy” smell caused by butyric acid. This
smell attracts a bunch of new organisms to the body. Mold starts to grow
on the part of the body that is touching the ground and a lot of beetles
show up. Since the body is beginning to dry out maggots are no longer
able to eat the tough flesh. Beetles, however, are able to chew through
this tough material such as skin and ligaments.

Step 5: Dry decay

This stage occurs from 50 to 365 days after death. The body is now dry
and decays very slowly. Tineid moths and bacteria eventually eat the
person’s hair, leaving nothing but bones. As long as there are no large
animals around to carry them away, the bones can remain almost
indefinitely.

That brings us to the end of the decomposition process. Most of these
steps depend a lot on the climate. Temperature and moisture and the
presence of insects will affect how long this whole process takes.
Decomposition will occur much faster in the summer than in the winter and
also will take longer in a body that is buried than a body that is left
exposed on the ground.

http://iconoclasticrisx.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/what-happens-to-our-human-body-after-we-die/

 

[Themis]

Thanks.

As I look across the blogs it is amazing to see postings that walk a fine line of saying that they have not made up their mind on KC or that maybe she is guilty of something. They operate from a neutral focus of seeking the truth and offer some pertinent snippets to the threads while continually injecting and seeding mis-information. They are molding the truth based on an agenda.

A discussion ensues and typically the post is corrected factually with links but the desired impact has occurred, that some participants who did not read on or just dropped in are tainted by this seeded mis-information and mis-statement of facts.

Folks work very diligently and hard on this month-by-month strategy to seed mis-information and re-write history to refocus the general consensus to a softer view on KC and general confusion over the facts ---- levelling the playing field.

It is a strong undercurrent and these sources know better yet still seed this mis-information incessantly. I am sure though at WS I am preaching to the choir though. Just an observation

I'm going to go a step further. It seems to me after many decades of general observation of life, that today's culture seems to take it as a given that it is okay to mold the truth based on an agenda. Spin is in. What happened to the truth? Did it die with Superman? So now the criminal justice system becomes a battle of spin and the outcome is not about proving guilt and imposing an appropriate sentence? It is just about legal gladiators and their win record? I'm really heartened to see so many posters on WS really care about discovering and sticking to the path of discovering the truth, and making important decisions based on a full understanding of the truth and the law. Part of me feared that wasn't the case anymore with grassroots America and I'm seeing the adherence to the moral standard instead of the media profit standard is alive and well. This is a good day. :angel:

 

[coco puff]

well, their argument is that is was bacon fat not a dead pig. I'm saying it was a dead body because of all the other facts that we know to be true that are way more plausible than bacon fat

I understand but I'm saying show me the bacon. THey say it smelled like a dead body and we HAVE one. I just haven't seen the bacon.

 

[BeanE]

On page 6566 of the released docs, you will find the conclusions made by Dr. Vass in regard to the odor signature in the trunk from the carpet removed and analyzed from that trunk. He lists six items that indicate that a portion of the total odor signature in the Florida vehicle trunk is consistent with an early decompositional event that could be of human origin. This conclusion has led to many forming the opinion that the odor in the trunk was caused by human decomposition. The opinion I formulate from this conclusion is that the defense will ask this question Although the total odor signature in the trunk is consistent with an early decompositional event, that could be of human origin, are there other possibilities that could reasonably explain these conclusions, that are not of human origin? If yes, what are these possibilities? My point is that although I can agree that it is likely that these conclusions are correct, and the decompositional event in the trunk was from human origin, I want to be certain there is not a reasonable argument that the decompositional event may be from something other than human origin.

I agree that at trial, when and if the state's expert testifies regarding the odor signature, and assuming the expert testifies as I expect, that the odor signature is consistent with human decomposition, the defense will emphasize the use of the phrase 'consistent with', and ask the questions you pose regarding other possibilities. They may indeed determine, and present, an alternative explanation. That explanation may be logical, reasonable, and more highly likely to be true than untrue.

If this is used at trial, it will be new, no? And a Frye hearing required in advance in order to present it at trial?

It should be very interesting.

 

[BeanE]

I'm going to go a step further. It seems to me after many decades of general observation of life, that today's culture seems to take it as a given that it is okay to mold the truth based on an agenda. Spin is in. What happened to the truth? Did it die with Superman? So now the criminal justice system becomes a battle of spin and the outcome is not about proving guilt and imposing an appropriate sentence? It is just about legal gladiators and their win record? I'm really heartened to see so many posters on WS really care about discovering and sticking to the path of discovering the truth, and making important decisions based on a full understanding of the truth and the law. Part of me feared that wasn't the case anymore with grassroots America and I'm seeing the adherence to the moral standard instead of the media profit standard is alive and well. This is a good day. :angel:

Bless you, Themis. You made my day.

:blowkiss:

 

[Tulessa]

I agree that at trial, when and if the state's expert testifies regarding the odor signature, and assuming the expert testifies as I expect, that the odor signature is consistent with human decomposition, the defense will emphasize the use of the phrase 'consistent with', and ask the questions you pose regarding other possibilities. They may indeed determine, and present, an alternative explanation. That explanation may be logical, reasonable, and more highly likely to be true than untrue.

If this is used at trial, it will be new, no? And a Frye hearing required in advance in order to present it at trial?

It should be very interesting.

And like someone stated earlier. I smell a field trip for the Jury.

 

[eaglemom]

Dr. Lee has not inspected the undercarriage of the Pontiac. (for whatever reason)


On page 6557 it is stated that Fatty acids, such as the ones detected, (palmitic, stearic,
myristic, oleic) indicate a fat decomposition product LIKE ADIPOCERE(grave wax) on the paper towels. NOTE he does not say it is ADIPOCERE he says a fat product like ADIPOCERE. Later in paragraph While the amounts of these acids can vary, the fatty acid ratios detected on the paper towels are quite consistent with those identified in human and PIG decomposition studies. Many have formed the opinion based on this report that there was ADIPOCERE on the napkin and it was from human decomp. I understand how someone could have that opinion. My opinion was formulated by realizing that the white trash bag may have come from the kitchen since there were items in the garbage that would normally have been found in a kitchen trash bag, and since it likely came from the kitchen, I am of the opinion that the fat decomposition product on the paper towels is not ADIPOCERE, but instead is pig fat (possibly bacon fat). I am of this opinion because in my own home I have wiped up bacon grease with napkins and threw the napkins in the trash. To further support my opinion all five components listed on page 6563 Ketone (propanone), Alde Hyde (decanal), Alde Hyde (butanal), Alcohol (hexanol), and Alcohol (ethanol), are detected in human remains, but all five are also found in pig remains.
Therefore, my final opinion based on the above information from the documents is that the substance found on the napkins is pig fat (bacon grease), not ADIPOCERE.
........
I also believe there are a number of exceptional sleuthers who are very adept at posting links, while others are not, either way I respect their opinions. I am not in any way trying to sway anyone to change their opinion, I am simply stating my own opinion, and how I arrived at that opinion

respectfully snipped

TDA - while I do respect your opinions and desire to work with the evidence presented in the doc dumps we have seen thus far - I have thought and thought about this and just cannot see how it could be bacon grease.

Given the temps in FL at the time - in my experience bacon grease would have soaked through the paper towels and stayed 'wet' not fatty as ADIPOCERE is described in all the forensic journals. Even IF one had just wiped their hands on the toweling while preparing bacon I believe the preservative content (SALT and or flavoring) added to so many types of bacon these days would have been detected by the scientists in the FBI labs when the substance was analyzed. The only other alternative I could see is if one wiped out a pan full of congealed bacon fat from a pan and theew the paper toweling away - and in that case there would be pieces (even if microscopic) of the bacon in the fat that would be detected along with the SALT, etc as I mentioned above.

While I do understand that all of the same items are also found in pig remains - I simply cannot agree with your conclusions because there are ingredients missing to support your conclusions of bacon grease.

MOO

 

[Jolynna]

Dr. Lee has not inspected the undercarriage of the Pontiac. (for whatever reason)
I followed all the links posted in this thread in an effort to find the results from OCSO in regard to what was or was not found on the undercarriage. I also searched without luck for two hours trying to find this information elsewhere. Could someone please point me to the page number on the link that provides this information. I am under the impression that no squirrel or parts of a squirrel were found on this undercarriage, but would like to see documented confirmation of this. However, due to the following, I’m not all that sure that the squirrel or lack of the squirrel will have an impact on this case.

On page 6566 of the released docs, you will find the conclusions made by Dr. Vass in regard to the odor signature in the trunk from the carpet removed and analyzed from that trunk. He lists six items that indicate that a portion of the total odor signature in the Florida vehicle trunk is consistent with an early decompositional event that could be of human origin. This conclusion has led to many forming the opinion that the odor in the trunk was caused by human decomposition. The opinion I formulate from this conclusion is that the defense will ask this question Although the total odor signature in the trunk is consistent with an early decompositional event, that could be of human origin, are there other possibilities that could reasonably explain these conclusions, that are not of human origin? If yes, what are these possibilities? My point is that although I can agree that it is likely that these conclusions are correct, and the decompositional event in the trunk was from human origin, I want to be certain there is not a reasonable argument that the decompositional event may be from something other than human origin.
On page 6557 it is stated that Fatty acids, such as the ones detected, (palmitic, stearic,
myristic, oleic) indicate a fat decomposition product LIKE ADIPOCERE(grave wax) on the paper towels. NOTE he does not say it is ADIPOCERE he says a fat product like ADIPOCERE. Later in paragraph While the amounts of these acids can vary, the fatty acid ratios detected on the paper towels are quite consistent with those identified in human and PIG decomposition studies. Many have formed the opinion based on this report that there was ADIPOCERE on the napkin and it was from human decomp. I understand how someone could have that opinion. My opinion was formulated by realizing that the white trash bag may have come from the kitchen since there were items in the garbage that would normally have been found in a kitchen trash bag, and since it likely came from the kitchen, I am of the opinion that the fat decomposition product on the paper towels is not ADIPOCERE, but instead is pig fat (possibly bacon fat). I am of this opinion because in my own home I have wiped up bacon grease with napkins and threw the napkins in the trash. To further support my opinion all five components listed on page 6563 Ketone (propanone), Alde Hyde (decanal), Alde Hyde (butanal), Alcohol (hexanol), and Alcohol (ethanol), are detected in human remains, but all five are also found in pig remains.
Therefore, my final opinion based on the above information from the documents is that the substance found on the napkins is pig fat (bacon grease), not ADIPOCERE. That the odor signature from the carpet sample could be of human origin, but it could be from some other origin. And finally, that amount of amount of decompositional material found in the interior of the trunk was not abundant enough to be the cause of the odor that has come to be known as the Smell of Death in this case, and that same odor was still detectable several months later.
Lastly, I will say there is no indication that a squirrel (dead or alive) was ever in the trunk. Also there is no indication that pizza was found in the white trash bag. Tests were done to prove the odor did not come from a squirrel or pizza. I could not find any tests done to prove that the odor could not have come from the remaining items that were found in the white trash bag.
Someone mentioned that butyric acid was found in the scrapings from the carpet in the trunk. They mentioned that butyric acid is found in human decomp and in rancid butter. I just thought I should mention that butyric acid is also found in vomit. Obviously there was no rancid butter in the trunk, however, a towel that was used to wipe up vomit, then placed in the dirty laundry with other dirty laundry (there was mention of possible laundry in the trunk, in GA’s deposition, and even if I am mistaken about GA’s depo, I will say from personal experience I have had dirty laundry in my trunk) may have transferred trace amounts of vomit to the carpet of the trunk, that could explain the butyric acid on the carpet.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/19/6551.6591.pdf

I believe I am part of a minority that does not believe KC is guilty of premeditated murder. I also believe that I am part of the majority that wants justice for Caylee, and in my opinion justice for Caylee will require finding out the whole truth about what happened to her. Whether the state is correct and KC is guilty of premeditated murder, or there was an accident that caused Caylee’s demise, or that SODDI, I do not know. My opinion that KC is not guilty of premeditated murder is not based on half truths or lies, my opinion is based on reading the docs, and my own interpretation of reading those docs. It is disheartening to me, when I have worked rather hard to state my case as to how I formed my opinion, only to have it disregarded as fabrication, mistruth or attempting to spread rumor. I assure everyone, that is not my intent. My intent is to find out the whole truth about what happened to Caylee. I also believe there are a number of exceptional sleuthers who are very adept at posting links, while others are not, either way I respect their opinions. I am not in any way trying to sway anyone to change their opinion, I am simply stating my own opinion, and how I arrived at that opinion

Are you saying wiped-up bacon grease smells like a dead body?

 

[notthatsmart]

Tulessa, thanks for posting that again. I appreciate you asking the expert. And as indicated, and logic would dictate.......the biological signature of densified bacon fat and grave wax would be entirely different, and a cakewalk for the FBI to differentiate between.

I haven't seen this FBI report. I know I saw a report that said (possible Dr Vass), it was a like adipocere substance, but I have not seen any FBI report that said it was. Does anyone have a link for this? thanks

 

[Tulessa]

I haven't seen this FBI report. I know I saw a report that said (possible Dr Vass), it was a like adipocere substance, but I have not seen any FBI report that said it was. Does anyone have a link for this? thanks

That wasn't from an FBI report. Read my post.

 

[LambChop]

Bacon, salami, ham are processed meats. There are no organs, they don't decompose. This has been discussed here many, many times and that information is available to anyone who has access to the internet. It does not take a scientific study to figure that out. Not sure why it keeps coming up given the fact that the child's remains were found right down the street from where the mother lived and this child did not walk to the site she was taken there in someone's car trunk. From the description of the car when it was last inspected it still had a strong odor. So how many people in that area have a car that smells like decomposition. It would not be very easy to hide. All the information regarding other possibilities that could have happened in the trunk are trumped by the fact that there was a body and the body had to have been brought to the site by someone.

The reasonable conclusion is that unless KC was hauling around a dead pig for a couple of weeks, it was her own child that was in the trunk of her car.

The more the defense argues this point the more I see the jury taking a trip to where ever this car is being stored. And those who already know what decomp smells like know the jury members will never get that smell out of their heads. They'll be smelling it until the end of the trial. JMO

Thank you Tulessa for the information you posted today.

 

[logicalgirl]

I understand but I'm saying show me the bacon. THey say it smelled like a dead body and we HAVE one. I just haven't seen the bacon.

Thanks to you and everyone for responding to my "tongue in cheek" question re the difference between cooked bacon and raw.:banghead:

 

[Tulessa]

Ok I edited to add his response.

Found his answer!

D.P. Lyle, MD said, on October 3, 2009 at 6:07 am

Visually they might appear similar but the lab would have no trouble distinguishing one from the other.

 

[logicalgirl]

I have an off topic suggestion! C'mon Judge JS - give us some more denied motions and you - Baez - get filing some more silly motions - as for Cindy - hey remember the good old days last summer when you really pulled some boners? C'mon - strut your stuff! We need something else to dissect besides the same old same old we've been running around the same race track at least a half a dozen times and had documented, linked conclusions!

 

[Tulessa]

Here is a question someone else posed to him.'


WSH said, on November 10, 2009 at 3:31 pm

1.How would they (the lab) make that determination?

2. Are there different chemical components or reactions in human vs animal adipocere? What are they?

3.And is bacon grease composed of different elements all together from all adipocere?

It seems like some components of adipocere are also within the plant species, ie oleic acid. How do forensic scientists differentiate? Can they know for certain?

D.P. Lyle, MD said, on November 10, 2009 at 8:12 pm

Adipocere is easily recognized by the ME and the lab. It is a chemical reaction between animal fat and the acids and alkalis in the environment so it would appear the same in animals as it does in humans. This would include pigs, the source of bacon. As far as I know this reaction does not occur in plants since they do not have fat.

 

[notthatsmart]

BBM. I posed this same question to an expert. Read below.

Tulessa said, on October 2, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Just a quick question. Can bacon grease be mistaken for grave wax? Say, wiped on a paper towel?

D.P. Lyle, MD said, on October 2, 2009 at 5:11 pm

It’s possible at least visually–particularly if it has been there a while and has dried to a denser consistency.


Tulessa said, on October 3, 2009 at 4:23 am

Ok, I should have been more clear on what I was asking. In a case in Florida, the FBI determined that Grave wax was found on some paper towels in the trunk of a car. Some people have said that it could be plain ole bacon grease. Is that so? Would the FBI not know the difference? Thanks hun!
Found his answer!

D.P. Lyle, MD said, on October 3, 2009 at 6:07 am

Visually they might appear similar but the lab would have no trouble distinguishing one from the other.

http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/dead-folks-and-decay/#comment-534

Bolded by me. Was this the Casey Anthony case? Is there an Fbi report? Or did the Fbi determine that it was grave wax? I am having a real hard time finding documents today. I did not know that the FBI had examined those napkins. Thank you

 

[Tulessa]

Bolded by me. Was this the Casey Anthony case? Is there an Fbi report? Or did the Fbi determine that it was grave wax? I am having a real hard time finding documents today. I did not know that the FBI had examined those napkins. Thank you

Well, If no one throws out a quick link, do what I do and go back through the documents. Maybe some one here can help you.

 

[logicalgirl]

Well, If no one throws out a quick link, do what I do and go back through the documents. Maybe some one here can help you.

Squirrel!! Crickets!!

 

[Tulessa]

Test results from an entomology report (read it) show the trunk reveal the presence of what are called "coffin flies." An entomologist wrote that those are the most common flies found in human decomposition.
[Click for a larger view]

"Coffin Flies" known as the "scuttle fly", is often seen when there is decaying flesh and was recovered from inside a white plastic trash bag that was inside the trunk of the white Pontiac Sunbird vehicle. They found signs of flies that typically arrive both early and late in the decaying process.

Also discovered where phorid flies, which signifies advanced decomposition.

Lotta docs here.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=507681472&blogId=517590524

 

[Tulessa]

Squirrel!! Crickets!!

JarFlies!