Case report: DNA identification of burned skeletal remains

Abstract For identification of skeletal remains and solving missing persons cases, the forensic application of the latest DNA technology is of utmost importance. In our casework, most extraction attempts of skeletal remains from cases of criminal burning, with intention to destroy the body, were successful. This paper represents our approach and the results obtained during identification of burned skeletal remains. The body of the missing fifty-two-year-old taxi driver was found burned in the trunk of a car. The DNA was extracted from the powder bone using organic protocol and amplified by AmpFlSTR ® Identifiler ® Plus (Applied Biosystems), AmpFlSTR ® NGM™ (Applied Biosystems) and AmpFlSTR ® Yfiler ® (Applied Biosystems). Complete DNA profiles obtained using all three applied kits, were a match with the reference sample victim's son. In addition, we analyzed 5 DNA extracts, corresponding to 5 different burned body identification cases from 2009 using AmpFlSTR ® NGM™ kit. Concordant results were obtained for the STR loci between AmpFlSTR ® Identifiler ® kit which was used back then and AmpFlSTR ® NGM™ which is on our disposal today, including 5 additional loci expanded ESS.