Modelling Thermal Aspects of Decomposition

Temperature modelling at a crime scene is crucial for forensic investigators to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI\(_\mathrm{min}\)) of a cadaver. Upon death, insect species deposit eggs, and the resulting rate of development of the larvae are primarily temperature driven. By knowing the historical ambient temperature, development stage, and specific species of the larvae found on a cadaver, an accurate estimate can be made for this interval. The actual temperature of the remains prior to discovery cannot be determined without at least historical environmental temperature data. In this research we examine the possibility of inferring the thermal environment of the growing larvae and extracting a characteristic heat flux profile intrinsic to the growing insect population. The external environmental temperature can be combined with this profile to provide a much more accurate predictor of the temperature experienced by the larvae than is currently used and consequently a more reliable estimate of the PMI\(_\mathrm{min}\).