The criminal use of explosives has increased in recent years. Political instability and the wide spread access to the internet, filled with "homemade recipes," are two conjectures for the increase. C-4 is a plastic bonded explosive (PBX) comprised of 91% of the high explosive RDX, 1.6% processing oils, 5.3% plasticizer, and 2.1% polyisobutylene (PIB). C-4 is most commonly used for military purposes, but also has found use in commercial industry as well. Current methods for the forensic analysis of C-4 are limited to identification of the explosive; however, recent publications have suggested the plausibility of discrimination between C-4 samples based upon the processing oils and stable isotope ratios. This research focuses on the discrimination of C-4 samples based on ratios of RDX to HMX, a common impurity resulting from RDX synthesis. The relative amounts of HMX are a function of the RDX synthetic route and conditions. RDX was extracted from different C-4 samples and was analyzed by ESI-MS-SIM as the chloride adduct, EI-GC-MS-SIM, and NICI-GC-MS. Ratios (RDX/HMX) were calculated for each method. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Tukey HSD allowed for an overall discriminating power to be assessed for each analytical method. The C-4 processing oils were also extracted, and analyzed by direct exposure probe mass spectrometry (DEP-MS) with electron ionization, a technique that requires less than two minutes for analysis. The overall discriminating power of the processing oils was calculated by conducting a series of t tests. Lastly, a set of heterogeneous commercial blasting agents were analyzed by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The data was analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA), and the possibility of creating a searchable library was explored.

Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) is a primary high explosive that can be synthesized using commercially available starting materials and has grown in use among terrorists over the past several years. Additives present in the precursors were investigated to see if they carry through the TATP synthesis and can be detected in the final product potentially aiding in the identification of the source. Additives identified in the acetones were also identified in pre-blast and in some post-blast samples. However, these additives are present in trace quantities relative to the TATP, which coupled with the volatility and short lifetimes of some of the additives in TATP samples limit their detection in pre-blast and post-blast material. TATP prepared with different acids in the laboratory could generally be discriminated by observing the change in composition of the headspace of the samples upon heating and by IMS analysis of the crystals. The analysis of TATP synthesized on a larger scale was compared to the laboratory results of pre-blast material and post-blast debris. As in the laboratory samples, organic additives were also detected in the large-scale pre-blast samples and the identification of the additives in post-blast debris was consistent with the results obtained in the laboratory detonations.

Forensic anthropology, forensic taphonomy and forensic entomology are specialties that greatly contribute to judicial investigations and the identification of a decomposing corpse. This research examines the effect of calcium oxide (CaO), known as “quicklime”, on the decomposition process of human remains in a tropical climate. Quicklime has been used since the Early Iron Age, in wars, mass graves and today by criminals, as there is a belief or social myth that it can speed up the process of decomposition of bodies. However, there are no studies on the effect of this chemical on decomposing bodies in a tropical climate. Puerto Rico, in addition to having this climate, has a high crime rate related to drug trafficking. This study uses a series (n=10) of pig (Sus scrofa) burials as a model for human corpses, which were documented through photographs and state of decomposition, as well as climatic conditions, soil pH, odor of decomposition, and the lost mass. The author hypothesizes that the tropical climate contributes to the rapid decomposition of bodies by altering their appearance and morphology; since it is warmer, bacteria multiply more quickly and the entomofauna is more active, in comparison with studies already carried out in temperate climates. In addition, quicklime helps soft tissue decomposition proceed faster and reduces decomposition odor. Among the results, it was observed that there was no acceleration in the decomposition process due to the application of calcium oxide, and this chemical does not have the qualities attributed to it by social myths regarding the complete destruction of human remains, which could be considered an advantage for investigators in cases where there is a buried corpse covered in quicklime. However, it was possible to show that among other effects of quicklime, it subjectively reduces the odor of decomposition, inhibits and/or reduces the activity of the entomofauna, maintains a soil with an alkaline pH and therefore caused the mummification of the body. It can be suggested that the tropical climate helps in an effective decomposition due to the high temperatures, the humidity, and the activity of the entomofauna. Therefore, in both temperate and tropical climates, quicklime does not accelerate the decomposition process, but in a tropical climate it can inhibit the activity of entomofauna and the odor of decomposition. Statistically, results show that the Total Body Score (TBS) did not vary significantly, but the percentage of Mass Loss (ML) had a statistical difference due to the adhesion of the compacted quicklime to the experimental carcasses which increased the overall mass and not because a difference in the actual tissue loss was measured. This is since the decay process almost stopped after 77 days of burial and the mass loss nearly ceased, because with more days of rain and humidity, the more chemical reaction quicklime does (turning it into hydrated lime), causing solidification and mummification in the experimental pig carcasses. The quicklime also maintained an alkaline pH in the pig carcasses compared to the acidic pH of the controls after the decomposition. Therefore, quicklime causes a very sudden dehydration, and, in this sense, it prevents the proliferation of bacteria and, therefore, putrefaction, causing a mummification process. In addition, with the results obtained in this investigation and in other future ones, it will be possible to add scientific, anthropological, and forensic data on the analysis of the effects of quicklime in the stages of decomposition of human remain and in different deposition environments, to establish the time elapsed between death and the moment in which the body has been buried (exposed or not to quicklime) and contribute to criminal cases.

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<p> Yokem Mounds and its neighboring lower Illinois River valley sites were part of a dramatic cultural shift that occurred during the transition from the Late Woodland period (A.D. 400-1050) to the Mississippian period (A.D. 1050-1400) of Illinois prehistory. Evident changes in diet, burial treatment, and material culture accompanied this transition at Yokem Mounds. What remains unknown is whether the transition co-occurred with a population displacement by originators of the Mississippian culture, the Cahokians, or other Mississippian immigrants. My ancient DNA analysis of Yokem Mounds 1-5 tackled this question, as well as described other cultural behaviors in order to identify additional impacts of the Mississippian culture. </p><p> I typed the mitochondrial DNA of 21 Late Woodland and 23 Mississippian individuals and placed the results within the context of previous genetic studies of the lower Illinois River valley and other ancient Midwest populations. I determined that there was genetic continuity between the Late Woodland and Mississippian populations, both populations practiced patrilocal postmarital residence patterns, and neither had burial patterns organized by matrilines. The differences in maize consumption as determined by stable isotopic signatures amongst the Late Woodland population were not associated with matrilineal familial diet preference. The population genetic analysis identified genetic connections between Yokem Mounds and contemporaneous populations at Schild Cemetery, Orendorf, and Angel Mounds; but Yokem Mounds was significantly different from the Oneota population at Norris Farms #36. Additionally, <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Complex DNA was recovered from eleven individuals from Yokem Mounds and Schild Cemetery. Notably, two of these individuals date to the Middle Woodland period (100 B.C.-A.D. 400), which is the earliest identification of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex DNA in the lower Illinois River valley. Overall, this research further expands our understanding of Native American prehistory and the demographic changes that occurred prior to European contact.</p>

The number of forensic psychiatric commitments has drastically increased over the last decade, now surpassing civil commitments in Texas. This uptick is a result in part of two main policy shifts during the middle of the 20th century: deinstitutionalization and over incarceration fueled primarily by the War on Drugs. Although the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 was meant to replace inpatient services, few centers are adequately funded. As highlighted in the news, the combined effect is illustrated in the numbers: 1 million individuals with serious mental health disorders are booked into local jails each year and half of all incarcerated individuals are experiencing a mental health problem of some kind. To address this growing population and to prevent individuals who are criminally court-ordered to receive mental health treatment from lingering in jail for unconstitutional lengths of time, many states including Texas have been forced to find or create new forensic beds, sometimes even building new facilities. This demand for forensic beds has created opportunities for private prison companies to expand into mental health. GEO Group, one of the largest prison corporations in the world, already owns or operates five psychiatric facilities in the U.S., including one in Montgomery County, Texas, before it was acquired by Correct Care Solutions. Much like in the private prison industry, for-profit private corporations have an incentive to continue to grow the forensic psychiatric population, which contradicts best practices regarding treatment for individuals with mental illness taking place in the least restrictive environment. In order to prevent opportunities where states rely on private prison corporations because of cost savings promises, research and advocacy regarding alternatives for states attempting to curb a growing forensic psychiatric population are needed. / text

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