Abstract
This article aims to evaluate estimation of the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) for cadavers recovered from the Pacific Ocean in the South Kanto area of Japan. Data were collected from crime scene reports in the 3rd Regional Coast Guard Headquarters over a 11-year period. Approximate time of PMSI was available for 72 cases with the decomposition stage from photo pictures at the scene. No visible changes in the skin of the hands and feet counted from 27 cases, wrinkling and discoloration in 28 cases, and degloving in 17 cases. The average (±S.D.) of accumulated degree days (ADD) was 2.0±3.3, 24.5±19.1, 164.0±112.5, respectively. As minimum ADD, wrinkling and degloving were expected to be formed in 9.4 and 77.8, respectively, which corresponded to a half day and four days at 20°C of sea water temperature. In comparison with other findings, degloving was accompanied by bloated abdomen, sloughing of hairs, and peeling of nails. The characteristic changes of the hands and feet were helpful to estimate PMSI for submerged cadavers. We expect to apply this finding to criminal investigation at the scene.
