Using Ninhydrin to Detect Gravesoil*

David O. Carter Ph.D.

School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 202 Plant Industry Building, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, USA.

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David Yellowlees Ph.D.,

David Yellowlees Ph.D.

School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

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Mark Tibbett Ph.D.,

Mark Tibbett Ph.D.

Centre for Land Rehabilitation, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia.

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David O. Carter Ph.D.,

David O. Carter Ph.D.

School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 202 Plant Industry Building, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816, USA.

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David Yellowlees Ph.D.,

David Yellowlees Ph.D.

School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

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Mark Tibbett Ph.D.,

Mark Tibbett Ph.D.

Centre for Land Rehabilitation, School of Earth and Geographical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia.

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First published: 24 March 2008

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00681.x

Citations: 40

Additional information and reprint requests:
David O. Carter, Ph.D.
Department of Entomology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
202 Plant Industry Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0816
E-mail: [email protected]

Presented in part at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 19–24, 2007.

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Abstract

Abstract: Some death scene investigations commence without knowledge of the location of the body and/or decomposition site. In these cases, it is necessary to locate the remains or the site where the body decomposed prior to movement. We hypothesized that the burial of a mammalian cadaver will result in the release of ninhydrin reactive nitrogen (NRN) into associated soil and that this reaction might have potential as a tool for the identification of clandestine graves. Juvenile rat (Rattus rattus) cadavers were buried in three contrasting soil types in Australian tropical savanna ecosystems and allowed to decompose over a period of 28 days. Soils were sequentially harvested and analyzed for NRN. Cadaver burial resulted in an approximate doubling (mean = 1.7 ± 0.1) in the concentration of soil NRN. This reaction has great potential to be used as a presumptive test for gravesoil and this use might be greatly enhanced following more detailed research.

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Volume53, Issue2

March 2008

Pages 397-400

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