Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry as part of an integrated multidisciplinary approach in a complex cadaver case

The forensic investigation of severely decomposed or skeletonized human remains poses considerable diagnostic challenges, often limiting the effectiveness of traditional autopsy approaches. This study describes a homicide case involving partially skeletonized remains recovered in an abandoned rural building, demonstrating the crucial role of Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) in determining cause and manner of death. The investigation was carried out using a multidisciplinary approach including post-mortem computed tomography (MSCT), entomological analysis, histology, immunohistochemistry, and SEM-EDS microanalysis. Entomological findings and the Total Decomposition Score (TDS = 14) indicated a post-mortem interval of approximately 4–5 months. Immunohistochemistry revealed extravascular positivity for Glycophorin A, confirming lesion vitality despite advanced decomposition. SEM-EDS analysis, conducted following internationally validated sampling protocols for inorganic gunshot residue (GSR) on skeletal tissues, identified characteristic particles of oxidized lead, barium, and sulphur at the orbital fracture margin, strongly indicative of a firearm entry wound. Control sampling from unaffected cranial regions was negative, confirming specificity. The colocalization of ballistic residues and fracture morphology supported the conclusion that death resulted from a cranial gunshot trauma. These findings align closely with previously published case series involving SEM-EDS analysis in similarly complex forensic contexts particularly those described by Amadasi et al. This case highlights the forensic value and reliability of SEM-EDS for detecting GSR under severe taphonomic conditions, reinforcing the necessity of integrating radiological, entomological, histological, and advanced microscopic techniques to resolve complex forensic scenarios where traditional autopsy methods are severely limited.