Fondef Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological

August, 2011. With an investment of over 450 million, and a duration of three years, was launched at the University of La Frontera FONDEF Project "Development and validation of an expert system based on insect fauna intended cadaverous national forensic application". Source: Gumtree

 

Led by academic UFRO, Dr. Edoardo Tosti-Croce, the study with the collaboration of researchers from the Catholic University of Temuco (UCT), Dr. Ortloff and Patrick Alexander Peña. They join the prosecution team and the Investigations Police of Chile (PDI).

 

The aim of this study-rated as the second best nationally- is to develop a methodology for using Entomological evidence in cases where human bodies are located with some degree of decomposition which pose particular problems, making it a pioneer in the country study in forensics.

 

Present

 

Hitherto, in Chile, the study of wildlife invading a decomposing body was not considered, as explained by the sub-prefect of the PDI of Temuco, Juan Carlos de La Fuente: "Today we are approaching our work from a different perspective, where all we can gather in one place will be a source of information to solve a case ".

 

In this context, UFRO researchers at UCT and have trained some 80 effective from the Homicide and Forensic throughout the country. "We provide theoretical and practical foundations on how to proceed for the proper collection of entomological evidence at the site of an event", said Dr. Ortloff. "It is a specialty that had not been addressed at national or regional level", said regional prosecutor, Francisco Ljubetic. "With this help we will be able to complete the research work of the prosecution, with accurate answers regarding date and place of death- and corresponding scientific rigor ".

 

For the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate UFRO, Dr. Raul Sanchez, this is a good opportunity to show that since regions can make things interesting for the country. "The opportunity to launch this project in conjunction with the UCT, the Public Ministry and the PDI, demonstrates the commitment and conviction that we have as regional institutions, allowing us to reflect on the challenges that this initiative presents ".

 

Methodological manual

 

The project includes the development of a methodological manual Forensic Entomology, that show the main experimental results made, insect species mainly involved in the decomposition process and the interaction between them spatiotemporal, that will reveal the reality of geo-climatic regions where experimental procedures performed.

 

Edition: Gumtree / RR

 

Source: University of La Frontera