WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGERY: VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED THE BODY FARM & Madeleine McCann Stephen Birch’s investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann involved undertaking a significant amount of research work before he eventually departed for Praia da Luz from South Africa and entered the Murat property, in search of Madeleine’s corpse. As part of his initial investigation, Stephen had soil samples obtained from three separate locations in the town of Praia da Luz, and send to him in South Africa. The soil samples were analyzed and it was established that they consisted of layered shale. During March 2012 Stephen began consulting with Professor Murray Marks who runs “The Body Farm” in Knoxville Tennessee USA. The body farm is run on behalf of the University of Tennessee. Professor Marks research focuses on mineralized tissue biology and histology; dental enamel histopathology; skeletal trauma histology; fetal dental development, human identification/forensic anthropology. The world famous body farm is a farm where human bodies are left outside to study the various stages of decomposition for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) used in solving homicides. Stephen wanted to establish the degree of decomposition Madeleine’s body would have undergone over a five year period. Professor Marks wanted to know the composition of the soil and the ground water table, in order to make a prediction as to the degree of decomposition the body would have undergone. Professor Marks advised Stephen that the presence of water increased the rate of decomposition, while soil containing clay and being impermeable, reduced the decomposition process, as it acted to mummify/ preserve the body and retard the decomposition process. The soil found in Praia da Luz contained no such clay, and since the ground was permeable, Professor Marks advised Stephen that a five year old corpse would comprise only of bones, teeth (the hardest part of the human body) and maybe some hair depending on the degree of mummification. Professor Marks also advised Stephen that if the child was placed in a bag or wrapped up, increasing the degree of mummification, skin on the forehead might be retrieved. Professor Marks went on further to advise Stephen that if the child’s corpse was found wrapped up in a blanket or placed in a bag and made to be in a comfortable position in the grave,( a form of embalming) there would be a strong likelihood that the child was buried by a caring relative.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:48:28 +0000
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