[Dumping of corpses in compost bins--two forensic entomological case reports]. / Leichen-"Entsorgung" in einer Biotonne--zwei forensisch-entomologische Fallberichte.

Two cases from the Ruhr Area in Western Germany are presented. In each case, the deceased had been wrapped in plastic bags and placed inside a large compost bin in the backyard of the property. In both cases, the relatives claimed that the decedent had died from a natural cause and that they had concealed the body to ensure the further payment of the nursing care and pension benefits. In the first case, the responsible person stated that the body had been inside the bin for three years; in case 2 the postmortem interval indicated was 6 months. In spite of the closed lid of the bin the insect infestation was extensive and rich in species: Empty pupal cases of several blowfly species were collected as well as histerids and pupal cases of Fannia scalaris in the first case. In case 2, phorids and larval skins of dermestids were also found.

Estimation of the time since death: sudden increase of ambient temperature.

This work presents a procedure for the postmortem interval estimation in the presence of a rapid increase of ambient temperature occurred during the cooling phase. The resulting disturbance produced on the cooling curve is proved to obey a two-exponential law and is removed from the actually measured body temperature. This yields a theoretical/modified body temperature, which enables the estimation of the time since death by means of the standard Nomogram method.