Expertos FORENSES examinan una ESCENA DEL CRIMEN...

The work of forensic anthropologists

and criminal experts

begins when a death occurs.

They have located a clandestine grave.

Now they will have to gather all the

evidence from the crime scene.

911. What is your emergency?

I want to report a clandestine grave. I

saw some people digging

and they put something inside, but I

couldn't see well.

Criminal Investigation Agency,

Attorney General's Office of the State of

Guanajuato. The

forensic archaeology unit of the

Criminal Investigation Agency has

received a report from

public safety about a suspected clandestine grave where

human remains are likely to be found, and they are heading

to the site to investigate further

.

In these types of places it is very common to

find graves dug to

deposit the bodies of people who were

killed.

The phenomenon of missing

persons and the discovery of

clandestine graves is one of the

most pressing public problems in all of Mexico.

According to official figures,

there are currently more than 82,000

missing persons in the country,

and

once the team arrives at the location,

they begin to assign the tasks that

each person will perform. They set up their

work area and configure the drone that will be

used later.

The intention is to create a

multidisciplinary group for the work done

in the recovery of

corpses and human remains in

different geographical conditions

within the State. The intention is to

generate an adequate integration of

data, important technical elements in

the [music] investigation of a complementary type in order to

also reach the authority of some other

elements of an

investigation associated with the

commission of a crime.

The first group of forensic experts

is responsible for documenting the site,

tracing routes, and securing evidence on the

surface that may be of

forensic interest, such as

ballistic elements, clothing, or

any object that may contribute to the

investigation. They

will have to conduct both a

visual and physical survey to observe if

there is any abnormal ground movement,

which could help them determine

which area they need to

investigate in more detail.

Every abnormality that is observed is

marked and documented by means of

photographs.

The area is beginning to be delimited.

The officers will have to take all

possible measurements and then

record them in their report. They

also rely on technology and the

use of GPS, which helps them to have the

exact coordinates of the location of the

clue. What we

do is the

planimetry of the place. What we

focus on with the help of GPS are the

coordinates of our entire area

that we are delimiting. It also

helps us in this type of

open field to give an exact coordinate

of the place where the clue was found

.

The Criminal Investigation Agency

has technology that

saves time in locating

possible clandestine graves.

They use drones that have

cameras installed with detectors of gases such as

methane, a signal that could mean

the presence of a body.

The drone with its cameras and

gas detectors is expensive.

From the heights, it will be detecting the

presence of gases and temperatures that

may vary.

The experts' experience helps to

rule out any other gas that is not

actually from a body.

The more violet, blue, and green colors

indicate to me that it is a

colder temperature. As for the yellow and the red,

it's clear that it's hot. This here could be

because the earth is

reflecting the sun's heat back to me. We

bodies emit heat, which it

also detects; that is, it completely detects the change in

temperature

to

detect the methane, which means that there is

something that generates that kind of

methane release.

For example, cow feces

generate a lot of methane, and a decomposing body generates

much more.

The color will be detected right here.

Several flights are made depending on the

size of the area. Here, for example,

two will be made. The first one is for a

general plan that will help to delimit where there is a

greater presence of both gases and

temperature changes.

The second flight will finalize the confirmation.

A first

flight, which could be called a

reconnaissance flight, has just been completed, in which the drone

delimits the areas where they

observe, especially where

the presence of gases such as

methane is detected, and above all, the

temperatures. But once

this part has been delimited, a second flight will be carried out

in which the

focus will be entirely on the areas that have already been

identified in order to

determine even more. Correct?

Yes.

The drone has ruled out other areas of the

site, so another part of the

expert team will carry out the

survey with a T-bar and will

also check for methane emissions

using a device called a diode.

The experts are walking through the

delimited area.

The T-bar is used to check if the soil

was previously disturbed and also if

there is any odor. Computing is

different from where there is a well-defined outline

and there is earth removal

and

considerable depth. We are

looking for different levels

of soil compaction. If you look closely

, you'll see it's quite compact here.

If it were outside of here, wouldn't it?

This could be an indication that

someone may have moved the soil and then

rearranged it.

That's how it is. Yes, it's earth removal,

a preliminary excavation where in the

first stage they excavate, remove the

earth, then they place something, we don't

know what it is. It might be a small

animal, a pet, a

puppy, and they'll probably

put it back, right? So, well, and also,

what we're looking for is a change in

color. They are noticeable around it because there is

even vegetation,

the compaction is very different and it has

a well-defined outline, right?

While the diode, through

a laser it possesses, allows the detection of

places where gases such as methane are emitted

.

The diode has detected something. The

probability of

the presence of a body is increasingly high.

And here it is indicating

some type of gas in that area. It could be

the humidity, it could be anything,

but they are indicating that

the gas is registering there. So, we

marked it during the

prospecting stage to later

check it with ground-penetrating radar to see if there were

any anomalies. In this case,

the removal that exists is being marked here near [music]. They

have also requested the support of

the canine unit, which has

a dog named Togo,

who has been trained to detect

human remains.

The dog teams are transported in

special patrols with fans and

hydration systems.

Once they arrive at the site, his

handler gives him instructions and Togo

begins to search. For him this is a

game, but he doesn't know that he is doing

a very important job for

society.

After sniffing around in different directions,

Dogo has detected something.

He scratches the ground again and sniffs once more

.

It's a sign that there are human remains.

She turns to look at her handler and

confirms it.

Well, we regularly arrive at the areas to be

inspected. After the anthropology team,

they do the sweep and then

they pick at the area so that the dog can

better perceive the smell. We went in and

the dog started searching

according to the changes he could

make, because, for example, he was drawn to

the air coming this way

and so it was more beneficial for the dog

to inspect like that and follow the

air current. And once he

got here, at this point, he

started to sniff around a bit more in

a more specific place.

Exact.

And he starts scratching.

Yes. That's his way of saying, "Here's

something." He starts scratching and

turns to look at you, waiting for payment.

So, at this point, it would be

confirmed that

this is indeed the point where there might be

something.

Yes. And then the colleagues arrive and

do the excavation [music]

or they can bring in other equipment to

see if there really is something there or not.

One of the latest studies carried out by

forensic archaeology experts is

with a ground-penetrating radar

. It is a geophysical method that

uses radar pulses to obtain

images of the subsurface. It is a non-

destructive technique that allows the visualization

of structures and elements below the

surface of the ground without the need for

excavation.

This equipment can assist in

search and rescue operations to locate

victims buried in disasters such as

earthquakes, landslides,

avalanches, or in this case, in a

clandestine grave.

And this is the last one so we can see how

deep and what dimensions [music]

this anomaly has. And when

we detect that there is an

anomaly, there is a reasonable doubt to be

able to excavate, it goes to the end

of the excavation, this forensic examination is already in order to

begin. And if not, we can go

to the different points or all the

points that are being marked by a

traditional prospecting with a diode, with

the K9 and with the drone. Let's use the Geo

to see and visualize what's

happening underground.

Teamwork is crucial here.

Once the ground-penetrating radar studies are available

, the results are shared so

that the team that will carry out the excavation

has an understanding of the terrain and, above all,

the care to avoid damaging the body or

possible evidence.

Before starting the excavation,

the site must be registered to be included in the

report, as well as all measurements and

photographs that can document

the entire process for legal and

investigative purposes.

After completing all the

previous steps, it's time for the team to

do the excavation.

Since it is a small pit, they have determined

that shovels, picks and buckets will be used

to transport the removed earth.

One of the experts seems to have

found something.

These are the first remains,

so they will have to document the scene.

They use some measuring tapes to

be able to demonstrate the actual size of the

evidence, as well as the position in which it

was found, which will be

marked with an evidence number.

More delicate equipment should also be used,

such as special brushes that

allow for greater care with the

evidence.

The expert has located something.

Another group of forensic archaeologists are

examining the disturbed earth. on the

other hand. No,

where they have also found

ballistic elements.

These spent cartridge cases are

important during the

investigation,

as they contain

particular characteristics that can

help identify the

firing weapon.

Each of them is marked with the

evidence number and then

photographed.

I am making them; they

will later be packaged to be

sent to the ballistics laboratory that

the

Criminal Investigation Agency has.

This will allow for further study and an

attempt to compare the weapon's fingerprints

to identify if there is a

previous report.

When we find a clue, [music]

in this case it comes down to

ballistic elements such as shell casings. What we

try to do is ensure that each piece of evidence

found is removed from its individual location

and properly

packaged. Here we find two, which

are the caps marked as number two

and number three. [music] In this case, it is

packaged to be sent to its

respective laboratory, which in this case

will be the ballistics laboratory or

the Ibis, as it is known.

The team of experts at

the excavation site have located a suitcase.

Before removing the suitcase, they must take

measures as with the other clues that have been

collected.

Now that the scene has been secured and

the necessary reports taken, it's time to

analyze what's

inside the suitcase.

First they will take the bone and

flesh remains that were found.

They are probably some

human ribs.

See the hand.

The suitcase will be taken to a

work table that was previously set up.

Additional photographs will be taken to capture

different angles and perspectives.

Once the fellow archaeologists

indicate to us or give us access to the

elements, the clues, they

bring them to the tables and we

first document how they

are giving them to us, then we clean them to

verify that they are

human bones or if they are of animal origin and

also to see some

characteristics that we can, such as

some cuts or fractures in this case

[music], and also to identify what type

of bone it is. In this case, they are fragments

of rib arches,

and we make a record on a form that,

later, once they are cleaned and

the fixation or

photography is done again, we record

all the characteristics that we

are finding, as I said, such as

cuts. In this case it is also

important to mention that they still have

fabric and this is to take photographs of

the details.

The suitcase is opened to check its

contents.

An electronic device is located in one of his bags

,

which will have to be secured and

numbered.

The device found will also be

packaged to be sent to the

appropriate laboratory.

Upon further opening of the suitcase,

some black bags are found.

The smell begins to be felt in the

air.

Each bag is placed on the table.

At each step, the

respective evidence of photographs and

measurements must be taken.

The black bags are opened and

inside there are remains of bones.

Now it will have to be verified whether the

remains belong to a single body or to

more than one.

Each part is placed on the

work table.

In addition to the remains of associates,

clothing items have also been found. The

skull appears covered. This sign

could indicate possible torture and

execution, but that can only be

determined once

the corresponding studies have been carried out.

Each piece of evidence is reviewed again

.

Forensic anthropologists will be in charge

of assembling the skeleton that was found. With their

expertise they will be able to determine if it

belongs to a single body, as well as

verify if any

part of it is missing.

Yes, what we are going to do now is

proceed to put

the bony elements in anatomical position to see if we

need any other elements.

And at this moment we are starting

to lateralize right, left,

the upper and lower bones of the

extremities. So that's what we're going to

start doing, and we'll also look at some

individualizing characteristics

that can help us in the

identification process.

Once the associated remains have been grouped together

, an inventory and

record of the

taphonomic alterations is made. the bag

.

The photographs are taken and

finally the members' remains are packed by

group. This will allow the

relevant laboratory to perform an

analysis more quickly.

Once everything is organized, you will be placed

in a special bag in which you will be

transported.

The investigation will continue in

different laboratories where

they will determine the probable causes of

death and try to identify the

person's identity.

Regarding the pit, it is

refilled with earth, leaving some

strips that, for the experts, are signs that they have

already been analyzed.

This case involved a simulation of

a clandestine grave. It is one of the

activities that are constantly carried out

for the training of

forensic anthropologists, as well as the training of

the canine teams to be able to detect the

presence of human remains.

The Guanajuato State Attorney General's Office

has multiple

certifications in

international quality and scientific standards

within the field of

criminal investigation, which leads the institution

to deliver conclusive results in

record time.

In the next episode,

when a person is found

dead and there is no way to identify them,

the deceased persons investigation unit

of the

Criminal Investigation Agency of the

Guanajuato Prosecutor's Office must carry out

DNA studies, fingerprints,

photographic recognition or information analysis

in order to identify whose

body it is. F.