An AI tool trained on chemical signatures from corpse-eating insects may help determine the time and place of death for victims of violent crimes.
Crime scene clues from blowflies can help reveal a victim's time of death and other details, even years later, by analyzing the puparial casings left behind by the insects.
According to Rabi Musah, an organic chemist at Louisiana State University, accurately estimating the time of death requires identifying the species of insects present, as different species mature at different rates.
figuring out which species you’re dealing with is crucial
Musah's team has developed a rapid method to identify the species, which could aid investigators in calculating the time of death.
Author's summary: AI tool helps crime forensics using insect signatures.