Abstract

Autopsy of an unknown descendent is always a challenging task for the forensic experts, unfortunately which often brings no significant results. The reasons may be reluctant investigating authority, lack of proper history, decomposed, skeletonized or mutilated body etc. Unfortunately, much desired interest is not shown by investigating authority as well as forensic experts, unless and until there is suspicion of foul play or any obvious prima facie evidence suggestive of homicidal manner of death. As a result most of the time actual cause and manner of death remains a mystery. Here we have studied 104 cases of such unknown and unclaimed descendents with respect to their incidence, identification and cause of death. Incidence of unknown cases was found to be 4.17% of total cases.19% of the total cases was identified successfully by means of different parameters of identification. 58% deceased died due to unnatural cause. Cause of death in most of the cases was found to be multiple injuries (27%), followed by head injury (14%), whereas pulmonary TB was the leading culprit among natural deaths. 

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