Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Windsor
$70,825.00
A Pan-Canadian Study of Forensically Relevant Scavenger Guilds to Improve Police Search Protocols for Human Remains
FY 2024-25
Summary
Every year, between 70,000 to 80,000 people go missing in Canada. For those who are not found within the first few days, the likelihood of discovery is significantly reduced over time. The search and recovery of their remains is the mandate of police agencies. Current search protocols rely on theoretical or anecdotal evidence from disparate ecosystems and do not accurately consider the impact of vertebrate scavengers in dispersing human remains in the Canadian landscape. This lack of knowledge can be immensely detrimental to the likelihood of discovering human remains using current search protocols.
Our collaborative approach between academic researchers and police and volunteer end-users will produce new search protocols for locating human remains, informed by scientific evidence of the scavenger guilds for disparate regions of Canada. The new knowledge will include information about the most likely scavengers for a particular location and season; the typical pattern, distance and direction of dispersal for a species; the type and degree of remains that may be recoverable; and the percent that can be predictably found after variable postmortem intervals. Our partnership will increase the likelihood of recovering and identifying victims by improving our knowledge of how and where to search for scattered remains in diverse regions of Canada.
The recovery of human remains is particularly important in investigations where a criminal event has occurred (e.g. homicide). Current data in Canada suggests homicide rates are seven times higher in people with Indigenous identity; many of these go unsolved as evidenced by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). An evidence-informed search protocol will improve the likelihood of locating these marginalized victims, and importantly any victim of violence, allowing the return of their remains to their grieving families. The outcomes of this research will therefore have significant societal impact by helping to bring missing persons home.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
592400-2023
Name nom
Forbes, Shari SL
Department département
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Organization id
37
Institution établissement
University of Windsor
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2023
Award amount
70825
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1200
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application fr
Avancement des connaissances
Research subject code
5500
Research subject group en
Animal biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie animale
Research subject en
Animal biology
Research subject fr
Biologie animale
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
A Pan-Canadian Study of Forensically Relevant Scavenger Guilds to Improve Police Search Protocols for Human Remains
Keywords
dispersal behaviour; forensic ecology; forensic taphonomy; human remains; law enforcement; search and recovery; skeletal elements; vertebrate scavengers
Application summary
Every year, between 70,000 to 80,000 people go missing in Canada. For those who are not found within the first few days, the likelihood of discovery is significantly reduced over time. The search and recovery of their remains is the mandate of police agencies. Current search protocols rely on theoretical or anecdotal evidence from disparate ecosystems and do not accurately consider the impact of vertebrate scavengers in dispersing human remains in the Canadian landscape. This lack of knowledge can be immensely detrimental to the likelihood of discovering human remains using current search protocols.
Our collaborative approach between academic researchers and police and volunteer end-users will produce new search protocols for locating human remains, informed by scientific evidence of the scavenger guilds for disparate regions of Canada. The new knowledge will include information about the most likely scavengers for a particular location and season; the typical pattern, distance and direction of dispersal for a species; the type and degree of remains that may be recoverable; and the percent that can be predictably found after variable postmortem intervals. Our partnership will increase the likelihood of recovering and identifying victims by improving our knowledge of how and where to search for scattered remains in diverse regions of Canada.
The recovery of human remains is particularly important in investigations where a criminal event has occurred (e.g. homicide). Current data in Canada suggests homicide rates are seven times higher in people with Indigenous identity; many of these go unsolved as evidenced by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). An evidence-informed search protocol will improve the likelihood of locating these marginalized victims, and importantly any victim of violence, allowing the return of their remains to their grieving families. The outcomes of this research will therefore have significant societal impact by helping to bring missing persons home.
