Phencyclidine (PCP), a Schedule II dissociative anesthetic, is no longer prescribed. Recreational use of PCP still exists, often localized to certain metropolitan areas in the United States, including the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. corridor. PCP was detected in 3.07% of the Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) cases in Virginia and 0.55% of medical examiner cases from 2020 to 2024. For the northern region of Virginia, PCP was detected in 8.08% of the DUID cases and 1.76% of the medical examiner cases from 2020 to 2024. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of PCP in a postmortem overdose case where the concentration was reported as present greater than 2000 ng/mL. The subject was a 47-year-old individual who had a history of PCP use. An Agilent Technologies 7890A/5975C Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) operated in selected ion-monitoring (SIM) mode was used after PCP was extracted in triplicate using a liquid/liquid alkaline extraction. The mean PCP concentration of the three replicates was approximately 5400 ng/mL. The concentration of PCP in this case is at a much higher concentration than other PCP cases from 2020 to 2024 in Virginia and consistent with literature results for PCP fatalities. After postmortem examination ("foam cone" with no trauma to the body) and review of toxicology results (negative in all analyses except PCP), the cause of death was determined to be "PCP Intoxication." This case provides detailed information on behavior and autopsy findings for a PCP overdose death, where death was due to PCP intoxication as opposed to intoxicated behavior.

Bed-related deaths are rare in forensic practice and are usually associated with falls, restraint-related entrapment, or unsafe infant sleeping environments. Fatal mechanical asphyxia involving lift-up storage beds is an exceptional occurrence, and the few published cases involve adult victims. We report the first pediatric fatality caused by neck entrapment in the closing mechanism of an ottoman-style storage bed. An 8-year-old boy was found prone and unconscious, with his head trapped between the lowered mattress-support frame and the storage compartment below. Facial cyanosis and congestion were observed at the scene. Advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation restored spontaneous circulation after prolonged cardiac arrest, but the subsequent clinical course was characterized by severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Brain death was declared 1 week after the incident. No autopsy was performed. The forensic investigation combined medico-legal assessment, clinical and radiological review, scene examination, and engineering analysis of the bed mechanism. Technical testing excluded a manufacturing defect and demonstrated incorrect assembly of the bed, with accidental interchanging of externally similar components. The available evidence supported the hypothesis of fatal traumatic mechanical asphyxia due to extrinsic cervical compression. Vascular obstruction, particularly impaired jugular venous drainage and reduced cerebral perfusion, was considered the primary mechanism, with possible contributions from carotid compression and reflex neurogenic mechanisms. This case illustrates the importance of integrating circumstantial, clinical, radiological, and technical data. It also demonstrates that ordinary furniture may become lethal when safety-critical components are installed incorrectly, underscoring the need for preventive and safety measures during assembly of lift-up storage beds.

Video forgery has become increasingly prevalent with advanced editing tools, posing serious threats to digital media authenticity. However, existing approaches used for detecting manipulations often faced challenges in handling intra-frame forgeries, decreased generalization, sensitivity to noise, and inadequate selection of key frames, thus leading to a decrease in the overall detection performance. To tackle these issues and to design an effective intra-frame forgery detection system, this research proposes an Optimized Multi-level Mixed Attention-enabled Hybrid Learning-based Bidirectional Gradient (OM[2]AHL-BiG) Model. The framework leverages the hybrid learning technique to enhance representation of features, Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) for understanding long-range temporal dependencies, and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) for precise classification. Additionally, the mixed attention mechanisms allow for refining relevant features, and the Cooperative Search Hunter optimization (CoSH) is designed for hyperparameter tuning in order to improve the detection accuracy. Overall, the OM[2]AHL-BiG model results in enhanced detection, adaptability to various forgery types, and improved interpretability, making it an effective solution for detecting deepfake and intra-frame video forgeries. The experimental results obtained on the FaceForensics++ dataset showcased an improved performance under 90% of training percentage by yielding an accuracy of 98.62%, precision of 99.2%, sensitivity of 98.04%, specificity of 98.91%, and 98.62% F1 score, surpassing conventional approaches effectively.

Medicolegal death investigators sit at the nexus of forensic science, the criminal justice system, and family-facing trauma response, often engaging all three in a single case. They are a critical part of the criminal justice system, yet one of the least studied groups of practitioners in the burnout literature. The current study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological design and reflexive thematic analysis as the analytic process to explore the experience and understanding of burnout among 16 medicolegal and coroner investigators from 9 U.S. states in the context of their everyday work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and analyzed using NVivo 14. Six interrelated themes emerged from the data: social climate, environmental variability, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, lack of support, and personal disposition. Annual caseloads ranged from 265 to greater than 1000 per investigator. That volume is comparable to or exceeds the recommended maximum of 250 autopsies per year per forensic pathologist from the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), the most similar published professional workload standard, and chronic understaffing was nearly universal. Investigators frequently mentioned being "forgotten" by their organizations and the larger criminal justice system. Peer recognition, intentional self-care, and what participants called dispositional awareness functioned as protective resources. The findings suggest that burnout in this population is less a failure of individual coping and more a structural consequence of organizational neglect, with implications for leadership practice, mental health policy, and workforce retention in medicolegal agencies.

Indirect fractures from gunshot wounds can occur when a projectile impacts soft tissue without making direct contact with the bone. Existing biomechanical and clinical research suggests that indirect fractures result in lower levels of comminution, and that resultant fracture patterns can resemble those seen in blunt force trauma (e.g., wedge-shape, oblique, transverse). In this paper, we document the occurrence, characterize fracture patterning, and highlight challenges in the analysis of indirect fractures using three independent sources of data: (1) forensic cases from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID); (2) experimental data from gunshot trauma in animal bone; and (3) a survey of forensic practitioners on gunshot wound interpretation. Our analysis demonstrates that indirect fractures from gunshot trauma in long bones are indeed present in forensic casework, and that, in the absence of other lines of evidence (e.g., presence of defects on other bones, recovered bullet fragments, information about the scene), they are predominantly identified by analysts as resulting from non-gunshot mechanisms of injury. Indirect fractures therefore represent a significant challenge for interpreting the mechanisms and circumstances of injury, as they may be misclassified as blunt force trauma rather than gunshot related; this may produce incorrect conclusions impacting both the direction of the forensic investigation and type of prosecution. Research into the biomechanical conditions contributing to indirect fracture formation is therefore imperative to strengthen anthropological understanding of fracture morphological variability in gunshot trauma.

Determining the sequence of handwriting and laser-printed text on documents that do not intersect is a recurring challenge in forensic document examination. This study proposes using background toner particle distribution analysis combined with kernel density estimation and likelihood ratio calculation to evaluate printing-writing sequence. Toner particle density was measured by manual counting under near-infrared microscopic imaging at 200× magnification across controlled conditions using three black-toner laser printers. Toner particle density within pen strokes differed significantly by sequence, while intra-page location, distance from pen strokes, and writing orientation showed no significant effect. Pages containing printed text exhibited significantly higher background toner density in unprinted regions than blank pages. A diminishing depletion effect was observed across successive paper layers in stacked printing. The proposed framework provides a quantitative and transparent approach to sequence determination, with a Student's t-test alternative when reference materials are unavailable.

Interpreting skeletal trauma requires understanding how fracture outcomes reflect both extrinsic loading conditions and intrinsic biological variation. However, the contribution of biological variability to fracture behavior remains poorly defined, even under controlled loading conditions. This study examines how intrinsic factors influence fracture outcomes in human tibiae subjected to blunt impacts. Sixty human tibiae were experimentally loaded under consistent dynamic four-point bending conditions. Fracture count and morphology were evaluated in relation to age, sex, body composition, and tibial geometry using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical approaches. Fracture outcomes ranged from simple to complex despite identical loading conditions. Fracture count showed limited association with biological or skeletal variables and was a limited standalone indicator of trauma severity under controlled conditions. Fracture morphology varied across sex and showed significant differences with BMI, weight, and age. Multivariate statistics identified clustering patterns not apparent in univariate analyses. These findings indicate that intrinsic biological variability contributes to fracture outcomes and that fracture morphology reflects the interaction of biological and mechanical factors and extrinsic loading. Together, these results show that both the individual and the event contribute to fracture morphology, limiting its use as a standalone indicator of force or injury mechanism in forensic interpretation.

Systematic, paired quantitative evidence on how handwriting changes when the non-dominant hand is used remains limited in forensic document examination, despite its frequent relevance in cases involving disguise and authorship concealment. This study presents the first large-scale within-writer analysis examining general and individual handwriting characteristics using statistical testing and predictive modeling. Handwriting samples were collected from 94 right-handed participants, each of whom produced the same standardized text with both the dominant and non-dominant hand. Thirteen general and 19 individual handwriting characteristics were evaluated following established forensic criteria. Statistically significant differences were identified in 61.5% of general and 57.9% of individual handwriting characteristics. General features most affected by non-dominant writing included writing speed, graphic maturity, slant stability, letter connectivity, neatness, and legibility, whereas many structural letter forms exhibited high concordance across hands. Individual differences were primarily observed in fine motor features such as loop formation and diacritic construction, while core letter styles remained largely stable, supporting the persistence of handwriting individuality despite altered hand use. To assess the discriminative value of handwriting characteristics, a supervised logistic regression model incorporating cross-validation and feature selection was applied. A model using 10 handwriting characteristics achieved a test accuracy of 92.98%, while a reduced model retained high accuracy (91.23%), indicating that execution-quality features carry the strongest diagnostic value for distinguishing hand use. By establishing paired quantitative benchmarks for stable and degradable handwriting characteristics, this study provides practical guidance for evaluating suspected off-hand writing and demonstrates how statistical modeling can support expert forensic judgment.

Brain tissue is a potentially valuable postmortem specimen because of its relative anatomical isolation, reduced susceptibility to postmortem degradation, and relevance as the primary site of action for many drugs. Despite the frequent detection of stimulants and synthetic opioids in medicolegal death investigations, limited data exist regarding their regional distribution within the human brain. This study evaluated the distribution of amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (MAMP), cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, and fentanyl across seven anatomically distinct brain regions (basal ganglia, cerebellum, medulla, midbrain, occipital lobe, thalamus, and pons) in postmortem human cases. Brain samples were collected from cases screening positive for cocaine/benzoylecgonine or fentanyl using urine drug screening at autopsy. Brain homogenates were extracted in triplicate using solid-phase extraction followed by instrumental analysis using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. To make comparisons between cases, concentrations were normalized to the occipital lobe. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA determined that there were significant differences in concentrations within cases and normalized concentrations between cases. The basal ganglia had the highest concentrations for AMP, cocaethylene, cocaine, fentanyl, and MAMP. Benzoylecgonine concentrations were highest in the cerebellum. Concentrations of metabolite to parent compound showed that there were weak correlations between benzoylecgonine-to-cocaine, cocaethylene-to-cocaine, and AMP-to-MAMP. While there was heterogeneous distribution in the brain, any of the brain regions included in this study could have utility for postmortem toxicology testing as analytes were generally detected in all examined brain regions. The basal ganglia typically had highest concentrations in this study and therefore are recommended for collection.

Ballistic gelatin is widely recognized as the primary soft-tissue simulant in forensic and biomedical ballistics. However, variability in preparation, calibration, and reporting methods, along with growing interest in synthetic alternatives, has raised concerns about methodological comparability and scientific validity. This systematic review, following PRISMA-2020 guidelines, searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Instituto de Defesa Nacional (IDN) databases for studies published from 2004 to 2025. Experimental studies utilizing gelatin or alternative soft-tissue simulants were included, whereas conference abstracts and purely numerical simulations were excluded. Sixty studies met the eligibility criteria and were evaluated for preparation methods, calibration procedures, aging conditions, testing protocols, and ballistic performance. Most studies used 10% or 20% Type A gelatin. Differences in bloom strength, concentration, mold geometry, temperature, and aging resulted in significant variation in penetration, yaw, and temporary cavities, limiting comparability. Few studies reported bullet ball calibration, though it is essential for verifying gelatin stiffness and for reliable comparisons. Synthetic simulants, such as SEBS elastomers and Clear Ballistics®, are easier to handle and more transparent, but often increase penetration, delay yaw, and pose calibration issues, limiting their forensic or medicolegal use. Properly formulated and calibrated 10% gelatin remains the best validated soft-tissue simulant for ballistic testing. Synthetic options show potential but do not yet consistently match real tissue in forensic or defense/wound ballistics work. Ongoing inconsistencies in preparation and reporting highlight the need for international standards in simulant design, calibration, and documentation to improve reproducibility and strengthen ballistic research.

Criminal responsibility can be significantly impaired by psychotic disorders. Although delusional disorder (DD) is classified within the schizophrenia spectrum, it clinically differs from schizophrenia (SCH) in age at onset, functional level, and symptom profile. This retrospective study examined differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and criminal characteristics between DD and SCH cases adjudicated as completely lacking criminal responsibility under Article 32/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. A total of 387 cases evaluated by the Council of Forensic Medicine between 2019 and 2023 were reviewed. Statistical comparisons between the groups revealed that DD cases were diagnosed at a later age and exhibited fewer psychotic symptoms prior to the offense. The DD group also demonstrated higher marriage rates and more children. While victims in both groups were predominantly from the offenders' close social environments, offenses against spouses were significantly more frequent in DD, frequently occurring in the context of jealous delusions. Offense types also varied; verbal violence was more common in DD, whereas physical violence was more frequent in SCH. Conversely, SCH was characterized by earlier symptom onset, lower functional capacity, and more prominent positive symptoms. These associations, including spouse-directed offenses and verbal violence, persisted in logistic regression models adjusted for age at the time of the offense and sex. These findings indicate that DD and SCH present distinct clinical profiles and highlight the importance of considering diagnosis-specific clinical and offense-related patterns in forensic assessments.

Three US government agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), established a collaborative program to leverage each agency's expertise and capabilities to characterize illicit fentanyl-containing tablets and powders collected at US ports of entry (POEs) for attribution and sourcing purposes. The Intelligence National Threat Response-El Paso Illicit Drug (INTREPID) program employed a proof-of-concept pilot study that combined physical and chemical analytical techniques with machine learning to establish comprehensive sample profiles. Samples were analyzed using complementary techniques including color imaging, three-dimensional surface analysis, and multi-technique chemical profiling (Raman, FT-IR, GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, [1]H NMR). Machine learning models were employed solely as screening tools to prioritize samples for detailed human analysis; all conclusions were based on direct analytical comparison, not on machine learning results. Physical analyses plausibly linked fentanyl tablet seizures from two different ports of entry collected 8 weeks apart based on consistent color characteristics and three-dimensional debossing patterns. Chemical analyses plausibly linked fentanyl powder seizures from the same port of entry collected 3 h apart with identical qualitative profiles and minimal quantitative variation (16.7% concentration error). Although alternative explanations for the similarities observed between these sample pairs cannot be excluded, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of using combined physical and chemical data within a forensic intelligence framework to generate actionable leads for law enforcement investigations of illicit fentanyl trafficking networks.

Decoded pulse-code modulation (PCM) stream hashing is used for forensic content verification, yet its reliability depends on decoder output stability. This study examines whether the iTunes Seamless Playback (iTunSMPB) metadata field affects decoded PCM alignment and stream hash reproducibility in Advanced Audio Coding-Low Complexity (AAC-LC) recordings generated by iOS devices. A controlled dataset of 280 recordings was collected from seven iPhone models across multiple iOS versions. Eleven AAC-LC file pairs containing clean and tagged versions were analyzed to assess tag insertion conditions, decoded PCM alignment, signal integrity, system database behavior, and the effectiveness of metadata-only versus container-rewrite remediation workflows. The presence of the iTunSMPB field corresponded to reproducible reductions in leading zero-amplitude sample padding and associated SHA-256 decoded PCM stream hash mismatches in 8 of 11 AAC-LC pairs. Waveform, spectral, and quantitative integrity measures (LTASS, PCC, MQD) remained unchanged. Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) recordings were unaffected regardless of tag presence. Metadata-only tag removal restored stream hash alignment for all affected files without altering container structure, whereas FFmpeg-based container rewriting restored 9 of 11 files and introduced structural changes in all cases. These findings demonstrate that decoded PCM stream hash mismatches can occur without audio editing and should not be interpreted as evidence of tampering without considering metadata state, container branding, and decoder behavior. Future work should expand testing to non-iOS AAC encoders, alternative decoders, and additional container variants, and develop decoder-independent PCM hashing methods robust to metadata-associated alignment effects.