Forensic Palynology: How Pollen in Dry Grass Can Link to a Crime Scene

Abstract

This chapter describes a homicide case of a baby and the forensic potential of pollen in dry grass. Dry grass is a good source for pollen. Pollen analysis gave a very characteristic pollen assemblage, dominated by grass pollen and a fungal spore. The dry grass in which the baby’s corpse was embedded could be traced back to the crime scene. An accompanying investigation of various dry grass samples showed that each one had a unique pollen assemblage. This case reintroduced Forensic Palynology to Austria.