The “Natural organic reduction”: A new form of burial from a forensic perspective

Abstract

Background: Natural organic reduction (NOR), called Reerdigung in Germany, is a new form of burial in which a human body is turned into soil after 40 days. For the scientific forensic evaluation, the Institute of Forensic Medicine Leipzig examined samples from the remains of the process. Methods: Bone, soil and hair samples were taken from two deceased persons and examined using available molecular biological, toxicological, morphological, osteological and pedological methods. Results: The DNA in the bones degraded after 40 days and was no longer detectable by conventional methods in the ground-up state added to the soil. The toxicological detection of premortally ingested drugs was partially possible, depending on the analyte and matrix. Morphologically and osteologically this corresponds to a lying time of 20–50 years. The resulting soil has the characteristics of humus. Discussion: The new form of burial requires a second post-mortem examination before the process begins. From a forensic toxicological point of view, the isolated detectability of active substances tends to be assessed positively, as in contrast to cremation, potentially necessary toxicological follow-up examinations could still be possible in some cases. For the soil samples before and after mixing of soil and bone meal, no DNA quantities suitable for DNA analysis could be obtained. It can therefore be assumed that no human DNA can be obtained from mixed samples after burial of the remains in the event of further decomposition. An identification is not possible. The soil samples show no traces of human soft tissue, neither microscopically nor macroscopically. The result suggests that the transformation to soil takes place within 40 days. The low number of corpses examined in this pilot study is a limitation. Further studies to increase the database are planned.