Facial Reconstruction

Question 1

Why is facial reconstruction used?

Answer 1

For a potential identification of an unknown body.

Question 2

What are the only ways that a positive identification can be made?

Answer 2

• DNA Comparison
• Radiological Comparison
• Odontological Comparison
• Fingerprint Comparison

Question 3

What happens to the face after death?

Answer 3

The body changes a lot and it becomes difficult to recognize them

• Expressions are lost
• Makeup deteriorates
• Skin slackens

Question 4

What are the four steps to establishing a possible ID using facial reconstruction?

Answer 4

1. Create a likeness of the individual
2. Present the likeness to the public
3. Generate new investigative leads
4. Establish a positive ID

Question 5

What is a Forensic Demographic Analysis?

Answer 5

When a forensic anthropologist determines the gender, age, and possible ethnicity of the deceased.

Question 6

What does the practice of facial reconstruction assume?

Answer 6

That there is a predictable relationship between the structure of the skull and skin.

Question 7

What are the 3 main methods of facial reconstruction?

Answer 7

• Anatomical Method (Russian)
• Tissue Depth Method (American)
• Combination Method (Manchester, UK)

Question 8

Explain the Anatomical Method (Russian).

Answer 8

• Uses origins and insertions to rebuild each muscle
• Longer process than Tissue Depth Method
• Same for all ethnic groups
• Should have a high understanding of anatomy

(I found this online, not from the notes)

Question 9

Explain the Tissue Depth Method (American).

Answer 9

• Uses osteological landmarks
• Soft tissue built up to depth markers
• Depths given for different categories
  - ethnic background
  - age
  - weight
• Faster than anatomical method

(I found this online, not from the notes)

Question 10

Explain the Combination Method (Manchester, UK).

Answer 10

Literally just a combination of the other two methods lol

Question 11

What features are part of the Rules of Thumb?

Answer 11

• Mouth (width of mouth and height of lips)
• Eyeball (how to place it)
• Nose (how to figure out the shape)

Question 12

What information usually can’t be deduced about the face?

Answer 12

• Hair colour or style (unless samples are available)
• Skin blemishes or scarring (unless there is trauma or pathological damage to the bone)
• Eye colour

Question 13

Is this method reliable?

Answer 13

Most of the time yes, but there is definitely room for improvement.

Question 14

What are the two digital methods of facial reconstruction?

Answer 14

1. CT scanning the skull, to make a digital 3D copy.
2. Laser scanning the skull, which records the surface as a digital model (some issues with this method though because teeth are to shiny)

Question 15

What are 2 groups of people that are targeted by presenting a facial reconstruction to the public? Explain the difference.

Answer 15

1. Casual: May have known the individual (acquaintance) and seeing the picture may trigger recognition.
2. Primed: Actively seeking a missing person (even if the reconstruction is not exact, the primed audience can often recognize them)