Kinship analysis using DNA typing from five skeletal remains with an unusual postmortem course

Abstract

The skeletal remains of five individuals with an unusual postmortem course were discovered in a house. According to the explanation of the putative bereaved family, the postmortem interval of the five remains was between five and 20 years. They also explained to the police that they and the dead family members believed that the dead can be resurrected, and they had kept the bodies indoors, so the bodies had followed an unusual postmortem course. The five dead were identified by kinship analysis using DNA typing. For DNA extraction, we used the DNA extraction method with ultrafiltration and a silica-based DNA extraction kit. As a result, complete amplification STR profiles were obtained from DNA from bone samples of all five skeletons and their identity was proven by kinship testing.