IDENTIFICATION OF THE FRAGMENTARY, BURNED REMAINS OF 2 US JOURNALISTS7 YEARS AFTER THEIR DISAPPEARANCE IN GUATEMALA

The contribution of a physical anthropologist to a forensic investigat ion is generally associated with analysis of skeletal remains in a lab oratory. This case, which deals with the identification of two U.S. jo urnalists who disappeared in Guatemala in March 1985, shows that the o bservations of a physical anthropologist in the field-at the site wher e the skeletal remains are located-can be essential to the success of an investigation. In this case, there was a deliberate attempt to misl ead the investigators, but the physical anthropologists on the team di scovered the deception. Subsequently, when they were taken to the actu al cremation site, they obtained bone fragments and teeth that permitt ed identification of the victims. For one individual, the unusual morp hology of the frontal sinus made positive identification possible. Com parison of premortem dental X-rays with teeth found at the site result ed in positive identification of the second individual.