T. Krompecher et al., The challenge of identification following the tragedy of the Solar Temple (Cheiry/Salvan, Switzerland), FOREN SCI I, 110(3), 2000, pp. 215-226
On October 5, 1994, 38 members of the Sect of the Solar Temple were found d
ead at two different locations in Switzerland: 23 victims in Cheiry and 25
victims in Salvan. Our Institute was commissioned to solve the forensic pro
blems presented by this tragedy. Our goals were to establish the time of de
ath, determine its causes, help elucidate the surrounding circumstances and
identify the victims. This work presented us with the following challenges
this catastrophe was of an 'open' type: there were no lists of 'passengers'
;
the victims were of five different nationalities and many had just arrived
in Switzerland to participate in this event;
family ties were very complex within the group;
half of the victims were burned and sometimes charred;
the exceptionally intense media coverage of the story put a lot of pressure
on the investigators and our Institute.
In spite of these difficulties, all the victims were positively identified
within 1 month. In the present report, we describe the steps realized to pr
ogress in our work. A special section describes our relationship with the j
ournalists and their invaluable help in our investigations. The importance
of being prepared for such an event is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science
Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.