Origin assignment of unidentified corpses by use of stable isotope ratios of light (bio-) and heavy (geo-) elements—A case report

An unknown male body was found near an expressway in Germany. As different criminalistic and forensic methods (e.g. tooth status, fingerprint or DNA-analysis) could not help to identify the person, multielement stable isotope investigations were applied. The combined analysis of stable isotope ratios of light (H, C, N) and heavy elements (Pb, Sr) on the man's body tissues supported to assign him to Romania.The case report demonstrates an application of multielement-isotope analysis in the forensic fields and its potential.