oliver@unc.UUCP (Bill Oliver) (08/09/85)
I thought you all might be interested in the text of the preliminary report on the exhumation of the remains thought to be those of Josef Mengele. The following is the report of the American members of the group. The European, Israeli, and Brazilian groups also have separate preliminary reports, and I think a final joint statement will come out later. This comes from the October, 1985 issue of INFORM (The International Reference Organization in Forensic Medicine) -v.4, p.6. ************************************************************* Introduction Examination of the Human Skeletal Remains Exhumed at Nossa Senhora do Rosario Cemetary, Embu, Brazil on 6 June 1985 : A preliminary report to Dr. Romeu Tuma, Superintendent, Federal Police in Sao Paulo, Brazil, by forensic science consultants sent by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Los Angeles, Calif., USA and the United States Marshals Service, US Department of Justice, on their studies carried out between 15-21 June 1985. Preliminary Report Based on our examination of the remains exhumed at the Nossa Senhora do Rosario in Embu, Brazil on 6 June 1985, we conclude that these remains are that of a white male who was of medium build and between 64 and 74 years of age at time of his death. From the length of the leg bones, we calculate that his stature before death was approximately 174 cm. Studies of the bones of the upper extremity indicate that he was right-handed. Pathological and radiological studies reveal an old, healed fracture of the right hip, a healed fracture of the base of the right thumb, a healing fracture of the right shoulder blade (scapula), and an old, healed injury of the right collar bone. There are arthritic changes throughout the skeleton. In addition, there is a bony defect of the left cheekbone. Examination of the upper jaw reveals the presence of three molars containing silver amalgam filling. The lower jaw contains seven teeth, two of which have gold veneer crowns. All missing teeth, except third molars, have been replaced with removable, partial dentures made of what appears to be chrome alloy and acrylic. In addition, there is skeletal evidence indicating that the upper central incisors were widely spaced prior to their removal [my note - this was an important finding since it had been observed in early photographs of Mengele] . We have reviewed medical, dental, investigative and other biographical information on Josef Mengele provided by several governments and private institutions and compared this data with our findings. We have also reviewed the photographic skull-face superimpositon analysis and photographic comparison studies of West German forensic scientists. In addition, we have received the report of handwriting analysis of Questioned Document Examiners. Based on the above, it is the opinion of the undersigned that the exhumed remains are definitely not those of Wolfgang Gerhard. It is further our opinion that this skeleton is that fo Josef Mengele within a reasonable scientific certainty. A more detailed report will be issued at a later date. Ali Z. Hameli, MD Chief Medical Examiner and Director, Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Delaware. Ellis R. Kerley, PhD Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland. Lowell J. Levine, DDS Forensic Odontology Consultant Huntington Station, NY Clyde Collins Snow, PhD Forensic Anthropologist, University of Oklahoma Leslie Lukash Chief Medical Examiner, Nassau County, NY John J. Fitzpatrick, Acting Chairman, Department of Pathology, Cook County Hospital, Chicago (end of report) ******************************************************************** From what I hear, the image processing done by the West German team was pretty impressive. Bill Oliver Asst. Chief Medical Examiner State of North Carolina The opinions expressed above are those of the author, and should not be taken as opinions of the Office of the Chief Medical Exmaminer, or any other Office, Agency, or employee of the State of North Carolina.