Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Directed Research Project
First Advisor
Stephanie Walcott, M.S.
Second Advisor
Tal Simmons, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
James A. Russell
Abstract
Anthropological investigations and analysis of skeletal remains are often complicated due to the lack of soft tissue and the context it typically provides. In order to develop a method to better assess skeletal trauma, the remains of five juvenile pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) were examined using radiographic imaging and sodium rhodizonate (Na-Rho) chemical techniques for the detection of lead residue following exposure to projectile trauma. Shortly after their death, each pig was shot once in the skull, once in each shoulder, and once in each hip, using a Taurus Judge 45 Long Colt revolver and Remington 410 caliber Ultimate Home Defense 5 Pellet 2 ½ inch buckshot ammunition. The remains were then allowed to decompose to the skeletal state before collection. Of the 172 bone sites tested, nearly 58% were indicative for lead on x-ray, and 50% were positive for lead via the Na-Rho benchkote transfer method confirmatory test. Additionally, it was concluded that while lead presence can be confirmed using the Na-Rho swab method, the benchkote paper was found to yield higher results overall. This preliminary study shows the possibility of enough lead residue reaching the bone surface to last through the decomposition process and be positively detected. Further, the application of these techniques to forensic investigations could allow for gunshot trauma to be more accurately detected and differentiated from blunt force trauma.
Rights
© The Author(s)
Is Part Of
VCU Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Date of Submission
4-28-2026