2016/08/05

NC State University August 3, 2016: Forensic Research Finds Bone Density Affects Size of Bullet Holes

A proof-of-concept study from North Carolina State University finds that the density of bones in the skull affects the size of bullet holes in the skull. The finding is useful for law enforcement officials and medical examiners seeking to identify the caliber of firearms that have been used to commit murder.

“Very often, it’s not possible to retrieve bullets in cases where victims have been shot in the head, and determining a bullet’s caliber can be useful during murder investigations,” says Ann Ross, a professor of biological sciences at NC State and senior author of a paper describing the work. Ross is a forensic anthropologist who has worked extensively on forensic investigations in the United States and abroad. more