Question: What's the most interesting case you've been involved in?

Anna Williams answered on 16 Jun 2011:

Hi Janieolver,
Thanks for your question! I have worked on a few rather interesting cases. A couple stick out in my mind particularly:
I did the anthropology analysis on a skeleton of a man who committed suicide by overdosing on heroin. When we found him, his body was completely skeletonised, but there were some pieces of attached tendons and ligaments, and there were lots and lots of maggots. What was really interesting was that when we did toxicology (drug) analysis on the maggots, they had very high levels of heroin in them.

I also examined the skeleton of a young woman which was found wrapped up in a carpet behind a skip on a building site in Sheffield. My analysis and a facial reconstruction eventually led to her identification. She had a very distinctive underbite and this helped her family to recognise her. She had been missing for over 10 years, and her family were so pleased to get her back!

I have also been involved in helping identify the bodies and belongings from crashes like the Selby Rail crash, the SAS crash in Milan and most recently an aircrash in Libya. I find this very interesting and rewarding, as we can put together little scraps of evidence – a tooth filling here or a tattoo there, a piece of paper or a pair of glasses, and help to identify all the victims of a horrible disaster like that. It does make me feel like I am making a difference.