We wish to take issue with two major points that the authors have identified as “myths” in “Forensic Entomology: Myths Busted!” and present some contrasting points of view. These major points include:

1. Forensic entomologists estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) or the time since death

2. It is not exclusively a medical doctor who provides the time of death, but a variety of forensic science disciplines, one of whom is the forensic entomologist.

“Myth: Forensic Entomologists can determine the postmortem interval in cases of human death.” This is not a myth, but what forensic entomology does in almost every medicocriminal case that we are called to perform analysis upon. Hall states “The latter field . . . “medicocriminal entomology” . . ., relates primarily to 1) determination of the time (postmortem interval or PMI) . . .of human death.” (Hall 1990; Hall & Haskell, 1995; Haskell et. al. 1997; Hall 2001), reiterating more than 100 years of forensic entomology application.

On the second point, the authors’ position that the medical doctor is the only forensic scientist to determine time of death ignores the responsibilities of other forensic experts. The AAFS’ own descriptions of forensic pathologists state the scope of their contribution as cause and manner of death, not the time of death. Given the overwhelming consensus of texts, scientific publications, and forensic science training courses spanning more than a century, it is difficult to understand how a new interpretation of this fundamental application could even be suggested.

Respectfully,

Neal H. Haskell, Ph.D., BCE, DABFE
Forensic Science & Biology Professor, Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana

Robert D. Hall, Ph.D., J.D., DABFE
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of Compliance Office of Research, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

Leon G. Higley, MS, Ph.D. DABFE
Professor of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

Timothy E. Huntington, MS, ABFE
Ph.D. candidate, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

Ralph E. Williams, MS, Ph.D. DABFE
Professor of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

References

• Catts, E.P. 1990. Analyzing Entomological Evidence. in Catts & Haskell, Entomology & Death, Joyce’s Print Shop.
• Hall, R.D. 1990. Medicocriminal entomology. in Catts & Haskell, Entomology & Death, Joyce’s Print Shop.
• Hall, R.D., and N.H. Haskell. 1995. Forensic entomology - Applications in medicolegal investigations. In Forensic Sciences, Ed. C. Wecht. Matthew Bender, New York.
• Haskell, N.H., R.D. Hall, V.J. Cervenka, and M.A. Clark. 1997. On the body: insects' life stage presence and their postmortem artifacts. In Forensic Taphonomy, Ed. W. Haglund and M. Sorg. 415-456, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
• Hall, R.D. “Introduction: perceptions and status of forensic entomology.” 2001. Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigation. Ed. J. Byrd and J. Castner, CRC Press. LLC. Boca Raton, FL.