The method of dissolving a body to conceal crimes, a practice dating back to ancient times, has recently captured the interest of scientists and the film industry. Real-life cases inspired by media portrayals underscore the importance of understanding this process, which aims to prevent identification or locate the body. Historical and contemporary examples highlight the use of substances like caustic potash and various acids. Although scientific studies on this topic are limited, this scoping review explores the use of corrosive substances for concealing crimes by dissolving remains and aims to provide an overview of the current global extension of this phenomenon, addressing a gap in scholarly literature. A systematic literature search was performed according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy included PubMed, Google Scholar, gray literature, and general Google searches for cases in international media. Articles were eligible if they discussed the effects of corrosive substances on tissue with the intent to alter or destroy, excluding those focused on living individuals or for non-forensic purposes. Results were categorized into academic and gray literature, further divided by species studied. A total of 280 results were found in PubMed and 966 in Google Scholar. No reviews were found. Additional searches led to 79 records, with 37 excluded due to duplication or updates. Ultimately, 83 studies were included in the review, documenting key elements such as study purpose, sample details, substances used, and findings. The effects of various corrosive agents were revealed, including alkaline substances such as lime, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide, as well as acids like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia. Diagnosing tissue alterations caused by corrosive substances requires a multidisciplinary approach and detailed analysis. Final outcomes depend on concentration, exposure time and conditions. Techniques like microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX/EDS), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) provide critical detailed results. Recreating the crime through experiments may be necessary for investigations, shedding light on the methods employed by perpetrators, reflecting the complexity of these out-of-the-ordinary cases. Further studies are crucial for interpreting these effects.

Dental hard tissues, through their remarkable resistance to degradation, represent one of the most durable biological materials available for postmortem investigation. The preparation of undecalcified or ground sections allows microscopic visualization of enamel, dentin and cementum structures, which can preserve chronological, physiological, or environmental information. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the forensic applications of dental hard tissue ground sections, focusing on methodological principles, interpretive potential and practical constraints. The literature in forensic odontology highlights their relevance for age estimation through tooth cementum annulation, identification of neonatal and accentuated stress lines, and the assessment of thermal or chemical alterations. While these methods have proven scientific validity in anthropology and histology, their forensic implementation remains limited by heterogeneity in protocols and interpretative subjectivity. Standardization of preparation techniques, digital imaging, and integration with complementary analyses such as micro-CT or SEM could enhance the reliability and medico-legal relevance of this classical but underused approach.

This study presents a multidisciplinary forensic experiment evaluating the destructive effects of household chemical agents on animal bone and soft tissue analogues, with a particular focus on traumatic lesion persistence and trace evidence detection. A total of 59 domestic pig rib fragments, subjected to standardized lesions inflicted with either an axe or a ceramic knife, were immersed in acidic, basic, and oxidizing solutions for over two months. Samples were monitored through macroscopic scoring, serological species identification, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Results showed marked differences in tissue degradation depending on the chemical, with lesion persistence ranging from rapid obliteration to prolonged detectability. Axe-induced wounds generally remained visible longer than ceramic knife injuries, which tended to be erased earlier. XRF analysis revealed differential residue detection, with metallic traces persisting only under certain conditions, while serological testing demonstrated varying levels of protein preservation despite advanced tissue degradation. These findings underscore the forensic relevance of recognizing lesion persistence and chemical-specific degradation patterns, contributing to the assessment of chemical body disposal attempts and to the development of experimental training models for forensic practice.

Teeth may retain forensic value after chemical exposure, yet the effects of commercially available corrosive agents remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated short-term alteration patterns in human teeth exposed to household acidic and alkaline products available on the Romanian market. Five extracted mandibular third molars were analyzed, including four experimental teeth and one control. Each experimental tooth was fully immersed for 48 h in a different agent: hydrochloric acid descaler, sodium hypochlorite bleach, mixed hydrochloric/sulfuric acid descaler, or sodium hydroxide. Morphometric changes, mass, and pH were monitored serially, while stereomicroscopy, SEM-EDX, and hard tissue ground sections were used for structural and compositional assessment. Acid-exposed teeth showed the greatest damage, with major mass loss in the hydrochloric acid and mixed-acid samples, enamel loss, and marked microstructural disruption. The mixed-acid specimen exhibited the most severe collapse and near-complete calcium/phosphorus depletion. Sodium hypochlorite produced mainly superficial and root-level alterations with relative preservation of gross morphology, whereas sodium hydroxide caused minimal dimensional change and a calcium-rich adherent surface deposit. These findings show that household corrosives produce distinct, forensically recognizable dental alteration patterns within 48 h and support an integrated pattern-recognition approach in suspected chemical concealment scenarios.

Child homicide represents a severe form of violent crime, and cases identified exclusively through skeletal remains are uncommon and pose particular forensic challenges, requiring a multidisciplinary investigative approach. We report a Romanian cold case involving a 5-year-old girl who disappeared in 2006 and whose remains were discovered in 2021 in a shallow grave beneath rose bushes on her father's property. Clothing analysis revealed nine perforations consistent with sharp-force trauma, subsequently confirmed through forensic reconstruction. The remains were completely skeletonized and osteological examination documented perimortem injuries affecting two ribs on the left side. Micro-CT identified V- and Y-shaped lesions with cortical fissures referring to a knife penetration. XRF showed increased iron and zinc at wound margins, suggesting metallic transfer. Death was attributed to multiple stab wounds to the left hemithorax. Genetic analysis confirmed both the victim's identity and paternity. Psychiatric evaluation of the suspect established full legal responsibility. This case illustrates the evidentiary value of a comprehensive medico-legal approach integrating forensic anthropology with clothing analysis, advanced imaging, physicochemical methods, genetic testing, and psychiatric expertise, enabling the identification of a homicide and the legal resolution of a one-and-a-half-decade-old crime.