Determination of the time of death by fungal growth.

A woman was found in her bedroom, which had been kept at a constant temperature of 12 degrees C, several weeks after she had been murdered. The establishment of the time of death was attempted by examination of fungal development on two parts of her body. Agar slopes were inoculated with the fungal growth present on an eyelid and on the inguinal skin. After 1 day at 20 degrees C, the cultures were incubated at 11-12 degrees C. The cultures were then observed daily until growth was comparable to that on the tissues that had been frozen. By these means it could be established that the victim died at least 18 days before her body was discovered. This, in fact, turned out to be the case. Hyphomycetes growth on a corpse may be helpful in determining the time of death when the event happened 10-20 days earlier, provided that the average surrounding temperature is known.