11/06/09 Bug Report – Entomology
I feel that the entomology reports are very well written and at a level that are easy to follow, so there isn’t much I’m going to add other than to summarize the findings of this released discovery. Whether you agree or not, I feel this is some of the most damning evidence to date, and also some of the most helpful in tightening up the timeline.
First we have the “bug report” for the trunk – more specifically the trash bag in the trunk. Remember that while the trash bag did NOT have rotting pizza, as the Anthonys would have us believe, it DID have napkins with grave wax (i.e. adipocere) on them. But now we learn that it also had something else – loads of fly larvae (worms), pupae (cocoons), and some adult “coffin flies”. It also had one leg of a “blow fly”. The importance of these entomological findings is that they show the body was in the trunk during specific phases of decomposition. Nature is awesome and it tends to set things up so that all things have their place and time. And such is the case with the scavengers of our biosystem.
The coffin fly is a gnat-sized fly that is what could be considered a secondary-stage scavenger for a decomposing body. Due to their size they can get into the tightest spots. This includes a closed trunk and a triple-bagged body. There isn’t much they can’t invade. Said to be able to burrow 6 feet down into the ground and enter a sealed coffin just to get at their God-given target, they are almost unstoppable. So within this trash bag in Casey’s trunk we have the worm-stage of the coffin fly, the cocoon-stage of the coffin fly, and adult flies. We also have napkins that appear to have adipocere which is a substance that is created under specific conditions.
There has been great debate as to whether there was enough time to allow adipocere to develop, but the entomological report helps to set the record straight. Not only does the elevated heat of the trunk increase the possibility of adipocere development, but the moist dark environment does as well. Add to that the fact that corpses of toddlers and babies tend to develop adipocere much easier than those of adults, and the presence of “grave wax”, as it is called, is not unreasonable.
The report is blunt. The body was in the trunk long enough to bloat, and begin to release substantial amounts of decomposition fluids from the swollen body before it was removed (hence the fairly large stain and the horrid smell that lasted months after the car was taken into evidence). It has been my contention, and remains so, that the duct tape was not used to murder Caylee (though I cannot prove that anymore than some one stating it was the murder weapon can prove their point). I believe that in short order (within two days – which matches the account of Brian Burner), the heat of the trunk had caused grotesque swelling and putrefaction of the body to the point that when Casey opened the trunk she found the horrid site of a face that no longer looked recognizable. With tongue protruding, lips swelling to inverted and decomposition fluids seeping from the mouth and nose, as well as fluids from the virtual breakdown of the very tissue of Caylee’s body, Casey had to stop the mess – she wasn’t looking at Caylee anymore. I personally believe that is when the duct tape was applied, the body “prepared”, and the multi-layered bagging took place, to prevent further “mess” in her trunk. I also believe this preparation may have included Casey rinsing Caylee’s body in the pool.
Whether that be the case or not, the entomology shows that the body was in the trunk long enough to attract the coffin flies, which are scavengers that tend to arrive at a more advanced stage of decomposition than the “first-stage” scavengers – the blow flies. In addition to the significant evidence of coffin flies in the trunk, there was a leg of a blow fly found in the trash bag as well. Blow flies are some of the first scavengers to arrive on a decomposing body. However, because they are “bigger-bodied” they can’t get into tight locations the same way coffin flies can. The extremely limited evidence of blow flies in the trunk is most likely due to the fact they couldn’t get in. However, the coffin flies could.
A small number of blow flies would have been able to enter the trunk due to the fact it was opened for brief periods of time. We know Casey had to open the trunk after Caylee’s death to “prepare” the body – i.e. bag it, tape it, and/or whatever else insane thing she decided to do. We also know that the trunk was open during the gas can incident with George, and during the gas can incident with Tony when she ran out of gas, poured the stolen gas from the cans into her fuel tank, and then placed the cans in her trunk. During these brief periods, blow flies could have gained accessed to the trunk, but their numbers would have been extremely limited.
On the other end of the decomposition cycle the entomologists found further evidence that the body had been “protected” and not in its final resting place in the early stages of decomposition. At the dumping site it was found there was a lack of these early-stage decomposers, or “colonizers”. Instead, scavangers attracted to later stages of decomposition were located at the dump site. Ultimately, the report concludes that Caylee’s body was first colonized by early-stage decomposers in late June/early July while in a “protected environment”, and then later placed at the final dump site. The entomologist estimates that the body was in the trunk as late as the 22nd of June.
Valhall.
Related posts:
- Analyzing the Analysis: The Waterlevel Report
- Mason’s water problem and a review of the water analysis report
- Understanding Accumulated Degree Days
- Adipocere formation and the stain in the trunk
- The Anthony Encycliepedia: George and the smell
Tags: blow flies, casey anthony, caylee anthony, coffin flies, decomposition, entomology, forensics, putrefaction
44 People have left comments on this post
Val, Nice break down as usual . Imagine Cindy not knowing what those bugs were.HMMM Nurse of decomp…The vacuum bag holds more . Fabreese and dryer sheets didnt get it all.
Your theory about the “swim in the pool” would answer one of my unanswered questions about the pool supply box being pushed up next to the pool. This has been bothering me for a long time and makes perfect sense. First put the ladder up but found it impossible to bring Caylee up to the edge of the pool that way. After all, how close do you want to hold such a package and how do you climb while holding it? So, drag the box over to the pool to stand on. That same day, I believe she was planning on burying Caylee in the family back yard but found the labor too taxing and time consuming and changed her mind. She then would bag her up and back to the trunk she went. I imagine that even the “flurry of investigative phone calls” to Mom and Dad would not reassure her 100% that one or the other might not show up at any moment. So all was done in a very rushed manner…slow down and act cool when returning the shovel but ladder and box forgotten after the distasteful task of bagging Caylee up and the hurry of high tailing it out of there before any company arrives. I’ve never been able to decide when she taped her mouth and nose. My first guess was that it was done in the car during a duel temper tantrum between her and Caylee and after he argument with Cindy…but, did she storm out of the house with Caylee in tow that night or not? I haven’t figured that out yet and probably can’t.
This latest release of information was worth waiting for and seems to favor the prosecution very nicely. One thing I want to know is: Why no results (negative or positive) on latent prints on the syringe? You have to know they tried to lift some. The absence of such information convinces me that we have not yet seen all the information that the prosecution has.
Oh! Forgot to add that your site is something else. Extremely informative and worded exactly the way I need things worded in order for me to understand some of the more complicated matters in this case. Your time line, alone…! I’m glad I found a link to it on another site. Thanks.
Awesome job!!! I feel this evidence is more than damning but I don’t think this is the worst we’re going to see. I think Justice for Caylee will come swiftly now. Take care and thanks so much for all of your hard work.
Compelling investigative work.. i’m fascinated by the detailed analysis you give based on known facts in this case. Spelled out in laymans terms, “complicated forensics for dummies” in the way you connect the dots for us. KC will get the DP for premeditation faced with the computer searches and zenaida myspace evidence. Indeed, Justice for Caylee is on the horizon. Thank you for the great job you do.
Fostermom,
LOL What exactly IS a “nurse of decomp”.
Mimi,
I agree. The supply box being moved to the side of the pool has really stuck with me since the first time I heard it.
Welcome! And thank you for your kind words.
Laura,
Thanks! Yep, it’s what we’ve been waiting for. And I believe there’s more to come as well.
Birdman,
Thanks for the kind words…that’s what I hope for is to make a lot of this make sense so we don’t have as much “hype” and confusion!
Hi there, Love your site!!
Hi sue!
Thank you and welcome!
well, I believe these bug reports definitely constitute another nail in Casey’s coffin. G&C need another vacation cruise after this release.
Valhall,
You theorize that the tape was applied after decomposition set in. Didn’t the medical examiner say she believed the tape was applied prior to death or very soon after? If she was going to be placed in bags at that point, why bother with the duct tape?
I hope you will address the syringe and those findings in your next article. I find that a very contentious issue and those reports are very hard to read. What was the real finding of the chemical composition in that bottle! Do the news reports have it right?
Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about that.
Thanks Valhill for the awesome report! You do an amazing job explaining everything. I have referred people to your timeline at Above Top Secret many many times, and I find it an honor to be able to communicate with you one on one. You are awesome!
If memory serves me correctly, the gas can incident with George happened on June 24th, so Caylee would have already been removed from the trunk according to these reports. Correct? One thing has puzzled me all along. Knowing that Casey removed Caylee from the trunk in late June, why didn’t she eventually go back to the woods and take Caylee’s body further from home? She had over 3 weeks to hide the body better, or did she think that area was safe from Caylee ever being found? I know the experts have said that it makes sense that a mom would put a child somewhere nearby & somewhere they felt was safe, but this just seems too nearby. I can’t understand how during those 3 weeks, she just partied and didn’t take the body further from home. I hate to say it, but if it was me, I would have drove to a different city, county or state. Somewhere in that 3 weeks, I would have thought of somewhere else to hide her, but it appears from what we’ve seen so far, Casey didn’t give it a second thought. Can you explain this to me a little better?
Again, this is a great site!
QB,
I’m unsure she was placed in bags “at that point”. As stated in my entry, I think things got a bit rancid before she was ever bagged. And I think that’s WHY she got bagged (and taped). That’s just my own personal opinion…that and a quarter won’t even get you a cup of coffee!
P.S. Yeah, I’m going to do an entry on the chemical analysis. It’s going to take a bit longer because there is SO MUCH to go over! I agree and have similar concerns that the media is hyping something that may not be as important to the case as they are making it. But that’s a tentative statement at this point. I have only done a cursory read of those reports so far.
Julie,
Thanks! I think you’re trying to make Casey act like a normal person would act. My simple response to the close dump site is she was lazy, she didn’t want to be further inconvenienced, and she wanted to get back to hot-body land…tattoos, Tony and all that fun.
She could have had a plan to go back and move the body later, but remember there was a lot of rain after she dumped Caylee’s body and she may not have been able to get to her. That swamp may have filled up.
Hi Valhall! Love your site and attention to detail … thanks for all your work
The insects sure are telling a story in this case … I’m still wondering about the blow flies though and when all of the flies and maggots that were found in the trunk and on the trash bag were produced … is it possible that decomp fluids in the trunk could have still been attracting them after the body was removed ?? KC was in and out of that trunk quite a bit … also the trunk of her car is not sealed all that well from the interior of the car which has a drop down back seat …
Also, just wanted to add that according to Dr G in her autopsy report the duct tape was place pre-decomp … no way of tellling if it was before or after death, but it was placed before the body started decomposing the way I understood it …
Great synopsis, great questions generated. The duct tape: In the beginning of this calvacade of information before specifics of the post were released, I had rendered a theory that the duct tape was place ante-mortem as part and parcel of the kidnapping scenario(ie. all victims are “silenced” with a gag mechanism). Given that the autopsy report contains some telling features of the body condition, I’m tending to fall into the pre-mortem, murdered by asphixia camp (a soft kill, so to speak) but totally agree that the report and subsequent aalysis must be presented as written (ie. taping prior to decomp).
Decomposition under the atmospheic conditions of Florida and as charted by Dr. Haskell would have been somewhat accelerated, thus rendering Caylees’s body well on it’s way to a gruesome mess. Remember that the lividity had set in, thus the features of Caylee would have been destorted, more than likely rigor would have left the body and the enzymatic process would be running like a train wreck. The probability of purge fluids effecting the trunk and surrounding body tissues would occur sooner than the 2 day time period, oral purge can occur well within hours and has happened to more than a few weary dieners transporting bodies from the field. The purge fluids would make the placement of the duct tape rather difficult (SEE BELOW, graphic for thoses wishing to skip) and duct tape adherence to wet surfaces is iffy at best.
Bagging the body was probably a hap-hazard attempt to stem the decomp flow and to contain Caylee into a concise “package” for further disposal. Washing off Caylee’s body…not in my opinion as that resembles work, a SMALL body with 48-72 hour decomp under Fla conditions: not easy to handle without “sloshing” and “squishing”, I believe the “washing off” was herself and any clothing she might have contaminated and her feeble attempt to clean up the trunk.
Dr. Haskell’s report is significantly detailed, very damaging to the defense (IMO!) and again, (IMO) I believe his visual analysis of the “critters” was one of the main supporting reasons to bring the DP to the table!
PLACING the duct tape AFTER/DURING purge: if unmoved, the fluids in Caylee’s oral, nasal, aurical and rectal cavities would remain “status-quo” for a time period. IF Casey reached in and grabbed Caylee’s body, drawing it over, around, upside down or in any manner rotated it, those fluids would have poured out vs the slow seepage that was already occuring. To place the duct tape in the manner described, she would have had to actually hold a limp torso as propping her up would be difficult without muscle tone and/ or tape her face, nose, hair and head by lifting the head from a solid, flat surface. (Think: were any fibers from the trunk found on the tape, in the hair & tape mixture?).
At this point, Caylee’s body had passed thru the rigor stage and was heading into the putrification stage, the bacteria internally and externally were having a field day and the cadaver “critters” were in full force (including the difficult to observe, maggots!). By the time Casey got around to tossing her daughter into the woods, that collection of bags would have housed a soup of fluid, tissue and disarticulated bones, possibly bones that may have punctured the bag (s), requiring another layer of barbage bag, an allowing this time body tissue (adipose tissue from her thighs/buttocks?) to remain within the trunk, turning to adipocere left on the paper towels.
(NB: Not going to speculate timing, the atmospheric conditions applicable are the mediating factors here)
WOW! Sorry for getting so wordy!
Denjet:
The flies et al would definitely return to the decomp fluid as long as there was organic matter to feed on…..and thus would continue the life cycle. No way did Casey clean that vehicle throughly, heck even professionals have a difficult time erradicating decomp odor, stains and fluid!
Good site been reading for awhile just found it last couple of weeks thank you for the lastest break down of all the muck we lay people were going thru,can I ask if you have gotten to the substance on the knife yet do you believe it is this adipocere?
If Caylee’s body was in the trunk long enough for it to decompose they way it did, why didn’t anyone get near enough to the car to smell it? If it really smells so terrible(and I’m sure it does), how did anyone not notice something wrong? Even George on the 24th confronted Casey about the gas cans didn’t notice. If I remember correctly he asked the guy taking him to the car (at the impound to pick up the car) to come with him and open the trunk and thought ” don’t let it be Caylee or Casey”, as he told to the police during one of his first interviews. Why didn’t anyone notice?
One thing though. The Forensic report says the body was removed prior to the “bloating process” because of the lack of putrification “grease”. The body was decomposing rapidly – but it had not hit the bloating process yet according to the forensic report. This is not to say there was NOT fluids being purged, there were and that was enough to cause a horrendous smell in the car and also enough liquid on the rug of the trunk. I don’t think Casey would take the time to put tape around the head because it would have been extremely sloppy doing it with all the liquid coming out of the nose and the mouth. I think the tape was put on before and the baby was left in the trunk to die after she was injected with the chloroform.
And I did not think Casey would get the death penalty because the defense would ask for mercy because she was only 19 when she had the baby. HOWEVER, in light of the new syringe developments, she may very well. She was shooting the child up with chrloroform and I don’t think it was the first time.
But what I don’t understand is how does the liquid seep out if she had her encased in a garbage bags. There is quite a bit of liquid on the rug according to the latest fbi report. Jesus, she had to be decomposing rapidly because of the heat and Casey was very sloppy about wrapping her up. I don’t know. What do you think? Great site, by the way.
For Martie,
I don’t know that I believe George anymore about not smelling anything that day. I think he may have and denied it. She definitely did not want him near the trunk. She had gotten rid of the body, as the report says, more thank likely by the 22nd of June because of the smell.
Wait a sec. I reread the report and it appears that the body was placed in the trunk upon death (and not encased in a garbage bag). In other words, idiot Casey, which seems about right knowing here mo, killed her and placed her in the trunk and when she started to purge liquids from her nose and mouth and other places, she put her in a garbage bag and in the laundry bag and tossed her. But the odor was there already. She probably put her in the trunk and just covered her, not thinking about what would follow. Sounds about right with Casey.
Since she left the paper towels in the garbage bag, the entymologist believes she tried to clean up the fluids with the papertowels and left them in the garbage bag in the trunk.
So we are getting an idea of what happened and how she did things. She was, as I thought, driving around with Caylee in the trunk for about three days.
She is so dead in the water.
Last post. Sorry can’t help it.
Remember recently the FBI report said that there was an outline of a child where the stain was in the trunk.
Casey killed her and put her in the trunk and laid her on her side and liquids purged from the bodies orifices and left the outline of her body in the trunk. She put some things over her and drove to and fro whereever for about three days until she saw what was happening and then came up with the skunk alibi.
Hi Jess,
You state:
Actually, the Entomology report states that the body would have been in the trunk during the bloat stage. It states there is no evidence of it being there in the “post-bloat stage” (based on the lack of decompositional grease in the trunk.)
Start at the second to the last paragraph on page 7 of this pdf: http://www.wftv.com/pdf/21540599/detail.html
Valhall, I hope you know how very helpful your articles are to those of us following the case. I think you should be able to tell by the number of hits you get that many of us are dilligently reading, but not commenting. I love the way you take the most complicated scientific data and explain is so clearly. It is appreciated.
Nosy,
Your comment is the kind of comment I really love. That’s my goal…and to get feedback from you guys that help bring out more than I can see by myself.
Thank you!
There have been a few comments made concerning my opinion on when the duct tape was placed, so I thought I’d respond on that.
First, I HOPE I do a good job of clarifying any time I state something that is my opinion versus the rest of my entry that is discussing the facts of the case. If you ever feel I have not clarified when I am stating my opinion, please let me know and I will promptly correct that. The reason that is important to me is that I can’t think of any reason my opinion has more weight than any one else’s when looking at the facts of the case. I guess what I mean is…I’m okay with any opinion I form turning out to be wrong. I don’t have that much ego tied up in any of them…lol.
Okay, with that said, there is one thing that has been said in response to my opinion that the duct tape was placed post-mortem to prevent fluid leakage from the mouth and nose. It is this statement:
Okay, that’s not what Dr. G said. Here is what Dr. G said:
While only Dr. G can clarify the difference in interpretation of the above statement, I’d like to point out that Dr. G’s statement is made relative to the level of decomposition that would cause the mandible to separate from the skull. I do not interpret Dr. G’s statement to mean the duct tape was placed prior to ANY decomposition (and particularly not to the very early stages of decomposition which would not effect the gross integrity of the skeletal structure). And to drive this point home, I believe if that is what Dr. G was stating (before ANY decomposition), then she would have stated such (i.e. antemortem, perimortem, or just flat “before the onset of decomposition”
.
So while I may ultimately be shown to be off on what I think about the when and why, I’m not convinced Dr. G’s statement is the point that proves that out.
Hi to Valhall and fellow blog readers. You guys are great. I find it really illuminating to read the carefully thought through questions and observations contained in this blog. Personally, I was completely bowled over by the entomology report and I believe, as do others apparently, that the bugs “seal the deal” with regard to completely destroying any vestige of reasonable doubt that could be created by the defense in this murder case. Having said that, I find Valhall’s explanations of the DNA and cellular biology to be fascinating and compelling. Many thanks to you and to my fellow readers!
Hello Gabriella!
I am glad you commented. Thank you for your kind words. I look forward to getting your input on certain issues that may arise in the future.
Hi Valhall – Enjoyed your fact findings on these new documents. I do have to go along with what Dr. G states in regards to the tape being applied before decomp set in. Decomp sets in quite quickly in the form of liquids bubbling up from the nose and mouth area, and taping the area would be very difficult. I don’t see Casey taping as a response to panic (trying to stop fluids etc. from seeping out of orafaces), but I can see her taping as a response to rage. Casey was compulsive, impulsive and completely out of control at that point and felt that “her whole life had been taken from her” (thanks to Caylee) long before the jailhouse conversation with her parents. I think most people don’t want to think that anyone could be so cruel, but for me Casey’s state of mind at that time made this “do-able” for her. JMO
Val, thanks for breaking down things for us. I have not had time to read the latest docs, and had but 15 minutes to scan over the entomology report (sigh).
I can’t wait to catch up with everyone… and catch up on your blog as well.
Like you said, I think things got way messy before poor Caylee was ever bagged. KC is a moron. I really don’t think she gave one thought as to what happens to a body after death. You know, the part they don’t show on TV.
Anywho, thanks again!
Nice to see you back, Reagan!
Yeah, I don’t think she thought about much except the extraordinary luck of pitching your baby in a swamp and then laying low for a month. That part she did real well.
Valhall:
We have heard about the blowflies and the coffin flies casings and body parts but I don’t recall anything being said about the maggots themselves. Is it possible to gain DNA or a chemical analysis from the maggots that were found in the trashbag or were they too far gone by the time they were sent to the lab?
I first thought that KC was enraged and placed the tape over Caylee’s mouth to keep her from crying for Cindy. However, evidence being what it is, I find the scenario of the beginning stages of seepage from Caylee a viable reason for placing three pieces of tape over the mouth and nose area. Why not wind it around? Because to lift the head would have caused more seepage. Thus, three pieces of tape that could be placed around the head area. Seepage would have been a mild problem on the cheeks, hair and ear area if it was just beginning. I just remember the squirrel/smell comments/text messages from Casey to Amy. I’ll have to go back and see exactly what days she spoke of the smell and squirrels.
Hi Valhall, do you think we’ll see any DNA results from the maggots/coffin flies? or will this be another piece of evidence that could be kept sealed until trial? Also, do you think the defense has this DNA results and fingerprint results which may also being sealed?
TIA
Dear Nana and den,
I’m not sure that any DNA results could be taken from the maggots or coffin flies because they would have been reproduced at a much later date than when Caylee’s body was in the trunk. Concerning the fingerprint results. It could be that it is sealed, but it could also be that the SA just hasn’t gotten to releasing that yet, and the defense hasn’t known until this release and is about to request it.
If you’ll remember, the defense requested the 18 latents the FBI had that had been lifted from the items in the Anthony home. But when they requested those 18 latents…that’s exactly what they requested EIGHTEEN. These latents referred to in this latest release are probably about to be requested by the defense.
Thanks Valhall … I didn’t think of that about when the bugs were reproduced …
that’s right, the 18 latents …
Thanks again …
Hi Valhall,
Can’t thank you enough for your comprehensive, scientific, insight into this case. You have taken all the hard work, broken it down and shared it with us in a way that some of us wouldn’t understand otherwise. This has been a perplexing case for our country, as well as others, and it has wrenched our hearts.
Finally, we see the sunlight and truth is beginning to resonate loudly. I felt great peace and togetherness reading the comments of your followers. We are all so grateful to you.
I’m a first time blogger, but like many, have followed this case since its inception. Just couldn’t resist a personal thank you.
Thank you from my heart.
Thank you miss, for your kind words. Welcome! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these issues as this progresses.
I can’t understand how the tape would have adhered to the body after decomp began. There would be no way to dry the face first because if you tried to wipe the skin it would just slide off along with maggots which would quickly be replaced by more. In my imagination it would be like trying to dry raw maggot-infested hamburg and then stick duct tape on it. How could it stick? Thanks for any clarification if I’m on the wrong track.