The Western Cape Cold Case Consortium (W4C): Improvements for identifying the unidentified

Abstract

The Western Cape Cold Case Consortium (W4C) is an interdisciplinary team of expert research-practitioners based in academic institutions in the Western Cape, committed to the application of scientific and visual analysis in cases of the unidentified deceased to assist with their identification. Our approach combines innovative multifactorial and interdisciplinary methodologies alongside established techniques that draw on external expertise by design, including osteobiography anthropological assessment, molecular profiling, stable isotope analyses, forensic contextual and case data information (such as unique identifiers and personal belongings) to provide a richer picture and understanding of the person. Facial reconstruction is the key medium of integration of these multifactorial methods to elicit memory and identification via public appeals for information on unresolved cases. To date we have nearly completed the entire project, and we have achieved the aims as outlined in our project proposal, including additional unanticipated results with significant positive impact on the sector. We established the research team, held meetings to understand the needs of the City of Cape Town, applied and received all the research permissions and ethics. We completed the pilot for all research aims except for craniofacial reconstruction, which are still under development by Dr. Smith and intended completion date is Feb 28, 2023. Regarding identifying gaps in communication and barriers to identification in the sector, we held several meetings with the CCT mortuary services, the Provincial Forensic Pathology Services and the WC detectives in SAPS responsible for identification of the unidentified, missing and murdered. Through these experiences we better understood some of the local challenges. W4C/FPS/CCT collaborated on a 3-day intensive training in post-mortem fingerprinting (basic and advanced) and post-mortem facial photography to 30 local undertakers and approx. 70 forensic pathology officers and facility managers across WC province, this received some additional support by the International Commission of the Red Cross. We identified the need for a DNA standard operating procedure before maceration to ensure good DNA recovery, which is being created. We held a solution-based stakeholder meeting to identify and improve gaps in communication and data sharing, and thus, establish procedures to improve identification. We recognised through these engagements a serious barrier in the SAPS 55a missing persons form and how it speaks to SAPS 55b death registry form. Dr Smith and A/Prof Gibbon have workshopped the form and have been working with the SAPS national detectives to update the 55a form, the revised version has gone out to the 9 provinces for comment before implementation.