ABSTRACT
The establishment of identity is one of the most significant aspects of a forensic investigation. The identity of remains, cremated or otherwise, permits authorities to begin tracing a series of events that led to the demise of the identified victim. If the remains are forensically relevant, the identity allows the authorities to contact family, friends, co-workers, and even casual acquaintances and contacts about the actions of a decedent, and who may have been associated with those actions. Hence, identity is a pivotal aspect in the analysis of human remains.
