Romulus
Well-known member
This case intersects with that of Sodder family, I do not know if someone has already posted this, but it seems that the bones do not belong to any member of the family and I decided to post it; Here the case link with details
The Children Who Went Up In Smoke
Hunter sent the bones to the Smithsonian Institution, which issued the following report:
The human bones consist of four lumbar vertebrae belonging to one individual. Since the transverse recesses are fused, the age of this individual at death should have been 16 or 17 years. The top limit of age should be about 22 since the centra, which normally fuse at 23, are still unfused. On this basis, the bones show greater skeletal maturation than one would expect for a 14-year-old boy (the oldest missing Sodder child). It is however possible, although not probable, for a boy 14 ½ years old to show 16-17 maturation. The vertebrae showed no evidence that they had been exposed to fire, the report said, and it is very strange that no other bones were found in the allegedly careful evacuation of the basement of the house. Nothing that the house reportedly burned for only about half an hour or so, it said that one would expect to find the full skeletons of the five children, rather than only four vertebrae. The bones, the report concluded, were most likely in the supply of dirt George used to fill in the basement to create the memorial for his children.
*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.
The Children Who Went Up In Smoke
Hunter sent the bones to the Smithsonian Institution, which issued the following report:
The human bones consist of four lumbar vertebrae belonging to one individual. Since the transverse recesses are fused, the age of this individual at death should have been 16 or 17 years. The top limit of age should be about 22 since the centra, which normally fuse at 23, are still unfused. On this basis, the bones show greater skeletal maturation than one would expect for a 14-year-old boy (the oldest missing Sodder child). It is however possible, although not probable, for a boy 14 ½ years old to show 16-17 maturation. The vertebrae showed no evidence that they had been exposed to fire, the report said, and it is very strange that no other bones were found in the allegedly careful evacuation of the basement of the house. Nothing that the house reportedly burned for only about half an hour or so, it said that one would expect to find the full skeletons of the five children, rather than only four vertebrae. The bones, the report concluded, were most likely in the supply of dirt George used to fill in the basement to create the memorial for his children.
*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.
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