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Rev Esp Med Legal. 2010;36(2):51-61

ISSN: 0377-4732

PUBLICACIÓN OFICIAL DE LA ASOCIACIÓN NACIONAL DE MÉDICOS FORENSES

REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE

REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE MEDICINA

LEGAL
MEDICINA LEGAL
Volumen 36
Número 2
Mayo-Agosto 2010
Fundada en 1974

EDITORIAL
La data de la muerte, un desafío no resuelto

NOTA EDITORIAL
Sobre la nueva ley de la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo

ORIGINALES
Cálculo del tiempo de inmersión de los cadáveres hallados
en el agua: evaluación de un método frecuente para calcular
el intervalo de tiempo mínimo de inmersión

Muerte por síndrome de delirium agitado en Andalucía

Evaluación mediante el Inventario MCMI-III de mujeres víctimas
de maltrato psicológico por parte de su anterior pareja

CASOS MÉDICO-FORENSES
Un caso de muerte por ingestión masiva de clotiapina
Ependimoma como causa de muerte súbita en una niña donante
de órganos

MEDICINA FORENSE PRÁCTICA

www.elsevier.es/mlegal
Determinación de la data en el período precoz de la muerte:
métodos instrumentales

MEDICINA LEGAL EN IMÁGENES

Nuevas armas, nuevas lesiones

FE DE ERRORES

www.elsevier.es/mlegal

ORIGINAL

Estimating the time of immersion of bodies found in water –

an evaluation of a common method to estimate the minimum
time interval of immersion
Elke Doberentz and Burkhard Madea

Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Received 22 October 2009; accepted 17 March 2010

KEYWORDS Abstract
Estimation of the time The estimation of the time of immersion is a common problem in forensic medicine. In
of immersion; addition to several rules of thumb, which give only a rough estimation of the time of
Water temperature; immersion, a table for estimating the minimum time interval of immersion was published
Putrefaction; in Germany about 40 years ago. This table was developed taking into account signs of
Maceration; progressive putrefaction and maceration and the actual water temperature and was
Table; based on observations on originally 277 bodies recovered from water. The reliability of
Evaluation this table was checked 10 years after the original description by the same working
group.
In the present paper results of estimating the time of immersion are presented by applying
this table on 73 bodies with known postmortem interval. Since comparing the average
monthly water temperatures used in the table, the actual water temperatures have risen
during the last 40 years. Especially in summer, reliable results can only be expected when
the actual water temperature is similar to the temperatures in the table. Especially for
higher water temperatures, the time interval of immersion may be underestimated when
using the table since systematic observations on the progression of putrefaction in
correlation to the risen water temperature are missing. Therefore the table should be
adapted to the risen water temperatures.
© 2009 Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.
Todos los derechos reservados.

* Corresponding author.
Email address: b.madea@uni-bonn.de (B. Madea).

0377-4732/$ - see front matter © 2009 Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados.

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52 E. Doberentz and B. Madea

PALABRAS CLAVE Cálculo del tiempo de inmersión de los cadáveres hallados en el agua: evaluación de
Cálculo del tiempo de un método frecuente para calcular el intervalo de tiempo mínimo de inmersión
inmersión;
Temperatura del agua; Resumen
Putrefacción; El cálculo del tiempo de inmersión es un problema habitual en medicina legal. Además de
Maceración; varias normas generales, que sólo proporcionan un cálculo aproximado del tiempo de in-
Tabla; mersión, 40 atrás, en Alemania, se publicó una tabla para calcular el intervalo de tiempo
Evaluación mínimo de inmersión. Esta tabla se diseñó teniendo en cuenta los signos de putrefacción
y maceración progresivos y la temperatura real del agua e, inicialmente, se basó en las
observaciones sobre 277 cadáveres recuperados del agua. El mismo grupo de trabajo
revisó su fiabilidad 10 años después de la descripción original.
En el presente artículo, se describen los resultados del cálculo del tiempo de inmersión
mediante la aplicación de esta tabla en 73 cadáveres cuyo intervalo post mortem era
conocido. Desde la comparación de las temperaturas medias mensuales del agua usadas
en la tabla, durante los 40 últimos años, las temperaturas reales del agua han aumentado.
En particular, en verano, sólo pueden preverse resultados fiables cuando la temperatura
real del agua sea similar a las temperaturas indicadas en la tabla. Sobre todo para las
temperaturas más altas, cuando se usa la tabla, cabe subestimar el intervalo de tiempo
de inmersión porque se pasan por alto las observaciones sistemáticas sobre la progresión
de la putrefacción correlacionada con la mayor temperatura del agua. Por esta razón, es
preciso adaptar la tabla al aumento de las temperaturas del agua.
© 2009 Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.
All rights reserved.

Introduction In the German literature similar rules of thumb for

The estimation of the time of immersion is a common
problem in forensic medicine. The factors which govern the
rate of decomposition in water and the time in which the
signs of immersion are developing have been identified long
ago:
— The water temperature, the most important factor.
— The osmolarity of the water (fresh water, salt water).
— The bacterial content of the water (for instance body
found in a settling basin of a sewage plant).
— Stagnant water-running water.
Decomposition will, of course, proceed much faster in
warm than in cold water.
For the estimation of the time of immersion “in water of
average temperature climates” some rules of thumb have
been developed, for example1:
— No wrinkling of the finger-pads is present: up to few
hours.
— Wrinkled fingers, palms and feet: from half a day to three
days.
— Early decomposition, often first in the dependent head
and neck, abdomen and thighs: 4 to 10 days.
— Bloating of face and abdomen with marbling of veins and
peeling of epidermis on hands and feet and slippage of
scalp: 2 to 4 weeks.
— Gross skin shedding, muscle loss with skeletal muscle,
partial liquefaction: 1 to 2 months.
estimation of immersion have been developed2-5 as in the
English literature1,6-10. However, the reliability and validity
of these rules is low. According to Spitz10, wrinkling of the
skin can not be used to determine the period of time a body
was in the water. In the last three decades several authors
have worked on the progression of washerwomen’s skin
depending on water temperature, osmolarity etc.11-15.
However, these investigations have never gained practical
relevance since in the very early postmortem interval other
methods like body cooling give quite satisfying results16, 17.
More than 40 years ago a German forensic pathologist
developed a table for the estimation of the time interval of
immersion taking into account the actual water temperature
and morphological findings of bodies immersed in water
identified during the external or internal examination18-20.
This chart is part of German textbooks21-23 but seems to be
relatively unknown in the English literature.
Correlation of water temperature and stages
of putrefaction
The investigations of the forensic pathologist Reh on originally
277 bodies recovered from the river Rhine with known
postmortem interval were carried out to answer the question if
there is any correlation between time of immersion and water
temperature on the one hand and signs of death, signs of
immersion and stages of putrefaction on the other hand18,19.
The corpses were mainly recovered from the Rhine and
Rhine-harbor Düsseldorf (70%), and a smaller part (30%) from
other stagnant or running waters, lakes and (swimming-) pools.

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Estimating the time of immersion of bodies found in water – an evaluation of a common method to estimate
the minimum time interval of immersion 53

Table 1 Reh’s table to estimate the minimum time interval of immersion

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

0 Median water 3,5 3,9 5,8 9,9 13,0 17,4 18,6 18,6 17,3 13,2 8,8 4,7
temperature
(°C)
1 Marbling 32 25 16 (23) 9-10 4-5 2 1-2 2 3 4-5 10 17
2 Distension of 35 25 16 (23) 10 4-5 2-3 2 3 3-4 7 10 17
tissues by gas
3 Discoloration of 35 25 16 (23) (14) 4-5 2 2 3 3-4 7 10 17
the body
4 Peeling of the 35 25 16 (23) (16) 4-5 3 2 3 3-4 7 10 17
epidermis
5 Hair lost 35 25 16 (23) 10-12 4-5 2-3 2-3 3 3-4 7 10 17
6 Hands: beginning (1) (1) 28-30 (12 h) (6 h) 2h 2h (1)
of wrinkling
7 Nails become Over 35 (40) 30-32 23 16 5 2-3 3 3 3-4 11 17 28
loose
8 Peeling of skin in 35 (45) 23 16 10 3 3 3-4 4 7 20 28
glove form
9 Nails lost Over 53 45 30 (40) 21 14 8 3 4 10 Over 11 20 Over
35
10 Feet: beginning (1) (1) (12 h) (1) (6 h) 1
/2 h 2h 2h (1)
of wrinkling
11 Nails become Over 53 40 26 (35) 17 10 5 3 4 8 12 17 28
loose
12 Peeling of skin Over 53 60 35 16 10 5 3 5-6 8-9 Over 11 20 28
(14)
13 Nails lost Over 53 Over 60 53 Over Over Over 3 Over Over Over 11 Over Over
35 28 10 10 10 20 35
14 Transsudate in 35 25 (40) 18 (35) 10 5 3-4 3 3 11 5 Over
pleural cavity * 20
15 Heart without Over 39 32-34 (40) 23 14-15 9 4 3 3 5 11 20 28
blood
16 Brain liquefied 35 30 (40) (23) 14-16 5 3-4 3 3 6 10 17 28
Left column: signs of putrefaction. First line: month. Second line: mean water temperature of the month according to measure-
ments of Reh. Following lines: minimum time of immersion for the corresponding water temperature. Minimum time of immersion.
( ) maximum time.
* > 500 ml in adults.

Only those bodies were taken into consideration which were
brought into a mortuary or deep environmental temperature
(4 °C, to prevent further putrefaction) immediately after
recovery. Bodies of newborn or small children were excluded.
The external examination was normally carried out 2-3
days after recovery of the body, which is a common time
interval between recovery and legal autopsy in Germany.
The following criteria concerning autolysis, putrefaction
and maceration were taken into consideration in each case
(table 1).
The water temperature at the place and at the time of
recovery-taken 0.5 to 1 m below the water surface were
considered as well.
In figure 1 the average annual water temperature of the
river Rhine in Düsseldorf from 1961 to 1964 and of the river
Danube in Vienna from 1897 to 1910 is shown. Although the
temperature of the river Danube is slightly lower than that
of the Rhine (lowest difference in March: 1 °C, highest
difference from August to February: > 1.8 °C), the curves
are almost identical.
However, within one month the water temperature can
vary considerably even at one place, and it can vary even
more between different sites of the same river. Therefore
Reh considered the average water temperature for each
month from 1961 to 1964.
In stagnant waters the temperature is a little higher than
in running waters.
Reh examined 277 corpses and established the following
chronological order for the development of the signs of
death and stages of putrefaction:
— Washerwomen’s skin.
— Loosening of rigor mortis.
— Bloating and discoloration of the body.

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54
18
16
Temperature (oC)
14
12
10
8 12
6 10
4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Month
Rhine in Düsseldorf between 1961-1964
Donau in Vienna from 1897-1910
Figure 1 Average annual water temperature of the river Rhine
in Düsseldorf from 1961 to 1964 and the river Danube in Vienna
from 1897 to 1910. x-axis: month from January (1) to December
(12); y-axis: temperature in °C.
— Loosening and loss of skin, hairs and nails, at last loss of
foot nails.
— Inner findings: transudate in pleural cavity > 500 ml.
— Heart without blood, liquefaction of brain.
A definite stage of putrefaction is achieved earlier in
higher water temperatures.
In figure 2 the dependency of putrefaction from water
temperature and time of immersion is shown for three
criteria:
— Bloating of the body (gas emphysema).
— Liquefaction of brain.
— Loosening of foot nails.
For all three criteria the minimal time interval is given
and it becomes evident that with higher water temperatures
decomposition is accelerated. While in March loosening of
foot nails or liquefaction of brain requires a time interval of
over 20 days (minimum 24-26 days), the minimum time
interval in July is only 2-4 days.
The second factor is that the different signs of putrefaction
are taking place simultaneously.
Table for estimating the minimal time interval
of immersion
From the average water temperatures for each month and
the stages of decomposition Reh developed a table with the
minimum time intervals of immersion (table 1). In the left
column the signs of decomposition (number 1-16) and in the
heading line the months are shown. Every month correlates
with an average monthly water temperature (shown in the
row below).
As many criteria as possible should be used for estimating
the minimum time interval since death. With more than
02 ORIGINAL 2409 (51-61).indd 54
E. Doberentz and B. Madea
28
20 26
24
18
22
16 20
Temperature (oC)
18
14
Days
16
12 14
10
8 8
6
6
9 10 11 12 4
4 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
Mean water temperature of the Rhine
Minimum time for gas emphysema
Minimum time for liqueffaction of brain
Minimum time for loosening of toe nalls
Figure 2 The dependence of putrefaction on water
temperature and time of immersion. Bodies were kept for two
to three days in the mortuary. x-axis: month from January to
December; left y-axis: temperature in °C; right y-axis: time of
immersion in days. The higher the water temperature the
sooner definite stages of putrefaction develop.
only one or two criteria the result gets more reliable. Every
sign of putrefaction is correlated to a minimum time in
which this sign can be developed. That means for example
marbling can be found after minimum 32 days in January.
After determining the signs of putrefaction and considering
the several minimum times for each sign, the longest
minimum time of all —the sign developing at the very
latest— will be the minimum time for immersion in water.
For example the body has marbling (32 days in January) and
liquefied brain (35 days in January) —the minimum time
interval of immersion is 35 days because only after 35 days
a brain liquefaction is seen. Now also the maximum time of
immersion can be determined: the heart without blood can
be found after more than 39 days. If the heart contents
blood the body was not immersed 39 days. Our example has
a minimum time of immersion 35 days and maximum time
of immersion 39 days. A better estimation of the immersion
time can be made and help the investigations.
For estimating the minimum time interval of immersion,
the average water temperature which is nearest to the
actual water temperature at the time of recovery is
considered and not the water temperature of the actual
month. Reh proposes to use the water temperature of the
day of recovery for the estimation18-19. With this table not
only the minimum time interval of immersion can be
estimated but also the maximum interval by considering
those criteria which have not yet developed in the corpse.
If in June marbling, bloating and discoloration have
developed, the nails are loose but not lost, it may be
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Estimating the time of immersion of bodies found in water – an evaluation of a common method to estimate
the minimum time interval of immersion
concluded that the interval of immersion is over 3 days, but
below 8 days.
It has been recorded in the last years that the water
temperature of the Rhine has exceeded, especially in
summer, the temperatures indicated by Reh. Nevertheless,
a careful estimation of the minimal time interval of
immersion is possible if the highest temperature given in
the table is considered.
Quite good experiences with Reh’s table have been
reported. The chart is much better than the formerly used
rules of thumb and takes the actual water temperature into
consideration24.
However, the following requirements have to be met to
avoid miscalculations: the bodies should have been kept in
deep environmental temperature (4 °C) 2-3 days after
recovery if the signs of death and stages of putrefaction have
been observed 2-3 days after recovery. If the examination is
carried out immediately after recovery, the table can be
applied as well, but the bodies must not have been exposed
to environmental temperature for a longer period.
However, it must be ensured that there is no time interval
between death and immersion.
Having this in mind and taking into account as many
criteria as possible, a careful estimation of the minimum
and maximum time interval of immersion can be made.
In 1977 Reh et al20 published, as an addition to their
table, diagrams (temperature-time-diagrams for different
stages of putrefaction and maceration) which allow also an
estimation of the minimum interval of immersion. These
diagrams are based on observations on 395 bodies recovered
from water. The requirements are the same as for the
tables.
Reh states in this paper that there is no difference
between running and stagnant water in the chronological
development of the parameters of putrefaction and
maceration.
The main point to consider is the water temperature at
the time of recovery.
Material and methods
The aim of the present study has been to evaluate the
validity and reliability of Reh’s table for the estimation of
the time of immersion which was developed 40 years ago.
For this purpose we have evaluated retrospectively the
autopsy protocols of 73 bodies of the years 1993 to 2007
mainly recovered from the river Rhine or other running
waters and some lakes. In all cases the time interval since
the persons had been missing had been known exactly. In all
cases relatives had noticed the disappearance in a timely
manner, for example the children had disappeared or elderly
people had disappeared from an old people’s home. From
the police records and further investigations by the police
it has been assumed that the time since the persons had
been missing and the time of immersion had been more or
less identical. The collected data have been furthermore:
gender, age, last time seen alive, missing time, time of
recovery, state of decomposition and signs of immersion,
place of recovery, depth of water, water temperature,
cause of death, toxicological findings and blood alcohol
02 ORIGINAL 2409 (51-61).indd 55
55
concentration. *in all cases comparable to Reh’s original
method the examination had taken place a few days after
recovery and the bodies had lain in deep environmental
temperature.
The developed signs of putrefaction have been marked in
Reh’s table to determine the minimum time of immersion
by using the average water temperatures of the month
(according to Reh’s table) in which the body was recovered
without regarding the real water temperatures.
Finally, the estimated minimal time interval of immersion
has been compared with the real missing time. In those
cases in which the estimated time of immersion exceeded
the missing time, the average monthly water temperatures
in Reh’s table have been compared with the real water
temperatures from official sources (agency of water
management) —with the real water temperatures of the
day of recovery and the average water temperature during
the missing time25. The official water temperatures of every
day are determined by different water temperatures
measured on several times in the course of the day.
Furthermore in 33 cases of the year 1999-2005 the time
of immersion has been estimated with the aid of Reh’s table
by using the real water temperatures from the day of
recovery and for comparison by using the average water
temperature of the missing time. Basis of the analysis has
been the nearest average water temperatures in Reh’s table
without paying attention to the actual month.
At last we have compared the actual water temperatures
of the river Rhine (of the years 1999-2007) with the average
monthly water temperatures of the river Rhine from 1961-
1964.
Results
The majority of the bodies have been found in the river
Rhine, others in smaller rivers, ponds or (swimming-) pools.
Bodies have been found all over the year but at high
percentage during the months January, June and July (fig.
3). While it is within the bounds of possibility that the time
of immersion is shorter than the missing time, the opposite
is quite impossible. In 49 cases the chart has given quite
reliable results with the estimated time of immersion and
the missing time being quite in accordance. In 12 cases the
time of immersion has been underestimated compared to
the time the person had been missing.
The biggest difference has been found in these cases:
— Missing time 70 days, minimal time interval of immersion
(according to Reh’ table) 6 days.
— Missing time 97 days, minimal time of immersion 35
days.
— Missing time 54 days, minimal time of immersion 10
days.
However, in 12 cases according to Reh’s table the time of
immersion has exceeded the time the persons had been
missing for more than 3 days when the estimation of the
* A table with details of all cases is available from the authors.
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56 E. Doberentz and B. Madea

12 time of immersion has been based on the average monthly

11 temperature without taking into account the real water
10 temperature (fig. 4, table 2). 8 of these 12 bodies have
9 been found in the river Rhine, 4 in smaller tributaries. The
Number of cases

8 biggest difference has been 29 days (table 2):

7
6 — Water temperature in Reh’s table: 5.8 °C in March.
5 — Real average water temperature of the missing time: 7.1
4 °C.
3 — Real water temperature of the day of recovery: 6.6 °C.
2
1 An important difference has also been found in case 7
0 (table 3). The difference has been 25 days. The real water
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Novembre
December
temperature during the missing time had been higher than
the average monthly water temperature in Reh’s table:

Month of death — Water temperature in Reh’s table: 3.9 °C in February.

— Real average water temperature of the missing time: 7.9 °C.
Figure 3 Monthly distribution of the 73 bodies recovered from — Real water temperature of the day of recovery: 8.8 °C.
water.

30
25 Overestimation
20
15
10
5
0
Number of days

-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
-55
-60 Underestimation
-65

Difference time of immersion according to Reh-time of missing (d)

Figure 4 Difference between time of immersion according to Reh and the real missing time in 73 cases. In some cases the
calculated time of immersion exceeds the missing time by several days.

Table 2 Example to estimate the minimum time interval of immersion

Case River Missing Time of immersion Difference Real water Average monthly Average water
time according to Reh Reh-missing temperature of the water temperature temperature during
(days) (days) time (days) day of recovery (°C)25 in Reh’s table (°C) the missing time (°C)25

1 Rhine 3.56 8.0 4.44 23.3 17.3 23.1

2 Sieg 15.02 20.0 4.98 — 8.8 —
3 Rhine 24.00 53.0 29.0 6.6 5.8 7.1
4 Rhine 2.95 14.0 11.05 9.7 9.9 9.2
5 Rhine 37.13 53.0 15.87 8.0 3.9 4.4
6 Sieg 6.17 23.0 16.83 — 5.8 —
7 Rhine 15.01 40.0 24.99 8.8 3.9 7.9
8 Rhine 1.79 10.0 8.21 24.1 18.6 24.1
9 Mosel 6.82 10.0 3.18 14.5 13.2 15.9
10 Rhine 12.74 23.0 10.25 3.5 5.8 4.3
11 Rhine 35.73 40.0 4.27 13.7 9.9 9.3
12 Mosel 2.72 6.0 3.28 22.3 17.3 22.1
Time of immersion was longer than the missing time in 12 cases.

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Estimating the time of immersion of bodies found in water – an evaluation of a common method to estimate
the minimum time interval of immersion 57

Table 3 Estimated time of immersion in 33 cases on the basis of the water temperatures of the day of recovery and the
average water temperature during the known missing time

Case Missing Water Time of immersion Average Time of immersion Difference Reh Difference Reh
time temperature according to Reh water according to Reh — missing time — missing time
(days) of the day of (days) water temperature (days) average for water for average
recovery temperature of the (°C)25 water temperature temperature water
(°C)25 day of recovery day of recovery temperature

1 12.7 3.7 30.0 4.38 28.0 17.3 22.3

2 0.05 12.65 0.5 12.65 0.5 0.45 0.45
3 35.73 13.7 11.0 11.2 21.0 —20.73 —24.73
4 0.92 22.12 0.03 20.88 0.03 —0.89 —0.89
5 54.0 22.9 3.0 17.62 10.0 —44.0 —44.0
6 1.06 8.55 0.08 8.67 0.08 —0.98 —0.98
7 3.0 19.7 6.0 19.46 6.0 3.0 3.0
8 1.79 25.9 — 25.13 — — —
9 15.01 5.1 30.0 5.45 30.0 14.99 14.99
10 37.12 8.0 20.0 5.9 53.0 —17.12 15.88
11 0.65 7.9 0.08 7.9 0.08 —0.57 —0.57
12 7.05 14.0 9.0 13.87 9.0 1.95 1.95
13 2.94 9.7 35.0 9.18 35.0 32.06 32.06
14 24.0 6.6 53.0 7.1 53.0 29.0 29.0
15 0.05 15.9 0.08 15.9 0.08 0.03 0.03
16 0.89 8.3 0.08 8.35 0.08 —0.81 —0.81
17 4.0 19.9 4.0 19.96 4.0 0 0
18 0.08 20.7 0.02 20.7 0.02 —0.06 —0.06
19 1.08 7.1 0.08 7.15 0.08 —1.0 —1.0
20 19.0 13.8 20.0 13.55 20.0 1.0 1.0
21 3.6 22.5 4.0 22.7 4.0 0.4 0.4
22 0.62 16.8 0.08 17.05 0.08 —0.54 —0.54
23 0.9 22.1 0.02 22.35 0.02 —0.88 —0.88
24 3.0 21.1 4.0 20.8 4.0 1.0 1.0
25 9.0 16.8 0.25 16.7 0.25 —8.75 —8.75
26 0.5 10.9 2.0 11.0 2.0 1.5 1.5
27 1.0 8.8 0.08 8.65 0.08 —0.92 —0.92
28 5.0 19.0 4.0 19.3 4.0 —1.0 —1.0
29 3.1 22.8 4.0 21.8 4.0 0.9 0.9
30 2.7 22.3 4.0 21.3 4.0 1.3 1.3
31 6.8 16.2 6.0 16.1 6.0 —0.8 —0.8
32 72.1 7.6 53.0 7.2 53.0 —19.1 —19.1
33 0.1 24.0 0.25 24.0 0.25 0.15 0.15
Time of immersion was longer than the missing time in 12 cases.

In cases 4 and 10 (table 2) the times of immersion have
been overestimated for 11, respectively 10 days. In both
cases the based average monthly water temperatures in
Reh’s chart have been higher than the real water temperature
of the day of recovery respectively the average water
temperature during the missing time.
In cases 2 and 6 (table 2) no real water temperatures
have been available.
In 33 further cases the actual water temperatures
instead of the average monthly water temperatures have
been taken into account for the estimation of the time of
immersion; again in 14 cases the time of immersion
according to Reh’s table has exceeded the time the persons
had been missing (table 3). The maximum time difference
has been 32 days (missing time 3 days — time of immersion
based on the actual water temperature at the day of
recovery and also of average water temperature 35
days).
Interestingly in most of these cases no difference between
times of immersion based on the actual water temperature
at the day of recovery compared to the average monthly
water temperature has been found. This is due to the fact
that in these cases the actual and the average water
temperature had been nearly identical.
In one case (case 8) the water temperature at the day of
recovery was remarkably higher than the average monthly
water temperatures in Reh’s table:
— The maximum average monthly water temperature in
Reh’s table is 18.6 °C (for July and August).

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58 E. Doberentz and B. Madea

— Real water temperature of the day of recovery: 25.9 °C. 10

Water temperature river Rhine (oC)

— Real average water temperature during the missing time: 9 8.7
25.13 °C. 8
7
6
Discussion
5
In cases of a long postmortem interval the minimum time 4
2.9
interval of immersion can be underestimated, especially if 3
signs of putrefaction attributed to a defined water 2
temperature are fully developed. In these cases it has to be 1
kept in mind that Reh’s chart only allows the estimation of 0
the minimum time interval of immersion.

24.12.2002
25.12.2002
26.12.2002

28.12.2002
29.12.2002
30.12.2002
31.12.2002

02.01.2003
03.01.2003
04.01.2003
05.01.2003
06.01.2003

08.01.2003
09.01.2003
27.12.2002

12.01.2003
10.01.2003
07.01.2003
01.01.2003

By using the chart correctly (on the basis of the real
water temperatures) the missing time can also be
overestimated. In 14 cases (of 33 cases) (table 3) the
determined times of immersion have exceeded the real
missing times. The water temperatures (of the day of
recovery respectively the average water temperature of
the missing time) have been related to the nearest average
monthly water temperature in Reh’s chart. This point may
be problematic since nearly identical water temperatures
can be found in the chart (for example in July or August
with 18.6 °C or June and September with 17.3 °C and 17.4
°C) but they are related to different maximal minimum
time intervals of immersion. It is supposed that Reh
respected the water temperatures of the precedent months
(with lower or higher water temperatures). This is only of
significance when a body is immersed longer than one
month. In cases no. 4 and 10 the estimated minimum time
of immersion exceeds the known missing time, although the
water temperature in Reh’s table was higher than the real
water temperature. If the estimation is based on a high
water temperature (Reh’s table) although the water
temperatures had been lower — the time of immersion will
be overestimated, because in relation to the higher
temperature not all signs of putrefaction are developed.
Reh proved for the first time a statistical correlation
between putrefactive changes and water temperature.
Based on this correlation he developed a chart to estimate
the minimum time of immersion. The estimations were
based on the water temperatures at the day of recovery.
However, using the water temperature of the day of recovery
can reveal totally inaccurate conclusions because the water
temperatures during the whole time of immersion can be
higher or lower. Especially when the immersion time is
comparatively long, a fluctuation of water temperature can
be observed and the water temperature at the day of
recovery is not representative for the water temperature of
the whole time of immersion. This becomes also evident
from figure 5 where original water temperatures over 20
days at the turn of the years 2002/2003 are shown. The
water temperature at the day of recovery (2.9 °C) is about
4 °C lower than the average temperature (6.8 °C). By using
the water temperature at the day of recovery the estimated
time of immersion would be much longer than the real time
of immersion. The water temperature of the day of recovery
is the average water temperature from the day the body
was found, measured by an official water company.
Contrarily we have found in two cases (case 4 and 10)
(table 2) an overestimation of the time of immersion
11.01.2003
Measuring point: Bad Honnef/Rhine
Average water temperature
Figure 5 Example of fluctuation of water temperatures in a
period of twenty days (original water temperatures of the river
Rhine from 24-12-2002 to 12-01-200325).
although the average monthly water temperature in Reh’s
chart was higher than the water temperature from the day
of recovery and the average water temperature during the
missing time.
Another problem is the recommendation to use the
average monthly temperature for the estimation of duration
of immersion. If, for example, the water temperature at
the day of recovery is 13.1 °C, nearly the same temperature
is found in May (13.0 °C) and October (13.2 °C) in Reh’s
table. Although there is only a slight difference in the
average temperature, the estimated times of immersion
are differing widely. Our analyses revealed that in some
cases the actual water temperature has been more than 7
°C higher than the average monthly temperatures reported
by Reh. The rise of the water temperature of the river Rhine
is also illustrated in figure 6. Today the average monthly
water temperatures of the river Rhine measured near Bonn
are approximately 2 °C higher than 40 years ago and 3 °C to
4 °C higher than the average monthly water temperatures
in Reh’s table. Climate changes as well as direct
anthropogenic influences (industrial waters) may have
contributed to the increase in water temperature of the
river Rhine. There are also considerable annual fluctuations
in the average monthly water temperatures (fig. 7). The
normal water level of the Rhine is between 200 and 550
cm27 relating to the measuring station along the Rhine.
Furthermore we compared the average monthly water
temperatures according to Reh’s table with actual water
temperatures of the river Rhine for the years 1999-2007.
The analysis is confined to this time period since digital and
online data are available only since 1999. Today’s average
monthly water temperatures of the river Rhine are about 4
°C above those 40 years ago (table 4, fig. 6).
Since 1978 the water temperature of the river Rhine
increased about 1.2 °C28. Although this increase seems to be
minimal, there are considerable monthly and yearly climate
changes with influence on the water temperatures (figs. 7

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Estimating the time of immersion of bodies found in water – an evaluation of a common method to estimate
the minimum time interval of immersion 59

Average water temperature of the river Rhine (oC) taken into account. Therefore Reh’s chart replaced the old
24
and unreliable rules of thumb for the estimation of duration
22 of immersion. However, the water temperatures have
20 increased during the last 40 years. For higher water
18 temperatures (over 20 °C) Reh’s table is unreliable and
Temperature (oC)

16 further investigations are necessary, especially for higher

14 water temperatures on the correlation between temperature
12 and progression of putrefaction. For lower water
10 temperatures the chart can be used even today. However,
8 the actual measured water temperature of the day of
6 recovery should be used for estimating the time of
4 immersion; data are available at agencies of water
2 management. If a longer time of immersion is assumed or
0 considerable fluctuations of water temperatures have to be
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
taken into account, the average temperature for the missing
time should be used.
Because of the monthly fluctuations of the water
temperature it is not advisable to estimate the time of
REH average water temperature of the river immersion on the basis of the month of recovery without
Rhine 1961-1964 (oC)
regarding the daily water temperatures.
Average water temperature of the river Rhine
Bad Honnef/Rhine 1999-2007 (oC)
Recommended procedure:
Average water temperature of the river Rhine.
Bonn 1961-1984 (oC) When finding a body immersed in water, it is necessary to
Figure 6 Average monthly water temperatures of the Rhine measure the water temperature on the same day. The water
1961-1964 and 1999-200725. temperature depends on the type of water. For bigger rivers
the water temperatures of each day are available in the
associated agency of water management.
With the water temperature of the day of recovery and
and 8). Even fluctuations about 8.0 °C per year can be the developed signs of decomposition and putrefaction the
found. estimation of the time of immersion can be realized with
Reh’s chart. The water temperature of the day of recovery
must be allocated to the nearest average monthly water
Conclusions temperature in Reh’s chart. If a longer time of immersion is
suspected (for example advanced developed signs of
The development of Reh’s chart for the estimation of the putrefaction in cold winter months), it could be useful to
minimum time of immersion was a real progress since check the water temperatures of the last weeks, because
definite putrefactive changes and water temperature were there can be significant fluctuations of the water

25
1992 7/1994
1993
1994
20 1995
5/1992 9/1999
1996
1997
Temperature (oC)

15 1998
1999 7/2000
2000
11/1995 2001 6/1996 9/1996
10 2002 2/2002
2003

5
Normal = average water temperature
96
0
11/1994 19

–5
Novembre

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

Figure 7 Average monthly water temperatures of the years 1992 to 2003 of the river Rhine, weather station Düsseldorf26.

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60 E. Doberentz and B. Madea

Table 4 Average monthly water temperatures of the Rhine 1961-1964 and 1999-2007

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

REH: average water temperature of 3.1 4.0 5.8 10.7 14.0 17.8 19.7 19.6 17.7 13.0 8.7 4.5
the river Rhine, Bonn 1961-1964 (°C)
REH: average water temperature of 3.2 3.9 5.8 9.9 13.0 17.4 18.6 18.6 17.3 13.2 8.8 4.7
the river Rhine 1961-1964 (°C)
Average water temperature of 5.7 5.9 8.2 12.3 16.7 20.4 22.2 22.3 19.5 15.2 10.4 7.0
the river Rhine, Bad Honnef/Rhein
1999-2007 (°C)

Average daily water temperatures Average daily water temperatures

29 29
28 28
27 27
26 26
25 25
24 24
23 23
Temperature (oC)

Temperature (oC)
22 22
21 21
20 20
19 19
18 18
17 17
16 16
15 15
14 14
13 13
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Novembre
December

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Novembre
December
Month (2006) Month (2007)

Figure 8 Water temperatures (°C) of the river Rhine measured near Bonn 2006 and 200727 with monthly fluctuations.

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the minimum time interval of immersion 61

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