Forensic Entomology and Estimation of Postmortem Interval in Outdoor Death Scenes in Plateau State

Forensic entomology utilises insect succession patterns on decomposing remains to estimate the postmortem interval, a crucial parameter in homicide investigations. This study explores the applicability of forensic entomological methods in outdoor death scenes investigated in Plateau State between 2020 and 2024. A descriptive observational design was adopted, involving the collection and identification of insect specimens from fifteen decomposition scenes under the supervision of licensed pathologists and entomologists. Species abundance, successional stage, and ambient temperature data were recorded and used to calculate accumulated degree hours for postmortem interval estimation. The study evaluates the accuracy of estimates compared to known time-of-death data available in ten cases. Calliphoridae and Muscidae species were the most prevalent colonisers across all scenes, with blow fly larvae providing the most reliable postmortem interval estimates. Discrepancies were noted in shaded or enclosed environments where temperature variation affected larval development rates. The research highlights the absence of a reference insect succession database specific to the Jos Plateau ecological zone, a gap that compromises the reliability of entomological evidence in North Central Nigeria. Recommendations include the establishment of a regional decomposition research facility and the training of pathologists in basic forensic entomology procedures. Keywords: forensic entomology, postmortem interval, decomposition, Plateau State, blow fly.