DNA Identification of Human Remains Obtained from a Tiger Shark

Sheria L. King1, Shelley Johnson2, Marisa Roe2, Thomas Reynolds2 and Ellison E. Greenslade1
1Royal Bahamas Police Force, 2Fairfax Identity Laboratories
Publication Date: 2013

Case Summary

On September 4, 2010, a local investment banker caught a 12-foot tiger shark while on a deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of New Providence, Bahamas. The angler was fishing for grouper when the large tiger shark was caught. The angler brought the shark inside the boat with the intent of releasing it. However, upon capture, the shark regurgitated a large piece of what appeared to be a human leg from its mouth. The banker called the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, who assisted in transporting the shark to the marine base, where scenes of crime officers (SOCO) of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) investigated (Figure 1). Upon examination, Defense Force officers found human remains including a right leg, two severed arms and a severed torso inside the shark. The RBPF suspected the human remains were those of one of two men who disappeared from a boat off Jaws Beach (named after an island where the 1987 sequel film “Jaws: The Revenge” was filmed). Jaws Beach is approximately 2 miles off the western coast of New Providence Island in the Bahamas. The suspected victim went on a boating trip with friends on August 29, 2010, and encountered engine trouble. The victim, along with another crewman, tried to swim to Jaws Beach after his boat's engine failed; this was the last time the victim was seen alive, and he was suspected to have drowned. The SOCO collected evidence from the shark and immediately transported it to the Rand Lab (the medical examiner’s office) for forensic examination. The medical examiner determined the remains were human but could not determine the manner or cause of death and submitted samples for identification purposes to the RBPF Forensic Science Section (RBPF-FSS). It was unclear if the victim was alive when he was eaten. Initially, fingerprints were used to identify the victim, but human DNA identification was ultimately sought for resolution of this case. The RBPF-FSS contacted Fairfax Identity Laboratories (FIL) for DNA identification of the remains.

Tiger sharkFigure 1. The tiger shark caught off the coast of New Providence, Bahamas.

Photo courtesy of the scenes of crime officers, Royal Bahamas Police Force.

The RBPF Forensic Science Section prepared tissue and bone samples for DNA identification. Reference specimens from four relatives of the missing fishermen were collected for kinship analysis. These items were packaged and sent to FIL for short tandem repeat (STR) analysis.

Agency # FIL Item # Item Description
LASL #1A 01 One (1) sample of body tissue
LASL #1B 02 One (1) sample of bone
LASL #1C 03 One (1) sample of body tissue
DJ #2B 04 Whole blood sample (daughter of Fisherman #1)
DJ #1B 05 Whole blood sample (son of Fisherman #1 )
DJ #1B 06 Whole blood sample (mother of Fisherman #2)
DM #1B 07 Whole blood sample (half-brother of Fisherman #2)

FIL evaluated three evidentiary samples and four reference samples using an organic extraction method for DNA extraction, Quantifiler® kit for DNA quantification, PowerPlex® 16 System for STR amplification and Applied Biosystems® 3100 Genetic Analyzer for capillary electrophoresis. The loci tested included D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, FGA and the gender-determination locus Amelogenin. The results reported in this case were determined by procedures that have been validated according to the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories.

Tiger Sharks

The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is commonly known as the sea tiger and is regarded as one of the most dangerous shark species. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters of North American beaches, the Gulf of Mexico and regions of South America, often close to the coast. It is one of the largest sharks, ranging in length from 9 to 16 ft, with weights between 850 and 1700 pounds. These sharks are known scavengers and are likely to consume decomposing cadavers. Additionally, human remains are found far more often inside tiger sharks than in any other shark species (1) . Often these are the remains of drowning victims. The stomach acid of the average shark can digest bones so quickly that the opportunity to find remains inside a shark is very short. Furthermore, sharks can invert their stomachs out through their mouth to expel undigested items. Hence, there are very few reported cases of DNA identification from remains taken from sharks.

Results

FIL obtained results from two of the evidence items submitted: one tissue and one bone sample. No results were obtained from the second tissue specimen submitted. The DNA results support the hypothesis that the remains were from a single individual. Full profiles were obtained from the reference items submitted. The DNA results obtained from the tissue and bone were compared to those of relatives of the lost fishermen. The DNA profile obtained from the mother of one of the lost fishermen was used to determine maternity. See Table 1 for a summary of the STR results obtained by FIL.

King_Table1Table 1. Summary of STR Results.

Conclusions

Based on the DNA profiles obtained from the evidence, the mother of one of the missing fishermen cannot be excluded as the biological mother of the individual associated with the bone and tissue.

This is a rare case of human identification from biological remains recovered from a tiger shark. Significant in this process was the relatively short time between the incident and recovery of the remains. This factor and the quick response of the RBPF for the recovery and preservation of evidence made DNA identification possible and gave a quick resolution to this case.

Article References

  1. Maples, W.R. and Browning, M. (1994) Dead Men Do Tell Tales. Doubleday Publishing, New York, NY, USA.

How to Cite This Article

Scientific Style and Format, 7th edition, 2006

King, S.L. et al. DNA Identification of Human Remains Obtained from a Tiger Shark. [Internet] 2013. [cited: year, month, date]. Available from: https://www.promega.com/resources/profiles-in-dna/2013/dna-identification-of-human-remains-obtained-from-a-tiger-shark/

American Medical Association, Manual of Style, 10th edition, 2007

King, S.L. et al. DNA Identification of Human Remains Obtained from a Tiger Shark. Promega Corporation Web site. https://www.promega.com/resources/profiles-in-dna/2013/dna-identification-of-human-remains-obtained-from-a-tiger-shark/ Updated 2013. Accessed Month Day, Year.

Contribution of an article to Profiles in DNA does not constitute an endorsement of Promega products.

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