Abstract
Fire is a combustion reaction that alters the chemical and physical properties of organic matter, posing challenges to forensic investigators during scene recovery and analysis. The study of thermally altered human remains has gradually shifted from research derived from historical cremated remains and animal bone studies to crematorium-based research and controlled burn experiments. This study analyzes data from forensic case reports involving burned human remains (N = 17), collected from redacted osteological examinations submitted by Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney to jurisdictions across Florida. Each case has been closed and adjudicated. The percentage of recovered skeletal elements was quantified and compared to Golda’s (2015) predicted model of survivability based on bone density, size, and shape. This research aims to evaluate the applicability of Golda’s (2015) model to modern forensic cases with a small sample size and to explore how theoretical survivability frameworks translate into practical recovery