end of the lesser trochanter, are present.
Condition
Exposed edges of bone show heavy abrasion, probably from contacts with rocks in the creek. The right acetabulum is perforated, apparently post-mortem, probably as a result of buffeting by the head of the femur, caused by the fast-moving water of the depositional environment. The break in the femur is splintered and abraded.
Pathological Conditions, Antemortem Trauma, Anomalies
None noted.
Sex
The angles of the sciatic notches and the subpubic angle indicate that the skeleton is that of a female. The diameter of the head of the femur (41mm.) supports this view.
Age
The aging criteria for female skeletons of Gilbert and McKern were applied to the pubic symphysis and indicate an age of no less than 14 and no more than 18. The complete fusion of the proximal femoral epiphyses, and of the pubis and ischium, and the complete ossification of the acetabulum indicates an age of 17+. The most probable age is therefore 18.
Race
Whereas the pelvis provides accurate skeletal evidence of sex and age, its bones are among the least reliable in determining race. However, interspinous and interiliac diameters were measured (22.2mm. and 26.6mm., respectively) and make it possible to draw tentative conclusions in regard at least to the three major racial groupings: The skeleton is most probably that of a Caucasoid, but possibly that of a Mongoloid. The wide diameters, and also the lower symphysis of this pelvis, make it unlikely that the skeleton is that of a Negroid.
Stature
Determination of height is problematical, inasmuch as the pelvis and vertebrae are of no help, the single lumbar vertebra is unreliable, and long bone representation is limited to the proximal end of the femur. Nevertheless, height was estimated by applying Steele's regression formulae. The resulting estimate of height is 169 cm. +/- 5 cm. or 5’ 71/2” +/-1.97'.
Weight
The skeletal remains give no indication of obesity or thinness. They do, however, indicate a person of slender, gracile frame. Assuming no extreme of obesity or thinness, and taking into consideration the estimated age of 18, it is estimated that living weight was from 120 to 130 lbs.
Time of Death
Assuming the body to have been continuously in Pyrites Creek from the time of death to the time of discovery, and assuming the water to contain a reasonable complement of fish and other flesh-consuming organisms, the estimated time elapsed since death is two to four weeks, with two weeks the most likely estimate. Any variation in the above assumptions would greatly modify this estimate.
Cause of Death
No evidence of cause of death is provided by the skeletal material.
Not too bad, Gideon thought. Not as definite as he'd like it to be, but there wasn't much to go on. Minor would love it. It was nice and bureaucratic, with enough passives to make it sound official.
Minor came in. “I heard the typewriter stop. May I assume you're done?'
He sat down, placed the report on the table in front of him, aligned the two sheets with each other and the edge of the table, straightened his immaculate cuffs, and began to read. Gideon could see his eyes moving back and forth with rigid precision. When Minor finished, he put the first sheet back on top and straightened the papers again.
'Height, weight, sex, age, race, time of death,” he said. “That's a great deal to tell from so few bones.'
Gideon said nothing. If Minor wanted to argue about it, he'd have to argue with himself. Gideon had done the best he could with the material, had indicated his reservations, and wasn't going to quibble over his findings. Minor could take them or leave them. Gideon frowned, surprised at himself. His defenses were certainly up. The Hornick analysis must have bothered him more than he'd realized.
'If I understand correctly,” Minor continued with polite dubiety, “your estimation of height is based on a single three-inch fragment of femur?'
'That's right,” Gideon said carefully.
'The femur is the leg bone?'
'Yes, the thigh bone.'
'Dr. Arthur Fenster maintains one should never try to estimate stature with fewer than two complete long bones.'
'Dr. Arthur Fenster is correct. I support Dr. Arthur Fenster and applaud him. But we don't have two complete long bones. We don't have one complete long bone. We don't have
Minor smiled for the first time, a pleasant, self-effacing smile. “I surely do take your point,” he said. He glanced back at the summary. “It certainly looks as if it's the Hornick girl, doesn't it?'
'I don't know. Could be.'
'You don't know? Didn't you look at the stats?” He indicated a file folder that he'd earlier left on the table for Gideon.
