How long does cadaver scent last?

[Vertigo Swirl]

How long does cadaver scent last and knowing the answer, how would that have helped solve the case?

14

[Vertigo Swirl]

Like Mrs mcCann I can do a quick google and this was the first article I read:

"Researchers are trying to determine how long the scent lingers when the body is no longer present, but there are no conclusive results yet—it may be two weeks, or it may be longer. One former Scotland Yard dog handler talking about the McCann case hypothesized that the scent wouldn't last more than a month".

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/09/scent_of_a_dead_woman.html?via=gdpr-consent

[faithlilly]

How long does cadaver scent last then, and knowing the answer, how would that have helped solve the case?

It wouldn’t have solved the case but at least she would have appeared honest.

“Results
Each dog participating in this project was able to find most or all of the locations where the decomposing scent articles had been. We saw dogs, which varied, from full alert and pinpointing to general interest in the room or area.

What we have found so far is; residual scent will last 1 year in a building with minimum environmental influence, or human disturbance. Even after the objects where the scent source had been were removed, the dogs were able to locate the rooms, general area, or pinpoint where it had been.

Each time we have worked the problem we have included teams that had not worked the area before. We now have had 16 teams work the residual scent problem. The dogs have ranged from veteran cadaver trained certified teams to 1 year old puppies (who have been training from 8 weeks of age on cadaver and residual scent).”

http://www.csst.org/residual_scent.html

[faithlilly]

Like Mrs mcCann I can do a quick google and this was the first article I read:

"Researchers are trying to determine how long the scent lingers when the body is no longer present, but there are no conclusive results yet—it may be two weeks, or it may be longer. One former Scotland Yard dog handler talking about the McCann case hypothesized that the scent wouldn't last more than a month".

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2007/09/scent_of_a_dead_woman.html?via=gdpr-consent

No conclusive results yet......that doesn’t sound like 30 days.

[Vertigo Swirl]

No conclusive results yet......that doesn’t sound like 30 days.

You dismissed 30 days out of hand, so you must surely know the answer.

[faithlilly]

You dismissed 30 days out of hand, so you must surely know the answer.

Read my modified post above.

[Vertigo Swirl]

It wouldn’t have solved the case but at least she would have appeared honest.

“Results
Each dog participating in this project was able to find most or all of the locations where the decomposing scent articles had been. We saw dogs, which varied, from full alert and pinpointing to general interest in the room or area.

What we have found so far is; residual scent will last 1 year in a building with minimum environmental influence, or human disturbance. Even after the objects where the scent source had been were removed, the dogs were able to locate the rooms, general area, or pinpoint where it had been.

Each time we have worked the problem we have included teams that had not worked the area before. We now have had 16 teams work the residual scent problem. The dogs have ranged from veteran cadaver trained certified teams to 1 year old puppies (who have been training from 8 weeks of age on cadaver and residual scent).”

http://www.csst.org/residual_scent.html

So cadaver scent can last up to a year if the source of the scent (in this case comprising of actual body fluids, not a freshly deceased body) is left in a room with minimal human disturbance for 5 hours.  How long if a newly deceased body is left for fewer than five hours in a room with plenty of human disturbance? 

[faithlilly]

So cadaver scent can last up to a year if the source of the scent (in this case comprising of actual body fluids, not a freshly deceased body) is left in a room with minimal human disturbance for 5 hours.  How long if a newly deceased body is left for fewer than five hours in a room with plenty of human disturbance?

I’ve supplied you with a cite.....now it’s your turn for 30 days ( and an unnamed SY detective hypothesising will just not do ).

[barrier]

I’ve supplied you with a cite.....now it’s your turn for 30 days ( and an unnamed SY detective hypothesising will just not do ).

In 2014 police with the help of cadaver dogs searched the lawless hills around Luz so if the scent only last's 30 days were they hot on the heels of a corpse or does it indeed last longer.

[Vertigo Swirl]

I’ve supplied you with a cite.....now it’s your turn for 30 days ( and an unnamed SY detective hypothesising will just not do ).

Your argument was that Kate McCann should have known that 30 days was a load of guff by simply googling the answer.  I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that do you?  If she was advised by an unnamed SY detective that the scent wouldn’t last longer than 30 days in his opinion why wouldn’t she take his word for it?  I don’t have a cite for 30 days that you will accept by the way, but then I don’t accept your cite as it tells us nothing about how long cadaver scent would have lasted in the circumstances thst would have applied in 5a.

[Vertigo Swirl]

In 2014 police with the help of cadaver dogs searched the lawless hills around Luz so if the scent only last's 30 days were they hot on the heels of a corpse or does it indeed last longer.

I doubt residual cadaver scent lasts for 7 years out in the open to be honest.

[slartibartfast]

I doubt residual cadaver scent lasts for 7 years out in the open to be honest.

A layman’s opinion...

[Vertigo Swirl]

A layman’s opinion...

but a pretty sensible one nonetheless.

[faithlilly]

Your argument was that Kate McCann should have known that 30 days was a load of guff by simply googling the answer.  I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that do you?  If she was advised by an unnamed SY detective that the scent wouldn’t last longer than 30 days in his opinion why wouldn’t she take his word for it?  I don’t have a cite for 30 days that you will accept by the way, but then I don’t accept your cite as it tells us nothing about how long cadaver scent would have lasted in the circumstances thst would have applied in 5a.

I believe Mrs McCann says in her book that Gerry had researched the subject and the 30 days was the result. As we have demonstrated the subject is not at all  cut and dried so for the author to pretend it is is disingenuous if not downright dishonest.

[Brietta]

In 2014 police with the help of cadaver dogs searched the lawless hills around Luz so if the scent only last's 30 days were they hot on the heels of a corpse or does it indeed last longer.

Indeed it does if there are actual body remains in the vicinity.  In my opinion if there had been any in the areas inspected the dogs would have homed in.
Don't the files record searches with dogs where rods were inserted into the ground to release any trapped scents?  It is a recognised technique.  I don't recall that way back then it was any more productive than in 2014, strongly suggesting to me there was no body there to be found.