The type of embalming done in funeral homes is cosmetic and meant to get you through the funeral. The amount of time to become skeletal will vary greatly with how well the procedure was done and the conditions around the coffin. So it is possible she would have still be recognizable 5 years after the fact but very very unlikely. Exhumed remains are pulled to look for fractures, broken bones, and most commonly to test for poisoning that was not tested for before hand. That can be done with the bones and hair.
It does depend on
environmental conditions, but generally...
"Burial in a coffin slows the process
The whole process is generally slower in a coffin, and the body may remain identifiable for many months. Some tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, are more resistant to decomposition, while the uterus and prostate glands may last several months.
But within a year all that is usually left is the skeleton and teeth, with traces of the tissues on them - it takes 40 to 50 years for the bones to become dry and brittle in a coffin. In
soil of neutral acidity, bones may last for hundreds of years, while acid peaty soil gradually dissolves the bones."
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in December 2005.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../...nafterdeath.shtml
-How long does embalming preserve the remains?
A- This has got to be the most often asked question we receive, and the most lengthy to answer due to all
the factors that go in to determine it. We must understand that embalming is only a temporary hindrance to
decomposition. Decomposition is a natural and scientific process that begins immediately after death.
In order for decomposition to take place you need to have two elements present...air and water, which make
ideal hosts for aerobic & anaerobic bacteria.Logically, it would make sense that if we can stop these two elements from coming in contact with the remains,
then we can stop decomposition from taking place. The only way to *advertiser censored* decomposition 100% is to
vacuum seal the remains...logical and scientific, but not practical. Other factors that come into play are:
- Mode of death- traumatic deaths do not embalm as well as a "natural cause" death, due to the
breakdown of circulation.
- Weight of remains- The more weight, the more water the remains contain.
- Type of casket & outer enclosure- a protective casket and vault will seal out more water and air
than a non-protective.
- Soil & climate conditions- A dry, sandy soil cemetery is better than a wet, clay soil cemetery due
to water retention.
- Skill and thoroughness of the embalmer. As in any other profession, shortcuts and inferior
materials will make for a shoddy job. If the funeral director takes pride in his work, then he will do a
more thorough embalming using only the highest quality materials available to him.
No funeral director should warrant to a family, that by embalming or buying certain merchandise, the remains
will last forever...this is NOT true. It may hinder the decomposition process for a short time.
..but nothing is forever.
http://www.caring.com/articles/embalming
More embalming considerations
If a body isn't embalmed
A body that isn't embalmed will decompose within days instead of weeks.
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Decomposition
Embalming is the practice of delaying decomposition of human and animal remains. Embalming slows decomposition somewhat, but does not forestall it indefinitely. Embalmers typically pay great attention to parts of the body seen by mourners, such as the face and hands. The chemicals used in embalming repel most insects, and slow down bacterial putrefaction by "fixing" cellular proteins, which means that they cannot act as a nutrient for bacteria, and killing the bacteria themselves.
The time for an embalmed body to be reduced to a
skeleton varies greatly.
NOTE: contrary to popular idea, embalming does not provide perfect, perpetual preservation. It merely slows the decomposition process. All bodies will eventually decompose to some degree. Depending on conditions in the grounds, they may more mummify than decompose.
) I hate to think there was a police coverup here, but I can't believe otherwise.
