Silent witness: a moss provides important evidence in solving a cemetery crime

Forensic botany, particularly bryophyte analysis, is a potentially important but underutilized tool in criminal investigations. Bryophytes, including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, have the potential to offer crucial evidence in establishing crime scene timelines and possible connections between suspects, victims, and the scene of the crime. In this case study, a common moss, Fissidens taxifolius, played a pivotal role in revealing the duration of the desecrated human remains and potential evidence for the location from which they had been disinterred. This case study highlights the need for greater utilization of forensic botany, especially microscopic plant material for its potential broader inclusion in criminal investigations. Key Points  Forensic botany: bryophytes, a potentially helpful forensic evidence tool, provide critical information in criminal cases.Widespread but overlooked: bryophytes' ubiquitous nature and properties present great potential in forensic investigations, yet they are often overlooked.Key timeline evidence: bryophyte fragments found with buried human remains were used to develop a timeline, and played a pivotal role in reconstructing events.