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In homicide investigations, it is critically important that postmortem interval and postburial interval ( PBI) of buried victims are determined accurately. However, clandestine graves can be difficult to locate; and the detection rates for a variety of search methods (ranging from simple ground probing through to remote imaging and near-surface geophysics) can be very low. In this study, simulated graves of homicide victims were emplaced in three sites with contrasting soil types, bedrock, and depositional environments. The long-term monthly in situ monitoring of grave soil water revealed rapid increases in conductivity up to 2 years after burial, with the longest study evidencing declining values to background levels after 4.25 years. Results were corrected for site temperatures and rainfall to produce generic models of fluid conductivity as a function of time. The research suggests soilwater conductivity can give reliable PBI estimates for clandestine burials and therefore be used as a grave detection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measures adopted by the communist government between 1945- 1948 showed very clearly that the hierarchs of the Greek-Catholic Church in Romania had to choose between the co-operation with the new regime and the suppression. Facing this challenge, the hierarchs and the united priests proved an extraordinary dignity, courage and loyalty for their beliefs. Our research is trying to shed some light over a few aspects of the informative pursuit proceeded by the 'Securitate' regarding the Greek-catholic bishop Ioan Dragomir, former archpriest of Satu Mare, secretly established as auxiliary bishop of the Maramures diocese. Brought to the 'Securitate's attention, immediately after his release from detention, bishop Ioan Dragomir was strictly watched thanks to his active attitude in the former cult, but also to his position in the clandestine Greek- catholic hierarchy. At the same time with the informative surveillance, the 'Securitate' exerted a lot of pressure and warnings combined with different measures of 'positive inluence' due to moderate his actions. Being extremely inluential in the clandestine Greek-catholic hierarchy of the former diocese of Maramures, the 'Securitate' restored to different compromise methods, but also to provoking and increasing certain misunderstandings between Ioan Dragomir and the former united priests. Being aware of the ill-fated consequences for the Greek-catholic cult, by temporary adopting the Latin rite, bishop Ioan Dragomir opposed to it irmly, hoping that the Greek-Catholic Church will regain its rights as a result of the external pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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