São Paulo police use facial reconstruction to identify remains

The Technical-Scientific Police of São Paulo has developed an innovative facial reconstruction technique to identify human remains that cannot be recognized through traditional methods like fingerprints or visual examination.

Developed by forensic expert Bruno Robles Paschoal, the method utilizes 3D digital modeling and photogrammetry to translate skeletal structures into realistic facial approximations. The process begins at the Medical-Legal Institute (IML), where a skull is photographed from multiple angles to create a precise digital copy. Using specialized software such as Blender, experts apply scientific parameters to determine tissue thickness based on anatomical data.

The technique has already proven effective in complex investigations, such as a case in São José do Rio Preto where a woman was successfully identified after her remains were found in various locations. The project was motivated by the need to provide answers to families of missing persons in cases involving high degrees of decomposition.