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Only some of these are disgusting btw.
- Bucket indicated to investigators that the victim, an elderly
lady, was in the process of relieving herself when she fell.
- The missing shoe is consistent with this or other possible scenarios.
Apparently it came off during fall -- or her taking it off caused the fall -- and is out of view.
- In falling, the victim obviously hit her head on the fireplace,
knocking her unconscious or possibly killing her outright.
- Her head struck the iron grate, which has been sharply displaced
to the left.
- The fall caused flaming embers from the now-exposed "open coal
fire" to shower upon the body.
- The victim's clothing ignited and, as the fire progressed, her
own melting body fat contributed to the overall destruction.
- The rug beneath the body may have retained melted body fat to
aid in the severe destruction -- a process known in the forensic literature as the wick effect.
- The fire was probably further aided by the chimney effect --
a "drawing" of the flame and venting of smoke -- in this case by the chimney itself. At about 9:30 on the previous evening,
when it is believed the fire took place, neighbors saw a great amount of smoke and sparks issuing from the chimney.
- Heavy deposits of soot above the fireplace, tapering toward the
chimney opening, are consistent with the chimney effect and the venting of considerable organic material.
- The destruction of the body was in approximate proportion to
its proximity to the fire source, the torso -- which contains a large amount of fat -- being most severely destroyed, while
the lower legs and feet have remained intact.
- As in many other such cases, the lower extremities were spared
because fire burns laterally with difficulty.
- Nearby objects failed to burn for the same reason. Only radiant
heat, and not flame, reached these objects.
The remains of SHP victim Dr. John Bently
Note: Only floor where body was is burnt, rest of the room untouched.
The remains of Mr Reeser, being cleaned up by Firemen
 Another SHC victim
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