M Katherine Spradley
Biographic Data
| ID | 100154 |
|---|---|
| NAME | M Katherine Spradley |
| GIVEN NAMES | M Katherine |
| FAMILY NAME | Spradley |
| SIGNATURE | SPRADLEY M K |
| AFFILIATIONS | Texas State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6056-9712 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 30 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 17 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Spatial Distributions of Isotope Ratios in Tap Water, Hair, and Teeth from Latin America for Region-of- Origin Predictions of Unidentified Border Crossers
In this article, we present and summarize reference stable isotope data useful in the identification efforts of deceased undocumented border crossers (UBCs) found in southern Arizona and South Texas. In addition, we discuss the use of reference baseline data to refine predictions of region-of-origin of unidentified UBC remains. Overall, Mexican reference hair samples reflect significant consumption of C4 resources, indicating a diet dominated by …
Exploring Mutual and Exclusive Biological Information in Cranial Metric and Morphological Variables
Evidence suggests that both craniometric and cranial morphoscopic (MMS) traits elucidate information about cranial phenotypic variation and are appropriate proxies of genetic variation. Yet, the types of variation underlying the expression of craniometric and MMS traits are unknown. Recent data sets of matched skeletal metric and MMS data enable a holistic exploration into the cranial phenotype. Subsequently, the current study strived to provide …
Roadmap to the Future
Steve Ousley was our friend, colleague, and collaborator. This article reflects on the impact of his work in modernizing three-dimensional cranial data collection. By building the 3Skull software program, something he is less well known for than FORDISC, he allowed generations of researchers to collect cranial and other skeletal coordinate data in a meticulous yet efficient manner. This contribution not only allowed for the creation of new knowle…
Slaughtered like animals. Revealing the atrocities committed by the Nazis on captives at Treblinka I by skeletal trauma analysis
The infamous Treblinka camp was one of numerous extermination camps throughout Poland, where Germans carried out mass killings of Jews. There were two camps in Treblinka, AL Treblinka I, a forced labor camp, and KL Treblinka II, the site of the extermination camp. Treblinka I held captives of various origins and ethnic backgrounds who were serving their sentences by working in a pre-existing gravel pit. Many of those prisoners perished in the cam…
What Are We Really Estimating in Forensic Anthropological Practice, Population Affinity or Ancestry
While American forensic anthropologists often state that they estimate ancestry, is that what they are really estimating? Although typological terminology, the oids, was replaced with continental terminology, the change was linguistic rather than substantive. The American population is comprised largely of immigrants. Genetic data suggests a high degree of admixture within American population groups. Further, data from documented skeletal collect…
Evaluating Graduate Student Diversity in Forensic Anthropology
In this paper we explore why graduate programs with a focus in forensic anthropology typically lack racial and ethnic diversity. Specifically, we ask how application and enrollment data from our MA anthropology program at Texas State University, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), compare to census data and national data sets. We further compare diversity in 2020 applications in the Texas State MA anthropology program to the programs at Califor…
Lost in Plain Sight
High rates of migrant fatalities at the U.S. southern border represent an ongoing mass disaster that is the product of Prevention through Deterrence policies funneling migrants into remote and deadly terrain. Due to a fragmented, underresourced, and overwhelmed medicolegal system in South Texas, the majority of unidentified migrant decedents recovered in the region are buried without proper investigation or genetic sampling. The present study exa…
Comparing Genetic Variation among Latin American Immigrants
The humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border is a long-standing and evolving crisis in which nearly 8,000 deaths have been reported in the last two decades. These deaths are largely distributed across the Arizona-Mexico and Texas-Mexico border regions, where demographic trends for immigrants attempting to cross into the United States have shifted dramatically. The demographic change and volume of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States…
Use of craniometric data to facilitate migrant identifications at the United States/Mexico border
OBJECTIVES: Thousands of migrants have died along the United States/Mexico border and many remain unidentified. The purpose of this research is to test whether estimations of population affinity, derived from craniometric data, can facilitate identification of migrant remains and provide a geographic region of origin rather than the broad label Hispanic. The appropriateness of current forensic reference data will also be assessed. METHODS: A case…
Comparing Genetic Variation among Latin AmericanImmigrants
The humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border is a long-standing and evolving crisis in which nearly 8,000 deaths have been reported in the last two decades. These deaths are largely distributed across the Arizona-Mexico and Texas-Mexico border regions, where demographic trends for immigrants attempting to cross into the United States have shifted dramatically. The demographic change and volume of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States…
Craniofacial asymmetry as a marker of socioeconomic status among undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States
Identifying migrant remains in South Texas
In 2012, Texas surpassed Arizona in migrant deaths. The majority of deaths occurred in the Rio Grande Valley, specifically in Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County is one of the poorest in the state and was overwhelmed with deaths, without appropriate resources to follow the state laws pertaining to the investigation of unidentified human remains. Until 2013, most remains that were not immediately identified were buried without collecting DNA sampl…
M orphological variation among late holocene M exicans
Objectives Cranial morphology has previously been used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among populations, and has been an important tool in the reconstruction of ancient human dispersals across the planet. In the Americas, previous morphological studies support a scenario of people entering the Americas and dispersing from North America into South America through Meso America, making the Mexican territory the natural funnel through which b…
Clyde Collins Snow (1928-2014)
Craniometric Variation of Diverse Populations in Florida
The state of Florida is commonly ignored as a border state when it comes to issues and challenges in migrant death investigations. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida held the third largest Hispanic population in the United States, with almost 19 million individuals self‐identifying as Hispanic, following behind California and Texas (Ennis et al. ). Undocumented workers that arrive in the United States frequently migrate to Florida for labor, such a…
Toward Estimating Geographic Origin of Migrant Remains Along the United States-mexico Border
Due to the diverse demographics within the United States, ancestry estimation in the biological profile created by forensic anthropologists is helpful in facilitating a positive identification, narrowing down the parameters when searching through missing persons databases. The U.S.-Mexico border has seen an increase in migrant fatalities during the year 2012. In particular, Brooks County, Texas, has seen a dramatic increase in migrant remains. Un…
Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology
When the pelvis is unavailable, the skull is widely considered the second best indicator of sex. The goals of this research are to provide an objective hierarchy of sexing effectiveness of cranial and postcranial elements and to test the widespread notion that the skull is superior to postcranial bones. We constructed both univariate and multivariate discriminant models using data from the Forensic Anthropology Data Bank. Discriminating effective…
Identifying migrant remains in South Texas
In 2012, Texas surpassed Arizona in migrant deaths. The majority of deaths occurred in the Rio Grande Valley, specifically in Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County is one of the poorest in the state and was overwhelmed with deaths, without appropriate resources to follow the state laws pertaining to the investigation of unidentified human remains. Until 2013, most remains that were not immediately identified were buried without collecting DNA sampl…
Craniometric Variation of Diverse Populations in Florida
The state of Florida is commonly ignored as a border state when it comes to issues and challenges in migrant death investigations. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida held the third largest Hispanic population in the United States, with almost 19 million individuals self‐identifying as Hispanic, following behind California and Texas (Ennis et al. ). Undocumented workers that arrive in the United States frequently migrate to Florida for labor, such a…
Lost in Plain Sight
High rates of migrant fatalities at the U.S. southern border represent an ongoing mass disaster that is the product of Prevention through Deterrence policies funneling migrants into remote and deadly terrain. Due to a fragmented, underresourced, and overwhelmed medicolegal system in South Texas, the majority of unidentified migrant decedents recovered in the region are buried without proper investigation or genetic sampling. The present study exa…
Toward Estimating Geographic Origin of Migrant Remains Along the United States-mexico Border
Due to the diverse demographics within the United States, ancestry estimation in the biological profile created by forensic anthropologists is helpful in facilitating a positive identification, narrowing down the parameters when searching through missing persons databases. The U.S.-Mexico border has seen an increase in migrant fatalities during the year 2012. In particular, Brooks County, Texas, has seen a dramatic increase in migrant remains. Un…
M orphological variation among late holocene M exicans
Objectives Cranial morphology has previously been used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among populations, and has been an important tool in the reconstruction of ancient human dispersals across the planet. In the Americas, previous morphological studies support a scenario of people entering the Americas and dispersing from North America into South America through Meso America, making the Mexican territory the natural funnel through which b…
Roadmap to the Future
Steve Ousley was our friend, colleague, and collaborator. This article reflects on the impact of his work in modernizing three-dimensional cranial data collection. By building the 3Skull software program, something he is less well known for than FORDISC, he allowed generations of researchers to collect cranial and other skeletal coordinate data in a meticulous yet efficient manner. This contribution not only allowed for the creation of new knowle…
Evaluating Graduate Student Diversity in Forensic Anthropology
In this paper we explore why graduate programs with a focus in forensic anthropology typically lack racial and ethnic diversity. Specifically, we ask how application and enrollment data from our MA anthropology program at Texas State University, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), compare to census data and national data sets. We further compare diversity in 2020 applications in the Texas State MA anthropology program to the programs at Califor…
Comparing Genetic Variation among Latin American Immigrants
The humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border is a long-standing and evolving crisis in which nearly 8,000 deaths have been reported in the last two decades. These deaths are largely distributed across the Arizona-Mexico and Texas-Mexico border regions, where demographic trends for immigrants attempting to cross into the United States have shifted dramatically. The demographic change and volume of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States…
Use of craniometric data to facilitate migrant identifications at the United States/Mexico border
OBJECTIVES: Thousands of migrants have died along the United States/Mexico border and many remain unidentified. The purpose of this research is to test whether estimations of population affinity, derived from craniometric data, can facilitate identification of migrant remains and provide a geographic region of origin rather than the broad label Hispanic. The appropriateness of current forensic reference data will also be assessed. METHODS: A case…
Clyde Collins Snow (1928-2014)
Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology
When the pelvis is unavailable, the skull is widely considered the second best indicator of sex. The goals of this research are to provide an objective hierarchy of sexing effectiveness of cranial and postcranial elements and to test the widespread notion that the skull is superior to postcranial bones. We constructed both univariate and multivariate discriminant models using data from the Forensic Anthropology Data Bank. Discriminating effective…
Craniometric Variation of Diverse Populations in Florida
The state of Florida is commonly ignored as a border state when it comes to issues and challenges in migrant death investigations. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida held the third largest Hispanic population in the United States, with almost 19 million individuals self‐identifying as Hispanic, following behind California and Texas (Ennis et al. ). Undocumented workers that arrive in the United States frequently migrate to Florida for labor, such a…
Toward Estimating Geographic Origin of Migrant Remains Along the United States-mexico Border
Due to the diverse demographics within the United States, ancestry estimation in the biological profile created by forensic anthropologists is helpful in facilitating a positive identification, narrowing down the parameters when searching through missing persons databases. The U.S.-Mexico border has seen an increase in migrant fatalities during the year 2012. In particular, Brooks County, Texas, has seen a dramatic increase in migrant remains. Un…
Clyde Collins Snow (1928-2014)
M orphological variation among late holocene M exicans
Objectives Cranial morphology has previously been used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among populations, and has been an important tool in the reconstruction of ancient human dispersals across the planet. In the Americas, previous morphological studies support a scenario of people entering the Americas and dispersing from North America into South America through Meso America, making the Mexican territory the natural funnel through which b…
Craniofacial asymmetry as a marker of socioeconomic status among undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States
Identifying migrant remains in South Texas
In 2012, Texas surpassed Arizona in migrant deaths. The majority of deaths occurred in the Rio Grande Valley, specifically in Brooks County, Texas. Brooks County is one of the poorest in the state and was overwhelmed with deaths, without appropriate resources to follow the state laws pertaining to the investigation of unidentified human remains. Until 2013, most remains that were not immediately identified were buried without collecting DNA sampl…
Comparing Genetic Variation among Latin American Immigrants
The humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border is a long-standing and evolving crisis in which nearly 8,000 deaths have been reported in the last two decades. These deaths are largely distributed across the Arizona-Mexico and Texas-Mexico border regions, where demographic trends for immigrants attempting to cross into the United States have shifted dramatically. The demographic change and volume of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States…
Use of craniometric data to facilitate migrant identifications at the United States/Mexico border
OBJECTIVES: Thousands of migrants have died along the United States/Mexico border and many remain unidentified. The purpose of this research is to test whether estimations of population affinity, derived from craniometric data, can facilitate identification of migrant remains and provide a geographic region of origin rather than the broad label Hispanic. The appropriateness of current forensic reference data will also be assessed. METHODS: A case…
Comparing Genetic Variation among Latin AmericanImmigrants
The humanitarian crisis on the US-Mexico border is a long-standing and evolving crisis in which nearly 8,000 deaths have been reported in the last two decades. These deaths are largely distributed across the Arizona-Mexico and Texas-Mexico border regions, where demographic trends for immigrants attempting to cross into the United States have shifted dramatically. The demographic change and volume of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States…
What Are We Really Estimating in Forensic Anthropological Practice, Population Affinity or Ancestry
While American forensic anthropologists often state that they estimate ancestry, is that what they are really estimating? Although typological terminology, the oids, was replaced with continental terminology, the change was linguistic rather than substantive. The American population is comprised largely of immigrants. Genetic data suggests a high degree of admixture within American population groups. Further, data from documented skeletal collect…
Evaluating Graduate Student Diversity in Forensic Anthropology
In this paper we explore why graduate programs with a focus in forensic anthropology typically lack racial and ethnic diversity. Specifically, we ask how application and enrollment data from our MA anthropology program at Texas State University, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), compare to census data and national data sets. We further compare diversity in 2020 applications in the Texas State MA anthropology program to the programs at Califor…
Lost in Plain Sight
High rates of migrant fatalities at the U.S. southern border represent an ongoing mass disaster that is the product of Prevention through Deterrence policies funneling migrants into remote and deadly terrain. Due to a fragmented, underresourced, and overwhelmed medicolegal system in South Texas, the majority of unidentified migrant decedents recovered in the region are buried without proper investigation or genetic sampling. The present study exa…
Slaughtered like animals. Revealing the atrocities committed by the Nazis on captives at Treblinka I by skeletal trauma analysis
The infamous Treblinka camp was one of numerous extermination camps throughout Poland, where Germans carried out mass killings of Jews. There were two camps in Treblinka, AL Treblinka I, a forced labor camp, and KL Treblinka II, the site of the extermination camp. Treblinka I held captives of various origins and ethnic backgrounds who were serving their sentences by working in a pre-existing gravel pit. Many of those prisoners perished in the cam…
Exploring Mutual and Exclusive Biological Information in Cranial Metric and Morphological Variables
Evidence suggests that both craniometric and cranial morphoscopic (MMS) traits elucidate information about cranial phenotypic variation and are appropriate proxies of genetic variation. Yet, the types of variation underlying the expression of craniometric and MMS traits are unknown. Recent data sets of matched skeletal metric and MMS data enable a holistic exploration into the cranial phenotype. Subsequently, the current study strived to provide …
Roadmap to the Future
Steve Ousley was our friend, colleague, and collaborator. This article reflects on the impact of his work in modernizing three-dimensional cranial data collection. By building the 3Skull software program, something he is less well known for than FORDISC, he allowed generations of researchers to collect cranial and other skeletal coordinate data in a meticulous yet efficient manner. This contribution not only allowed for the creation of new knowle…
Spatial Distributions of Isotope Ratios in Tap Water, Hair, and Teeth from Latin America for Region-of- Origin Predictions of Unidentified Border Crossers
In this article, we present and summarize reference stable isotope data useful in the identification efforts of deceased undocumented border crossers (UBCs) found in southern Arizona and South Texas. In addition, we discuss the use of reference baseline data to refine predictions of region-of-origin of unidentified UBC remains. Overall, Mexican reference hair samples reflect significant consumption of C4 resources, indicating a diet dominated by …
Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (13 works) · Archaeology (11 works) · Geography (11 works) · Forensic and Genetic Research (10 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Demography (8 works) · Demography (8 works) · Political science (8 works) · Population (8 works) · Biology (7 works)