Here's the article in a click-able form.

Interesting... BUT : contrary to what the article says pollen does travel far (by wind or by insects). Although you can show that this pollen belongs to this tree (and then again you have to analyze DNA from all trees of the same species to find the one you're looking for), you have to then prove that the pollen was not deposited on your shirt by an insect, or by wind, or just because you had a walk near that place say 2 days before the crime , or ..or..

If you look at what the case...they are talking about bodies being transported some distance (assuming many kilometers from a site of orgin).

Assuming you are looking at plants that use beetles, ants or other insects as pollinators, you should have a reduced likeliness of wind dispersal.

So if you dig the body up and it has pollen similar to a site far away and does not have "local" pollen...you have a case that the body was moved.

In this case, they are not using pollen to convict the criminal. They are using the pollen to identify the location(s) of the victim.

So now we all know to not kill someone and then place the body in a plastic bag, drive far away and dump it.

You should just leave the body out during the transport (or even better drag it through the fields) to allow for more "local" pollen to show up in the lab.

All these sophisticated lab techniques have spoiled detective novels for me...I liked it best when it was just motive and opportunity, and the wits of the detective which solved the case... lol. josh