Mafia exaggerates how long it takes to dissolve a corpse

Image by Powerhouse Museum Collection via Flickr

I'll bet you've been wondering about this: How long does it take a human body to dissolve in sulfuric acid? According to the Mafia in Sicily it takes just minutes. “We put the people in acid. In 15, 20 minutes they were no more — they became a liquid.” This from an informant.

Not so according to researchers.

 Using pig carcasses, scientists determined it took two days to dissolve a corpse, if water was added, which speeds the process. The research was reported at a recent meeting of  the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Moral: You just can't trust the Mafia.