Forensic microbiology has been helpful in a few instances in determining the post-mortem interval. In one case, a man's body was found with multiple stab wounds in a closed apartment that excluded flies (6). Fungal colonies were found growing on the blood-soaked carpet and couch fabric. The size of the mold colonies was noted. Forensic scientists recreated the crime scene by removing some unstained carpet and fabric and adding bovine blood. Fungi from the crime scene were added to the blood-stained carpet samples and maintained in the laboratory under controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity equivalent to the apartment. The principal fungi in the study were Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium citrinum, and Mucor plumbeus. A comparison of the colony size in the laboratory to the size of the colonies found at the crime scene indicated that death had occurred about 5 days before the body was found. The post-mortem interval was later confirmed when a suspect confessed.