Body disposal

[kengr]

I was reading something with the typical "put the body in the hole before they pour the concrete bit.

This is practically a cliche, and the void that will result in the concrete could cause the foundation to fail. Which gets things looked at. Not good.

Then I recalled a scene I've seen in downtown Portland several times over the years when they were

Comments

[fayanora]

(Taking notes)

[stickmaker]

BSCE writing, here. However, I have very little actual experience with heavy construction.

I'm reminded of the reaction of the foreman of the concrete pouring for the Hoover Dam to rumors about workers being drowned and buried in the concrete and the bodies just left: "That would weaken the concrete!"

Anway, there is so much work done with modern concrete (for example, modern foundations for large buildings have reinforcing steel put in place before the pour, then the concrete is tamped or vibrated to ensure there are no voids) that having a body go unnoticed is unlikely. OTOH, for an older building, or a large, modern home (especially one with unusual specifications by the architect or contractor) which has massive, non-reinforced concrete foundations such a disposal might be feasible. There is a black comedy movie (I want to say The Gazebo with Jack Lemmon in the Sixties, but am far from sure) about a guy who buries a body in the poured concrete foundation of a new gazebo on his property. This backfires when the foundation