Minozzi and her colleagues detailed their argument in the May issue of the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

MSN: 'Vampire' plague victim spurs gruesome debate

The 1995 study, in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, looked at proficiency tests labs take to see whether their work is sound.

FORBES: Forensic evidence doesn't always tell the truth.

They discussed how the physical details of the site supported their interpretation in a response in the May issue of the Journal of Forensic Sciences, and that while the legend of the nachzehrer was found in Germanic areas, Venice was a crossroads during the epoch in which such legends from distant lands might have circulated.

MSN: 'Vampire' plague victim spurs gruesome debate