Question

the pmi for remains of a body enclosed in a plastic bag could best be estimated by
chemical and physical analysis of soft tissues
studying the blunt force trauma found on the body
study of the condition of the remaining skeletal evidence
blowfly maggot counts

Explanation:

PMI stands for Post - Mortem Interval. When a body is enclosed in a plastic bag, soft tissues are not in a normal decomposition environment. Blunt force trauma is related to the cause of death, not the PMI. Skeletal evidence is more useful for long - term PMI (years or more). Blowfly maggots are affected by the environment, but in a plastic bag, although the environment is altered, blowfly maggot counts (along with other entomological evidence) can still be used to estimate PMI as blowflies can still access the body (if there are any openings in the bag) and their life cycle stages can give an indication of time since death. Chemical and physical analysis of soft tissues is difficult in a plastic - bag - enclosed body as decomposition is abnormal.

Answer:

blowfly maggot counts