Co-opting microbial ecology tools into forensic sciences has identified innovative approaches to augment current investigative techniques. Tracking successional changes in the composition of microbial communities has enhanced the estimation of time since death, or the post-mortem interval. This keynote explores how the ubiquity, diversity and richness of microbes present a wealth of resources, knowledge and opportunity to provide additional intelligence within a range of forensic contexts. Soil microbes are studied further for their potential to improve other post-mortem time measurements such the post-burial, post-exhumation and post-translocation intervals. To illustrate the envisaged application, an experimental case study will be used to show how forensic microbiology analyses complement established and emerging technologies. This research has potential to contribute to a novel cross-disciplinary forensic toolkit to resolve crime scenes involving the clandestine burial of remains.