Handling+Bodies+Notes+AB

Death investigator= Coroner

Death investigation involves figuring out how it occurred, when it happened and the cause.

Manner of Death: 1. Natural 2. Accidental 3. Suicide 4. Homicide 5. Undetermined

Criminal Homicides: 1. Auto 2. Manslaughter 3. Murder

No one should move or mess with the body until the DI arrives. "Unattended Deaths" are where someone dies outside of a hospital, hospice, or long-term care facility.

Outdoor Body Discovery Scenes: 1. Buried 2. Exposed 3. Submerged in Water

If body is discovered indoors, generally more preserved.

DI responsible for the body at crime scene They briefly examine the body, making diagrams and notes Directs photographer to specified places on body Determines cause of wound if one is present Determines whether an autopsy is necessary Makes a guess about the time of death

Coroner directs the transportation of the body

Time of Death: 1. Body Temperature - Generally cools one-half degrees per hour. 2. Discoloration - Dark purple coloration of skin closest to the ground - Dead man lying on back will have this purplish look on his back 3. Rigor Mortis - Happens within 15 minutes-15 hours - Waste products stiffen muscles 4. Ocular Indicators - If eyes are open within 2-3 hours they look cloudy - If eyes are closed this takes a lot longer 5. Food Digestion - Light meal remains in stomach about 2 hours - Heavy meal about 4-6 hours 6. Personal Factors - Failure to show up at appointment or meeting place - witnesses 7. Decay Rates a. heart stops beating, skin gets waxy look b. blood settles, that part turns purplish, eyes turn blue c. appearance of burning shows up on drying mucous membranes d. body putrifies e. bloating, foul odors f. skin blisters, begins peeling off, organs liquefy Insect Activity helps in: 1. Showing movement of body 2. Serving as specimens for drug analysis 3. Providing DNA from contents in the insect stomach 4. supporting or contradicting an alibi 5. assessing when wounds were made

The Autopsy: - "A postmortem examination of a corpse to determine manner and cause of death for an official report." - 25% of deaths are subject to autopsies - May be **partial, selective, or complete** - Most are partial meaning only part of the body gets examined - Done on a steel table where liquids can easily drain away - Hanging scale for weighing organs

Injuries: 1. Blunt-Force Trauma - Injury caused by a blunt object with no edges 2. Gunshot - Look for burns form gas and gun powder residue - there are mulitple types of guns that could be used, so you have to be familiar with the marks they leave 3. Sharp-Force Trauma - Stab wounds are deeper than they are long - Knives have a flat edge and a sharp edge