WS+Ramsland+29+-+48

Notes 1/17/08

Death Investigator - is medical examiner or coroner
 * must be familiar with forensic pathology
 * Their job is to determine, how it occurred, when it happened, and what caused it

5 Kind of Death
 * 1) Natural - died in an environment not hostile
 * 2) Accidental - fell victim to a hostile environment
 * 3) Suicide - the person caused his own death
 * 4) Homicide - someone else cause the death
 * 5) Undetermined

not all homicides are criminal

any death that is not a result of natural caused should be investigated but even some natural caused death should be investigated

Discovered bodies can either be: buried, exposed, or submerged in water

An autopsy is required on all homicide victims or bodies

Time of death is very important to the investigation

Key Factor
 * 1) Body Temperature - helps with the time of death
 * 2) Discoloration
 * 3) Rigor Mortis- the body stiffens between 15 min. to 15 hours
 * 4) Ocular Indicators
 * 5) Food Digestion
 * 6) Personal Facts
 * 7) Decay Rates