 CORPUS DELICTI“ Body of the Crime”  You must prove: › that a crime occurred › that the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime  Top Reasons for Committing a Crime › Money › Revenge › Sex › Emotion--love, hate, anger  Source of Evidence › Body › Primary and/or Secondary Crime Scene › Suspect(s)

 Means--the ability of have committed the crime  Motive--the reason for committing the crime. (This doesn’t have to be proven or presented in a court of law, but its what everyone wants to know.)  Opportunity--time or availability to have committed the crime.

 Which of the three facets do you not have to prove?

 1st Degree Murder--premeditated  2nd Degree Murder--killed intentionally, but not thought out as much ahead of time  Voluntary Manslaughter--usually involves sudden passion (fear, rage, anger, terror)  Involuntary Manslaughter (criminally negligent homicide)--killed someone, but unintentionally

 First and Second degree murder differ because of?

 Second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter differ because of?

 Voluntary and involuntary manslaughter differ because of?

 Class--common to a group of objects or persons › ABO Blood Typing  Individual--can be identified with a particular person or source. › Blood DNA Typing

 Involves the study of medicine as it relates to law.  Involves the investigation of sudden, natural, unexplained, or violent deaths

 No easy definition  Cessation of heartbeat vs no brain activity

 Questionable Death-as determined by the coroner  Homicide  Drowning  Auto Accidents  Death of a child

Discover cause of death for: › Criminal cases › Family peace of mind › Genetic disease or deformity › Insurance claims › Medical advancement

 Yes  A medical examiner is a forensic pathologist (MD)who conducts autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death. (Occasionally, they also examine injured victims that are still living)  Coroners are elected officials usually without a medical degree. They usually rely on someone trained in pathology

 Medical examiners determine both the cause and the manner of death.  Cause---refers to the actual medical or forensic reason that the individual died  Manner---how the death was accomplished  If a person was strangled to death › Cause—asphyxiation › Manner---homicide

 Homicide  Suicide  Natural  Accidental  Undetermined

 Which is the most common manner of death?

 Underlying cause  If someone develops cancer after having been exposed to large amounts of radiation. › COD---Cancer › Proximate COD ---radiation exposure  This can be really difficult to prove!!

 Specific change in the body that brought about death.  If COD is shooting, the mechanism may be blood loss or even cessation of brain activity

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 After death a body goes through a series of changes

 Algor Mortis  Rigor Mortis  Livor Mortis  Stomach contents  Insect activity  Vitreous Humor testing

 The gradual cooling of the body after death. Helps to establish TOD  The body cools at a rate of approximate 1.4 degrees per hour for the first 12 hours.  After the first 12 hours, the body cools at a rate of.7 degrees until it reaches environmental temperature.  The body will still feel warm until about 4-6 hours post mortem  Influenced by various factors like size, location, clothing, and weather conditions  RULE OF THUMB---ONE DEGREE PER HOUR

 If the body continues undiscovered for days it will enter a “bloated” state.  Bacteria release gases inside the body in a process called putrefaction.  The body becomes very hot during this time (up t0 127 degrees)  Eventually the body will crack and release the gases. The temperature will then return to normal

 Approximately how long has the victim been dead if body temperature is 92 degrees

How long has the victim been dead if the body temperature is 78 degrees

 The stiffening of the body in response to a lack of oxygen being pumped to muscle cells  Helps to establish TOD  Begins about 2 hours after death and is completely set within 12 hours of death.  Begins in the eyelids and lower jaw and spreads down the body.  Disappears about hours post mortem

 A body was found with no stiffening. Estimate TOD.

 A body was found in full rigor; estimate time of death.

 Happens quicker if: › It’s warm outside › If you are very thin › If you are heavily clothed › If you have a fever › If you were exercising › In direct sunlight Happens slower if:

 A body is found with no evidence of rigor in a very warm environment; estimate TOD.

 What effect would a prolonged struggle have on rigor?

 Often called lividity  Refers to the discoloration of the skin due to the gravitational pooling of blood in small blood vessels  Appears in the part closest to the ground  Begins about 2 hours post death  Is fixed about 6 to 8 hours after death (will remain if skin is pressed)  How is this useful?

 It takes 4-6 hours for the stomach to empty and another 12 to leave the small intestines.  Undigested food indicates death was less than 2 hours after a meal.  Stomach is empty but food in small intestines indicates 4-6 hours after a meal.  If food is in the large intestines, death occurred 12 hours after a meal.

 Also known as ocular fluid  After death the cells inside the eye release potassium into the fluid  By removing some fluid and analyzing it for potassium a time of death can be calculated  This method is still be refined.

 Before the autopsy begins, the body is examined for physical evidence › Conditional: lividity, rigor, odors, insects, location, position, and clothing › Pattern: bite marks, imprints, impressions, weapon marks, injuries › Biological: grass, leaves, pollen, insects, worms › Chemical: drugs, poisons, gunshot residue, perfumes, makeup, soil, glass › Physiological: blood, semen, urine, feces, tears, milk, bile, tissues, bones, or hair

 The body is first weighed and measured  The body is photographed and x-rayed  It is then inspected with an alternate light source for stains  Notes are made regarding usual features like tattoos, scars, or birthmarks  Fingernails and toe nails are clipped › Why?

 If rape is suspected vaginal, rectal, and oral swabs are collected  If it is a suspected suicide hands are tested for GSR  Victim is fingerprinted alternate methods if body is decomposed

 The body is rinsed and the head is placed on a stabilization block

 A Y shaped incision is made

 A saw is used to cut through the ribs and collarbone and the ribs are cracked open

 Each organ is removed, weighed, and measured  Samples of blood and tissue are taken and sent to toxicology

 The head is examined externally and if necessary the ME cuts the scalp at the back of the head to expose the skull

 A power saw is used to open the skull  The brain is removed, weighed, examined, and dissected.  It is then preserved for further examination › Brain is so soft it must be placed in formaldehyde for about a week before an in depth examination

 Skull cap is replace  Skin pulled back in place  Body Organs may or may not be replaced  Incisions are sown up with the use of a baseball stitch

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