1. Death and Stuff

2. Death - The cessation of life.
Current law sides with the absence of brain function.

3. Brain Death
A brain deprived of oxygen survives for 3 to 7 minutes. It the first organ to die due to lack of oxygen.
After a few minutes, the brain can't be brought back to life.

4. Examples: Handouts

5. Cause of Death - The biological reason for a person’s death
Cause of Death - The biological reason for a person’s death. (heart attack, kidney failure, cancer, etc.)

6. Manner of Death One of four means someone dies.
Natural – Disease etc.– ½ of all cases
Accidental – Unplanned
Suicidal
Homicidal – Death caused by another
Undetermined – Drug overdose

7. Coroner/Medical Examiners Duty
Determine time of death (TOD)
Determine cause and manner of death.
Establish identity and sign death certificate.
Conduct autopsy. (if necessary)
Correlate wounds with weapons that may have been used.
Provide expert testimony in court.

8. Forensic Investigator
Work with the medical examiner
Obtain body temperature
Take photos
Collect evidence at scene or on body
Transport body
Help with autopsy

9. Autopsy
Approval from family is not needed if the autopsy is related to a crime.
Unusual, unexpected, or traumatic death
The most accurate method available to determine the cause of death.

10. Mr. Kalmus meets Dr. Baden

11. Dr. Cyril Wecht Dr. Kalmus Dr. Rzeznick Dr. Wooley Dr. Baden

12. Determining Time of Death
Post Mortem Interval (PMI)– Time since death
Pallor mortis
Skin color
Algor Mortis
Livor Mortis
Rigor Mortis
Insect life cycle

13. Pallor Mortis
A paleness which happens in those with light skin almost instantly because of a lack of capillary circulation throughout the body.
The blood sinks into the lower parts of the body.
Develops rapidly so it is of no use after a 30 minute time span.

14. Pallor Mortis

15. Skin Color
From 48 hours after death, bacteria begins to breed on the skin, giving the skin a greenish tone
Starts in lower stomach, spreading outwards, affects the hands and feet last.
4-7 days after death the skin acquires a marble-like appearance because the veins in the body become closer to the surface and become more visible.

16. Color continued Red – Carbon Monoxide or cold temps
Purple – Heart attack, shock, or asphyxia
No color change – Compressed blood vessels (strangulation).

17. Carbon monoxide poisoning(redness)

18. How does carbon monoxide kill?
When it is breathed in, it displaces the oxygen levels in the blood.
Vital organs including the heart and brain do not get enough oxygen.
Can kill in minutes.

19. Livor mortis
The pooling of blood in tissue after death resulting in a reddish skin color.
Begins within a half hour and is most evident within 12 hours.

20. Livor Mortis Helps to determine if body was moved.

21. Algor Mortis Cooling of a body after death. Depends on:
Surrounding temperature
Humidity
Air Movement
Fat level, Clothing, etc.

22. The less time since death, the less variables affecting the prediction.
h = (98.4OF – Internal temperature)
1.5

23. h (hours) = (98.4OF – Internal temperature)
When did they die?
Use the formula below:
h (hours) = (98.4OF – Internal temperature)
1.5
A body is found in a field. It’s temperature is 95.4.
2 hours
A body is found in a dumpster. It’s temperature is 89.4
6 hours
Which example is probably more accurate? Why?

24. Rigor Mortis
A stiffness in the muscles that occurs shortly after death.
Lasts for 36 hours.
Least reliable indicator of time of death.
Order – Eyelids, jaw, neck, then spreads to the rest of the body.
Recedes after 6 – 12 hours
The greater the activity the more quickly it occurs.

26. Rigor Mortis – Hands were holding a shotgun.

27. Insect Life Cycle
Blow Flies and other insects help to determine time of death.

28. Blow Fly – Carrion laying fly
They can find a body within one to three days.

29. Metallic green or blue
Fly up to 12 miles to find carrion for egg laying.
Females feed on protein from corpse before laying eggs.

30. Blow Fly Life Cycle (Temperature dependent)

31. Eggs 2 mm long Resemble rice balls Hatch between 12 hours and 2 days
Usually hatch during the day

32. Larva (Instars)
One of three larval stages of insect development. (maggot)
Feed on the dead corpse
Usually seen between days two and five.

34. Pupa Typically found underground.
Can take up to 14 days until adult emerges.

35. Estimating TOD Utilizing The Blow Fly Life Cycle (70 F)
Eggs – 12 – 24 hrs. old
1st Instar – 2 days old
2nd Instar – 3 days old
3rd Instar – 5 days old
Pupa – 10 days old

36. Facts Blowflies have "holometabolous" development.
Multiple stages. (Egg, Larva, pupa).

37. Body Farm
Forensic Anthropology Research Center located at the University of Tennessee. (Body Farm)
Headed by Dr. William Bass.
Study factors that contribute to body decay.

38. Sun, shade, under water, car trunks, buried underground, etc.
After decomposition is complete, skeletons are catalogued.
Largest collections of skeletons

43. Video links #1 Exploding whale
Maggot leg
Rebecca O'Flaherty Solving a Crime - 10News San Diego
Forensic Entomology (2:45)

44. The Body Farm Videos
The Body Farm - Study of Human Decomposition (4:09)
 Secrets of the body farm (45 min)
Body Farm (3:42)
Body Farm (11:46)
Fox files – How climate can effect bodies (3:44)