DEATH, THE BODY FARM, AND TIME OF DEATH

What is manner of death?

the official classification of how a person’s death came about

What are the five manners of death?

• natural

• accidental

• suicidal

• homicidal

• undetermined

What is mechanism of death?

the “how” that results in a person dying

What is cause of death?

the specific medical condition, disease, or injury that results in a person’s death

What is time of death?

the specific moment when a person’s life officially/biologically ends

What is the importance of time of death?

It legally creates a timestamp that dictates inheritance rights, insurance payouts, and criminal investigations.

What is decomposition?

the process of breaking down a complex substance or organism into simpler parts

What are the five stages of decomposition

1. Fresh Stage (the body settling and stiffening)

2. Bloat Stage (gases causing the body to swell)

3. Active Decay Stage (tissues rapidly liquefying)

4. Advanced Decay Stage (most body mass being gone)

5. Dry Stage (the body being skeletonized)

What is an autopsy?

a medical and surgical procedure that examines a corpse to find the manner of death

Who perform(s) autopsies?

pathologists

What is the importance of autopsies?

They provide critical information about the deaths of people.

What is the Body Farm?

an outdoor scientific research facility where human remains are placed in various environments to study decomposition

Where is the Body Farm?

Knoxville, Tennessee (at the University of Tennessee)

Who founded the Body Farm?

William (Bill) M. Bass

How many human corpses have been decayed at the Body Farm?

more than 400 corpses

What are human cadaver dogs taught to do when they find human remains?

lie down and/or bark

What does the GPRX do?

helps find bones and bodies underground

What insects show up to feed on dead corpses?

blowflies/maggots, yellow jackets, and beetles

What is human bone comprised of?

collagen fibers and calcium phosphate

What happens to a muscle when it’s burned by fire?

It flexes when its fibers shrivel into a pugilistic posture.

What are two distinct patterns found on bones burned in fire?

fracture and calcification

What two techniques are needed to reconstruct a face from a skull?

artistic abilities and patience

Why do gases build up within a dead body?

They can’t escape.

What effects might extreme temperatures have on the rate of decay of a human body?

Low temperatures slow decay, while high temperatures quicken decay.

What is death?

the cessation of life, blood circulation, and brain activity

What is time since death/the postmortem interval?

the timeframe between death and the discovery of a dead organism

What factors determine time of death?

• livor mortis

• rigor mortis

• algor mortis

• stomach/intestinal contents

• stage(s) of decomposition

• insects

What is livor mortis/”death color”?

Blood seeps down through the tissues and settles into the lower parts of the body.

What is lividity?

the pooling of blood in the body that begins two hours after death and is permanent within the first eight hours of death

What temperature can impact the time it takes for lividity to set in and is the temperature that a corpse always matches to in the end?

the ambient temperature

What is rigor mortis/”death stiffness”?

temporary stiffness that starts in the head and ends in the legs, can be useful in determining time of death, and lasts about 12 hours before the body is at its most rigid state

What do no visible signs of rigor mean?

It’s been less than two hours or more than 36 hours since death.

What does rigor in the head and neck mean?

It’s been just over two hours since death.

What does rigor everywhere mean?

It’s been at least 12 hours since death.

What does rigor gradually disappearing mean?

It’s been 13-24 hours since death.

What does rigor in the legs, not head and neck, mean?

It’s been 24-26 hours since death.

What does stiffness generally disappearing mean?

It’s been 24-36 hours since death.

What does body weight have to do with rigor mortis?

The more a person weighs, the faster rigor will likely occur.

What things can impact the body temperature of a corpse?

clothing, illness, and sun exposure

What is algor mortis?

temperature loss after death that’s the most accurate method of estimating time since death

How is the temperature of a corpse taken?

rectally or via the liver

After one hour of death, what rate does the body cool at?

1.4°F/hour

After 12 hours of death, what rate does the body cool at?

0.7°F/hour