Death Investigations: Scene Photos

Midterm

proximal

closer to head

distal

away from head

anterior (vental)

front facing

posterior (dorsal)

backside

coronal plane

think crown; this plane splits you in half

sagittal plane

think arrow; this plane goes through the middle of you, like an arrow would

transverse plane

think bending at your axis; splits you in middle at waist

first of body exam photos

face; start as a full facial picture, than on of left and right side profile

body exam photos 4-9

eyes; pull apart with fingers, then the top lid pulled down, and bottom lid (do for both eyes individually)

body exam photos 10 & 11

one photo of up the nose, one of their mouth

body exam photo 12

torso; with shirt on and then one with shirt lifted (if they have one on)

body exam photos 13-18

left arm; proximal to distal: medial of upper arm, forearm, and palm of hand, then distal to proximal: then back of hand, lateral of forearm and upper arm

body photo 19

left side view of torso

body exam photos 20-26

left leg; proximal to distal: lateral of thigh, calf, and ankle, then distal to proximal: then medial of ankle, calf, and thigh

body exam photo 27

hips/groin

body exam photos 28-34

right leg; proximal to distal: lateral of thigh, calf, and ankle, then distal to proximal: then medial of ankle, calf, and thigh

body exam photo 35

right side view of torso 

body exam photos 36-41

right arm; proximal to distal: medial of upper arm, forearm, and palm of hand, then distal to proximal: then back of hand, lateral of forearm and upper arm

body exam photo 42

dorsal side of body; should get three shots: legs, torso, shoulders/head

body exam photos 44-45

blanching photos; one of placement of finger on back, one of after removing finger

sensory sweep

1. sight: clean or not, organized or not, half-eaten food, prescriptions, built-up newspaper, etc.

2. sound: water running, AC, dogs, etc.

3. smell: musty, food smells, pets, bleach, decomp, air freshener 

4. tough: hot, cold, humid, dry, damp, dusty, sticky, slippery, greasy, etc.

tentative ID

• clothing, jewelry, scars, tattoos, etc.

• locatin

• witness statements

presumptive ID

• driver’s license/ID

• vehicle registration

positive ID

ID through scientific methods

photographs should…

orient the viewer in space (street/road, address, type of structure/location, and how you entered); the viewer should “walk with you” and see what you see as you see it