Crime Scene Investigation

primary crime scene

site of the original criminal activity

secondary crime scene

subsequent crime scenes

macroscopic crime scene

the broad crime scene

microscopic crime scene

the smaller crime scenes in the broad crime scene

types of information that can be obtained from forensics testing and examination of physical evidence

linkage of persons, scenes, or objects; investigative leads; information on the corpus delicti; information on the modus operandi; proving or disproving witness statements; identification of the suspect(s); identification of unknown substances; reconstruction of a crime

corpus delicti

a crime must be proved to have occurred before a person can be convicted

modus operandi

someone's habits of working; mode of operation

crime scene management

1. information management

2. manpower management

3. technology management

4. logistics management

first responding officers

the only people to view the crime scene in its most original and pristine condition (ex. police officers, fire department, emergency personnel)

crime scene security measures

when first responders protect the crime scene

walk-through

preliminary scene survey

crime scene map

use of imaging technology and mapping technology to create a virtual layout

the W's

who, what, when, where, and why

videography

video recording of the crime scene

crime scene sketch

documenting the crime scene in sketches

geometric patterns

1. link

2 line or strip

3. grid

4. zone

5. wheel or ray

6. spiral methods

types of sketches

rough and finished sketch

techniques used to obtain measurements for the crime scene sketch

triangulation; baseline; and polar coordinates

crime scene reconstruction

process of determining or eliminating the events that could have occurred at the crime scene

process in reconstructing a crime scene

1. data collection

2. conjecture

3. hypothesis formulation

4. testing

5. theory formulation

major tasks of documentation

1. note taking

2. videography

3. photography

4. sketching

coroner

government agent charged with responsibility for death investigations

medical examiners

a medically qualified public officer whose duty is to investigate deaths occurring under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform postmortems, and to initiate inquests

forensic pathologist

physicians specializing in the diagnose of disease

cause of death

disease or injury that initiated the lethal chain of events that led to death

mechanism of death

biochemical or physiological abnormality produced by the cause of death that is incompatible with life

manner of death

defined as the fashion in which the cause of death came to be

NASH

four manners of death; natural, accidental, homicidal, suicidal

rigor mortis

stiffening in muscles following death

livor mortis

discoloration of the body that occurs from the settling of of red blood cells

algor mortis

calling of the body that occurs after death, assuming the ambient body temperature is lower than body temperature

sudden death

death that occurs within a few hours of the onset of symptoms or death without any symptoms

incised wounds

caused by a clean, sharp-edged object such as a knife, razor, or glass splinter

autopsy

to look at oneself

necropsy

looking at the dead

inframammary incision

made in the fold where the lower part of the breast meets the chest wall

types of mechanical trauma

sharp force and blunt force trauma

sharp force

caused by sharp implements

blunt force

caused by firearms

lead snowstorm

white fragments of lead around the missing tissue

penetrating gunshot wound

an entrance wound and no exit wound

perforating gunshot wound

an entrance and exit wound

distance determination

distance from the shooter to the victim

contact/near-contact wounds

result of close range gunfight, suicide, or execution

carboxymyoglobin

a compound formed from myoglobin on exposure to carbon monoxide

stippling

creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots

distant

any distance beyond that which produces stippling

abraded

scraped skin

laceration

caused by gunshot exit wounds

hollow-point bullets

handgun bullets that are designed to enlarge their diameter during a passage through tissue are common

asphyxia

interruption of oxygenation of the brain

carbon monoxide

a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air; toxic to hemoglobic animals

contusion

an accumulation of blood in the tissues outside the blood vessels

cyanide

consists of carbon and nitrogen; acts primarily on the enzymes of the mitochondria of the brain

diatoms

small unicellular organisms found in most fresh and salt waters

equivocal death

inquiries that are open to interpretation

hematoma

a blood tumor

hyoid bone

small horseshoe-shaped bone found in the neck near the base of the jaw

hyperthermia

body temperature that is higher than normal

hypothermia

body temperature that is lower than normal

ligature

an object such as a blue, rope, or cord that is wrapped around the throat to cause asphyxia

manual strangulation

use of hands to strangulate

naïve consumers

a person who does not ingest large amounts of drugs or alcohol

oxyhemoglobin

the form of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen

questionable death

a death that was not witnessed

strap muscles

muscles in the neck