Criminalistics ch 5

forensic pathologist

determine cause of undetermined/unexpected death

-coroner is elected and may not posses medical degree

-medical examiner is always appointed usually a physician

what evidence is sent to lab

victim clothing

fingernail scrapping/clipping

buccal swab (DNA)

vaginal, anal, penile swab (sex crimes)

bullets recovered

hand swabs for gun shot residue

external examination

broad overview of body condition, clothing, damage/injuries, general characteristics, marks/tattoos

check mouth or noes for vomit/blood

internal examination

obtain organs, weighing, dissecting, sectioning, and microscopic examine

functions that lead to death, toxin ID

blood collection

should be taken from body where little to no contamination is

cause of death

injury/disease that lead to chain of events resulting in death

asphyxia

variety of conditions that involve interference with intake of oxygen

petechiae

small hemorrhaging caused by blood escaping into tissue from capillary burst

wound track

wound out of body through track projectile into body

manner of death

determination made by pathologist for cause of death

homicide- non-accidental death resulting from grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another

suicide- must confirm individual completed act alone without any doubt, if doubt it could be accidental

accidental- must rule there was no intent to cause harm through gross negligence on victim, should have toxicological analyses carried out

natural- disease or continual environmental abuse

undetermined- when rational classification cannot be established

algor mortis

after death were body cools to reach room temperature

-determination must be performed at scene as early as possible

Livor mortis

after death, blood settles to body part closest to ground

-range time of death could be estimated with lividity (discoloration)

rigor mortis

after death, stiffening of muscle mass, rigidity begins within 24 hours and ends in 36

-rough estimate of time of death, decrease in muscle mass may not develop rigor

potassium eye levels

occular fluid in eye (vitreous humor), bloodless sample

stomach contents

can determine time/location of death based on food, quantity, color, bile

decomposition

autolysis: self-digestion by cell enzymes

putrefaction: decomposition from bacteria, bloating/discoloration/bulge

adipocere: white/gray wax added to fatty tissue in face after 3 months

forensic anthropology

example/identify human skeletal remains

-site where human remains are found must be treated as crime scene

forensic entomology

matter, growth pattern, and succession of arrival of insects on a dead body to determine time of death

-blowfly egg laid in human remains and hatch into maggots, sometimes 2,000

-how long body has been by stage of fly larvae

-must consider weather conditions

post-mortem interval

time that has elapsed since death

*insects should be labeled and where they were found when examining