Lecture4 Death and Violent Crime Scene Investigations v2

Cause of Death

The disease or injury responsible for the lethal sequence of death.

Manner of Death

This explains how the cause of death arose, categorized as natural, accidental, homicide, suicide, or undetermined.

Natural Causes of Death

Deaths resulting from a natural disease process including heart attacks, cancers, and strokes.

Rigor Mortis

The stiffening of muscles after death, dependent on temperature and time since death.

Livor Mortis

The postmortem hypostasis where blood settles to the lowest points in the body, indicating position after death.

Algor Mortis

The cooling of the body after death, impacted by environmental factors.

Postmortem Changes

Physiological changes that occur in the body after death, including cessation of respiration and blood circulation.

Autolysis

The process by which digestive enzymes within the body cells break down carbohydrates and proteins after death.

Putrefaction

The decomposition of proteins due to bacterial and fungal activity after death.

Evidence for Estimating Time of Death

Indicators such as the stage of decomposition, presence of drugs, and environmental factors to help determine time of death.

Suicides

An act of intentionally causing one's own death, with certain demographic trends and methods identifiable.

Accidental Causes of Death

Unintentional causes leading to fatalities, such as motor vehicle accidents or poisoning.

Incident Reports

Documentation that captures the details of a crime scene, vital for investigations.

Death Investigation

The process of examining a death, especially in cases of homicide or unexplained circumstances.

Decomposition

The biological process of breaking down organic matter, starting soon after death.