04-02 Death Investigations

Question 1

04-02 Death Investigations - Supervision

Answer 1

 Supervisory Officer attendance mandatory for
 suicide, possible sudden death, unnatural sudden death, suspicious death or suspected homicide
 sudden unexpected death, apparent suicide or accident where the only witness or person present at the time
of death or the finding of the body is an intimate partner, past or present
 Supervisory Divisional Detective attendance mandatory for
 death of a child under five (5) years of age
 sudden unexpected death of a child
 unnatural sudden death
 sudden unexpected death, apparent suicide or accident where the only witness or person present at the time
of death or the finding of the body is an intimate partner, past or present
 Supervisory Officer notification mandatory for
- attempt suicide
- unable to confirm/establish identity of the deceased person
- unable to determine next of kin
- unable to notify next of kin in person
- request by another police service to notify next of kin

Question 2

Death of a Child Under Five (5) Years of Age

Answer 2

Every sudden unexpected death of a child or the death of a child under five (5) years of age must be actively investigated
as suspicious, and premature conclusions should not be made regarding the cause and manner of death until a thorough
investigation has been completed. Officers shall comply with the applicable sections of Procedure 05–01 when conducting
such investigations.

Question 3

The investigator heading an investigation, or a police officer designated by the investigator, shall attend the morgue and be
physically present when a deceased is identified under the following circumstances:

Answer 3

 homicide, suspected homicide or other related criminal offences
 cases where the investigating officer has requested the presence of another officer
 cases where an inquest has been or is likely to be called
 when the Coroner believes it is necessary due to the nature of the case, or the condition of the person doing the
identification.

Question 4

If the identification of the deceased can not be determined at this time, shall ensure that
the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit (Homicide and Missing Persons) is notified via the
global e-mail address at MissingPersons. They are available as a resource in all
unidentified human remains investigations and will

Answer 4

• provide direction, guidance, follow-up and support, as required
• act as a liaison in relation to these investigations (other than homicide cases) with
  the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service; and
• will ensure all relevant information is entered on the National Centre for Missing
  Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) website