Body as a Crime Scene

Question 1

As a scene, the_____is approached in a similar fashion as any crime scene.

Answer 1

• Corpse

Question 2

The crime scene technician when dealing with the body as a crime scene must:

Answer 2

• Assess, observe, document, search, collect and analyze it.

Question 3

Movement to a corpse is normally done in a _______approach, using a pathway that is generally clear of evidence.

Answer 3

• Point to point

Question 4

Presumptive death is determined by two basic observations:

Answer 4

• Evident trauma inconsistent with life
  Ex: decapitation,massive blood loss or evident decomposition
• The absence of normal life signs
  Ex: heartbeat, pulse in major arteries, no reaction to stimuli, respiration,
  flushing of nail beds and constriction of pupils

Question 5

_______involves the settling of blood in the body due to gravity after blood circulation ends. It may present itself as a light red to dark purple discoloration in as little as 30 minutes after death.

Answer 5

• Livor mortis

Question 6

Livor discoloration will set and become fixed typically within ____of death, but this is highly variable and the medical examiner is always the best source of time in death investigations.

Answer 6

• 8 hours

Question 7

______found in areas inconsistent with current position of the body at may suggest subsequent manipulation or alteration of the body , which should be noted and documented.

Answer 7

• Livor mortis

Question 8

_________ is an evident stiffening of the muscles of the body and affects all muscles at the same rate.

Answer 8

• Rigor mortis
  Affects smaller muscles first (face and jaw)
  Then manifests itself in larger muscle groups such as extremities

Question 9

Rigor mortis can appear within_____of death and is typically at its greatest ______following death.

Answer 9

• 2 hours; 8-12 hours

Question 10

Rigor mortis will break down and disappear from the body:

Answer 10

• 24-48 hours after death

Question 11

As with livor mortis, if the rigor mortis is inconsistent with the final position of the body, this may indicate movement or alteration of the body, which should be _______and_______.

Answer 11

• Noted an documented

Question 12

________is the loss of body heat from the corpse.

Answer 12

• Algor mortis

Question 13

The most common approach to determining body temperature is core temperature of the ______.

Answer 13

• Liver

Question 14

___________, body habitus (skinny or fat), chronic medical conditions and any number of other factors may affect heat loss after death.

Answer 14

• Ambient environmental conditions

Question 15

______involves the physical putrefaction of the tissue due to bacteria.

Answer 15

• Decomposition

Question 16

In decomposition of the body, the primary source of bacteria is the ________of the victim, which manifests itself first as a blue green discoloration in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.

Answer 16

• Gastrointestinal tract

Question 17

Due to_____as bacteria interacts with the the surrounding tissue, gases build up,resulting in evident swelling of tissue,protrusion of eyes or tongue and ultimately a blackish blue discoloration of tissue.

Answer 17

• Fermentation

Question 18

In decomposition, the blood vessels of a corpse become significantly discolored resulting in a condition called:

Answer 18

*Marbling

Question 19

In decomposition, the skin and underlying tissue lose_____, fluids may be purged, slippage of the skin may occur when the body is handled. As with other postmortem factors, many environmental factors have a direct impact on the rate of decomposition.

Answer 19

• Integrity

Question 20

In decomposition, _______heat and _____speeds the process of decomposition, while cold will delay it.

Answer 20

• High; humidity

Flies will begin laying eggs on the body within 20 minutes of death

Question 21

In decomposition, _____lay their eggs in warm moist areas of the body such as the nostrils, corners of the eyes, in the mouth or any body opening that is readily available. The eggs develop into _____.

Answer 21

• Flies; larval form (maggots)

Question 22

In decomposition, maggots form a mass at the point of______such as chest, abdomen and extremities. When this occurs it may indicate an open injury that made the area inviting to flies.

Answer 22

• Infestation