Crime Scene, Death Investigations, & Interviews/Interrogations Flashcards
OCGA Title 45, Chapter 16, Article 2 is known as the:
Georgia Death Investigations Act
One of the preliminary signs that death has occurred is what?
Cessation of breathing
- Preliminary sign… not proof that death has occurred
In death, the eyes usually become _____ & _____.
Fixed & Dilated
- often called a “glazed over” look
- other signs of death usually include the absence of reflexes and cessation of heartbeat.
Dissection of a dead body & the examination determining the cause of death.
Autopsy
After death, eye muscle tone _____ & tends to _____.
Lessens & disappear
Normal body temp is _____.
98.6
Generally speaking, the body temperature will fall about ___ degrees per hour after the first hour of death at normal room temperature and will continue to fall until room temperature is reached.
1.5 degrees
Generally takes place between 30 minutes to 2 hours after death, blood will settle in response to gravity to the lowest parts of the body, nearest the ground. Characterized by the blue or purple color appearing under the skin in the body’s lower surfaces.
Post-Mortem Lividity
The stiffening of the body after death… first appearing in the jaw, neck, hands, and feet, then progressing to larger muscles. It is not a reliable method of determining time of death because the development is hastened by violent activity, vigorous exercise, or great excitement at the time of death.
Rigor Mortis
How many hours after death does rigor mortis begin to set in?
3-6 hours
Rigor mortis reaches its maximum extent in how many hours?
8-12 hours
How many hours does it take for rigor mortis to entirely disappear?
36 hours
A condition that occurs in specific muscle groups instead of the entire body, closely related to rigor mortis. Most evident in suicides where a gun is used. The condition disappears when rigor mortis disappears.
Cadaveric Spasms
What are the four types of Medical Examiners
Chief- GBI- Forensic Pathologist
Regional- Appointed by the Chief
County
Local
What position matches the following description:
- Constitutionally elected to office
- 4 year term
- Independent death investigation
Coroner
Official judicial inquiry before the coroner and coroner’s jury for the purpose of determining the cause of death.
Inquest
Any Peace Officer of the GSP or agent of the GBI, Sheriff, or Sheriff’s deputy, peace officer assigned to the coroners office, county policeman, or city detective who may be in charge of the investigation.
Peace Officer In Charge
What are the three types of gun shot wounds?
Contact
Near contact
Distance
When dealing with the entry wound of a gun shot, it is important to note:
- the size of the hole
- the size of the injury ring around then wound
- the shape of the wound (round, oval, irregular)
In the case of contact and near contact wounds involving gunshots, there are _____ ______ in and around the entry wound, and on the clothing that once covered the wound.
Powder burns
The _____ _____ does more damage to the body than the shot.
Blast effect
The typical _______ is the result of a heat -of-passion assault where the assailant grabs the nearest object during an intense argument and strikes the victim.
Bludgeoning
- hammers, clubs, heavy objects, rocks, hands, feet
Shallow wounds inflicted near the fatal wound to test the weapon before the actual suicide attempt are called:
Hesitation Marks
Hesitation marks strongly suggest what?
Suicide
Weapons used and signs indicative of a suspicious death include:
gunshot wounds bludgeon sharp instruments poisons asphyxiation burning electrocutions lightning
Strong indicator of homicide
Defensive wounds
What type of wounds have the following characteristics:
- smaller than a cutting wound
- damage to internal organs
- internal bleeding
Puncture Wounds
What type of wounds have the following characteristics:
- location determines the size of wound…soft tissue
- external bleeding is generally the cause of death
Cutting wounds
One of the oldest methods of homicide is:
poisoning
The study of poisons.
Toxicology
In cases involving ________, important evidence includes any medication found in the medicine cabinet, any excretions or vomit present at the scene, and food the victim may have eaten.
Poisoning
An exit wound from a gun shot is typically _____ in shape and _____ in size, compared to the entry wound.
irregular
larger
What evidence would be important to collect in a poisoning case?
- medication found in medicine cabinet
- any excretions or vomit at the scene
- any food the victim may have eaten
What type of deaths are caused from insufficient oxygen to support red blood cells from reaching the body tissues and the brain?
Asphyxia deaths
The cause of asphyxia may result from several things. List some causes of asphyxia.
- note: generally, asphyxia is most noticeable as a blue/purple color around the lips, fingernails, and toenails.
1) choking
2) drowning
3) smothering
4) strangulation
5) hanging
6) ingesting certain chemicals
7) poisoning
8) drug overdoses
What involves the use of a cord, belt, or wire tightly twisted around the neck. Marks will be low and transverse and will indicate equal pressure.
Ligature strangulation-
*strangulation is indicative of a homicide
Typically seen indicative of suicide, death occurs from broken trachea or a complete restriction of air supply, not by a broken neck.
Hanging
*note: sometimes is used to cover up a homicide
Occurs when a person seeks sexual gratification from placing a rope around the neck and causing enough oxygen to be restricted to cause him/her to become semiconscious. Indications of this death type include, nude or partially nude body, mirrors close by to observe the ritual, signs of masturbation.
Autoerotic asphyxiation
In these types of death, you may find stripes on the body, chars and turns skin blue at the cite of entry and exit.
Electrocution by lightning
Before identifying and collecting evidence at death investigations, what two things need to be done first?
Crime scene has been photographed and sketched
There are two steps in collecting evidence at a death scene, list the two.
1) First, large objects are collected
2) Then, smaller pieces of evidence
What are common errors in evidence collection?\\\\\
1) not taking enough of the sample
2) not obtaining standards of comparison
3) not maintaining the integrity of the evidence
Collecting evidence requires two officers. One Officer should ______ the evidence, while the second Officer carefully records the : ______, ______, and ______ of each item
collect
location
description
condition
All evidence must be _____ by the Officer that collects it and ______ by the Officer who records it.
identified
initialed
The crime scene search is conducted to uncover any evidence that could determine what?
- facts of the crime
- identify the criminal
- aid in the arrest and conviction of the suspect
When photographing a crime scene, photos must be identified by _____ and contain a brief _____ of the subject, including _____ and/or full address. In addition, list other identifiable features in regards to photos taken.
number
description
location
Additionally, photographers name, type of camera, lens opening, shutter speed, film used, position of camera, distance, and lighting.
When making a crime scene sketch, each piece of evidence should be accurately ______ and the distance from ______ ______ measured and noted.
measured
permanent objects
When creating a crime scene sketch, evidence should be measured in relationship to ____ and ____, not movable objects.
walls
doors
What important information should be recorded on a crime scene sketch?
- Name of Office making sketch
- detailed location of the scene, including city, state, street, and/or location of room within a building
- date and time sketch was made
- evidence listing showing important evidence by letter or number
- the case number
- directional arrow or compass heading
- the scale or the words “not drawn to scale.”
True/False
Any witnesses having knowledge of the crime should be separated and their account of the incident should be recorded.
True
What is the critical element in suspect identification?
Time
*It is important that the victim or witnesses identify the suspect ASAP after the crime so details are still fresh in their minds.
Field notes should be ______ and contain only information pertaining to the _____. List some examples of field notetaking.
chronological
crime
Examples: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
The Georgia Death Investigations Act outlines what?
Duties
Responsibilities
Authority of a LEO during death investigations
True/False
Preliminary signs of death include the cessation of breathing and the conditions of the victim’s eyes.
True
Estimating the _____ _____ _____ is an important piece of the investigation because it relates directly to whether the _____ could have been at the scene.
Time of Death
Suspect
Some ways the time of death can be estimated include:
- evaluation of changes in the eyes
- body temperature
- post-mortem lividity
- rigor mortis
- cadaveric spasms
True/False
People who are stabbed may display defense wounds, indicating a possible suicide.
False
Name some ways poison can enter the body.
- Injected
- Inhaled
- Absorbed through the surface of the skin
- Ingested in foods or liquids
True/False
Protecting the crime scene is the PRIMARY concern of the first officers on the scene.
True
List some methods of conducting a crime scene search:
- Move in straight lines North to South and East to West
- search specific assigned sections
- assign foot patrols or patrol cars
It is commonly assumed that the purpose of questioning a suspect is to elicit a confession or an admission of guilt. However, the PRIMARY objective is to ______ ______
gather information
True/False
Field notes are important because of the inability of people to remember such details as dates, times, exact words of witnesses, victims, suspects, serial numbers, measurements, etc.
True
Field notes should be very _____, and each interview should be recorded on _____ pages.
specific
separate
The crime scene report is the culmination of ____ ____ as a formalized report that serves many important purposes but primarily ____ information.
field notes
preserves
Identify at least 5 instances in which the coroner or medical examiner must be notified of a death.
- Result of violence
- Suicide or casualty
- Sudden when in apparent good health
- Unattended by a physician
- Any suspicious or unusual manner, particularly when 16 yoa or younger
- After birth but before 7 yoa if unexpected or unexplained
- Execution
- Inmate dies
- After admitted to a hospital in an unconscious state and w/o regaining consciousness within 24 hours of admission
What are the 5 classifications of evidence?
1) Direct
2) Real
3) Circumstantial
4) Demonstrative
5) Opinion
What classifications of evidence are generally found at the crime scene?
Direct
Real
Circumstantial
What classifications of evidence are most often presented at trial to interpret or clarify one of the other types of evidence?
Demonstrative
Opinion