death investigations Flashcards
In 2017 what was the percentages of death scenes?
40% outside of a hospital
3.6% suicide
0.6% murder
Who oversees all death investigations?
coroners office
what are the 5 questions asked when investigating a death?
- who
- when
- where
- how
- by what manner
who can order the removal of a body from a scene?
only the coroner
T/F: police work for the coroner?
true but only during death investigations
when are police allowed to collect evidence outside during a death scene?
due to exigent circumstances
What does coroners authority give police during an indoor scene?
cannot seize any evidence without permission/direction of coroner
what kind of warrant can a coroner obtain?
coroner’s warrant for medical and dental records
what are the types of manner of death?
natural: medical reason
unnatural: suicide, homicide, undetermined or accidental
what is cause of death?
injury or disease responsible for causing the death
what is the forensic response to death scenes?
- begins with call/request for service
- investigators are assigned to the case
- they will attend scenes, deal with exhibits, make submissions and go to post mortem
What is involved in scene information/intelligence?
- speaking with officers who responded to call/scene
- does not speak to witnesses
- has coroner been contacted/attending the scene
- consider authority required to process scene
how should information be treated after being gained at the scene?
not accepted as facts
what are considerations in death scenes?
- always treated as unknown till proven otherwise, follow the evidence
- start with outside perimeter - is it secure, is it enough, has crime scene log been started
- PPE
- confirm the coroner has been contacted
- permission
- private vs. public property
what are considerations of scene assessment in exterior?
- follow plain view evidence (ie footwear, tire tracks, weapons, blood, notes etc.)
- size up the scene, after documentation what steps need to be done?
why do we wear PPE?
because of the media?????
what clues/evidence are you looking for in death investigations?
- open doors/windows or closed doors/windows
- signs of forced entry
- footwear and tire tracks
- cigarette butts
- blood stains
- unlocked/locked doors
in terms of witnesses/ potential people who knew victims, what might be different in suicide cases?
they might know some information regarding the suicide (ie. illness, financial issue, domestic problems etc.)
T/F: notes are always left at the scene.
false
what is the mechanism of suicide?
the cause
what are questions needed to be asked in suicide cases?
- could the deceased cause the injuries that led to their death?
- was the person physically able to accomplish act?
- are wounds within reach?
- is there more than one cause of death?
- are there hesitation marks or wounds
in hanging cases what should you look for/do?
look for:
- position of knot on neck
- type of ligature
do:
- cut several inches above the neck
- preserve the knot
- don’t remove noose
- take measurements of the body position
what should you look for in shooting scenes?
- bloodstain pattern evidence
- stippling from GSR/blood
- length of long gun and length of arm to trigger finger
in overdose deaths what should be seized?
bottles and empty remaining pills but not put in the body bag
