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
define attributes of suspicious death.
- cause of death is unclear
- decomposition is a mitigating factor
- no family or friends in the area
- position/location of body
- stories/allegations
- lack of medical history
- identity is unknown
- location - inside/outside/buried
For the missing person scenario what was the cause of death?
hypothermia, she had ulcers in an opened stomach demonstrating characteristic leopard skin
in the criminal code which section is homicide?
222 (1)
define first degree murder
premeditated death (planned and deliberate)
define second degree murder
meant to kill person but not preplanned
define manslaughter
did not intend to kill
what does POI mean?
person of interest
what is included in the processing of a death investigation?
- notes
- photos
- video
- sketch
- measuring device
- aerial photos
- processing scene/seizing exhibits
What does a forensic anthropologist do?
collect and examine human remains
What does a forensic entomologist do? :D
collection of insects from body followed by analysis
What does a blood stain pattern analyst do?
examines scenes with extensive bloodstaining
What does a forensic odontologist do?
confirm identity via teeth
What does a forensic pathologist do?
conducts autopsy, determines cause and manner of death
T/F: bite mark analysis is not an accepted science in Canadian courts.
true
Why is forensic odontology important
because tooth enamel can persist in harsh conditions and they interact with our environment reflecting conditions an individual has experienced in life
what are the variables in forensic odontology?
, size & position of teeth
what are the problems associated with forensic odontology
teeth change over time
when are forensic anthropologists required?
when remains are:
- fragmented
- dismembered
- burnt
- decomposed
- otherwise unidentifiable by visual means
what is the golden rule of homicide scene processing
when in doubt get a search warrant
generally on a homicide case what should be processed first?
the body
in body examinations what should you do?
- note position
- measure position in detail
- start at top and work way down
- look at both front and back sides
- look for trace evidence
- use ALS or laster to assist in search
- hairs, fibres, and DNA can be collected
- clothing/ BPA
- note state of clothing
- obvious injuries
- assess environment
- presence of jewlery, phone, wallet, etc.
- items in immediate vicinity of body
