Hanks Quiz (Death Investigation) Flashcards
What is a DNA profile?
DNA is a molecule that is found in most cells ofthe human body
Samples from crime scenes orsuspects, usually obtained fromblood, hair or body fluids, areanalyzed, resulting in a DNA profilewhich can be compared againstother profiles within a database
Whether or not a DNA order is given depends?
largely on the type of criminaloffence in question
A DNA order, is made by a?
A Judge & allows the police to take a sample of bodily substances (such as saliva or blood) from an offender.
Depending on the type of criminal offence that an offender has been found guilty of, the Crown may ask the judge to make?
DNA order
DNA samples are often taken rightin the?
Courthouse
or
sometimes the offender will have to go to a police station to havethe sample taken.
Bodily samples cannot be taken without?
a warrant where the subject does not consent
Two types of DNA identification
- Direct Matching
- Kinship Matching
What is Direct Matching?
A direct DNA sample from the missing person,
EX. a prior medical sample or a personal item such as a toothbrush, can be compared to the DNA from an unidentified body or human remains to see if a match can be found
What is Kinship Matching?
Biological relatives share apercentage of their DNA, dependingon their relationship. In the event thata DNA sample from the missing person cannot be obtained for direct matching, DNA from close family members (parents, children, siblings)can also be compared.
Evidence is kept for ?
100 years
Problems to be considered with evidence
Contamination
Degradation
Lost investigator notes
Lost/missing case files/audio and video statements
How to solve cold cases?
Advancement in science
Changes in relationships
Perseverance
Slowly and methodically
Scientific Method
The systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of a hypothesis.
The manner of death
Will be established by the investigating Coroner from the Office of the Chief Coroner
The Cause of Death (COD)
will be deemed by the Forensic Pathologist (OFPU)
A fatal fire investigation is a three-pronged affair
Cause of Death
Cause of Fire
Conditions under which both occurred
Identity
Visual
Dental
Pathological (Signs left by illness or previous injury)
Unique tattoos/ scars
DNA
Degree of Thermal Injuries
First Degree: Superficial, reddened skin ( sunburn)
Second Degree: Deeper damage with blisters formed; partial thickness burns
Third Degree: Severe Damage to full thickness of skin to underlying tissue
Fourth Degree: Very Severe including underlying tissue with charring
Fifth Degree: Underlying muscle and bone involved
Human Bodies
Human fat will not smoulder, it will burn only as a flame and has a high enough flash point that it normally requires a rigid porous wick to maintain a flame.
Approximately fifteen thousand deaths investigated annually by coroners in general
reflects 20 % of all deaths in Ontario
Thirty-five per cent of those are paediatric deaths
Newborn to 19th birthday
Coroner
medical doctor with specializedtraining in the principles of death investigation. Orders autopsy.
Forensic Pathologist
medical professionalwho specializes in determining the cause of death. Performs autopsy
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SUDS
Sudden Un-Explained Death Syndrome
Abusive Head Trauma
Traditional shaking of an infant backand forth
Throwing of an infant onto a bed ormattress and the head recoils backand forth
Swing of the infant while holding thehand or leg
The chiefs report is sent to the chief ___ Hours after the homicide?
24
How long do you think it takes for a body to decompose in water? Would you say it decomposed faster or slower than a body that’s lying on the ground, on land? To what extent?
It Depends !
What percentage of the Earth cover is comprised of water, in liquid and solid form?
Water covers about 75% of the Earth’s surface, with the vast majority (96.5%) being the oceans and seas
Most commonly used DVI methods:
DNA
AM medical records
Fingerprints
Presumptions
Should not presume fire was accidental and/or incendiary based on circumstantial data
Effects of Fire
The human body represents a fuel package and the application of heat (intensity and duration) will alter and destroy anatomical features
Skin can blister after about
about 11 seconds of exposure to HF of 10kw/m2
Body fat has a heat of combustion value of
30-32 kJ/g (17,100 BTU) and an auto ignition temperature of approx. 350 Degrees Celsius
Healthy person has COHb saturations of
0.5 to 1 %
5-15% due to medical conditions, environment, smoking
20 %- headache, nausea
30%- Confusion, collapse
40-50%- Convulsions, heart attack
50-60%- Fatal
A forensic PM examination will take place in a majority of
fatal fire incidents
Since 2004, all forensic autopsies on criminally suspicious cases, homicides and cases going to inquest undergo a peer review process to ensure?
thequality of the autopsy and the resultingconclusions.
Since 2006, coroners, pathologists,police and other members of the death investigation team now follow a new and more stringent protocol
when investigating the death of a child under the age of five
Manner of death 0 to 19 years (2012 STUDY)
92 cases were deemed to be natural deaths
26 cases were accidental
79 cases were undetermined
22 cases led to a charge of homicide
220 deaths of children under the age of 5 years
