Week 5 - Time of Death

Question 1

What is meant by the manner of death?

Answer 1

The manner of death refers to the circumstances leading to a person’s death and is determined by a forensic pathologist, coroner, or medical examiner. It involves a full investigation, including determining the cause of death.

Question 2

What are the five classifications of manner of death?

Answer 2

Homicide
Suicide
Accidental
Natural
Undetermined

Question 3

What defines homicide as a manner of death?

Answer 3

Homicide is a non-accidental death caused by the reckless, negligent, or intentional actions of another person.

Question 4

What information is crucial for determining the timeline of death in homicide cases?

Answer 4

Information such as the body’s location, position, time of death, and postmortem changes like algor mortis, livor mortis, and rigor mortis are essential for establishing the timeline of death.

Question 5

What is the definition of suicide?

Answer 5

Suicide occurs when an individual intentionally takes their own life. There must be clear evidence of intent and proof that the act was committed by the individual alone.

Question 6

What are common methods of suicide?

Answer 6

Common methods include gunshot wounds, hanging, and drug overdoses. However, drug-related deaths are only classified as suicide if the action was intended to be fatal.

Question 7

What are some challenges in investigating suicide cases?

Answer 7

Challenges include distinguishing between suicide, homicide, and accidental death. Investigators carefully examine evidence like gunshot residue, blood splatter patterns, and personal history, such as psychiatric conditions or previous suicide attempts.

Question 8

How is accidental death defined?

Answer 8

Accidental deaths occur without any intent to cause harm, typically resulting from unintentional acts or accidents.

Question 9

What are common types of accidental deaths?

Answer 9

Common types include traffic accidents, drug overdoses, and drownings.

Question 10

How does negligence affect the classification of an accidental death?

Answer 10

In cases where negligence is involved, such as vehicular homicide, an accidental death may be reclassified as a form of homicide.

Question 11

What role does toxicological analysis play in accidental deaths?

Answer 11

Toxicological analysis, particularly the presence of drugs or alcohol, can influence whether a death is classified as accidental or another manner, like homicide or suicide.

Question 12

What is a natural death?

Answer 12

Natural death occurs due to diseases or long-term environmental exposure, such as exposure to toxins or asbestos.

Question 13

How can chronic drug or alcohol use result in a natural death classification?

Answer 13

Chronic drug and alcohol use can lead to natural death if the condition is prolonged. However, isolated incidents, such as acute alcohol intoxication, are usually classified as accidental.

Question 14

What does it mean when the manner of death is classified as undetermined?

Answer 14

A death may be classified as undetermined if the case is incomplete or ambiguous, leaving investigators without enough evidence to determine a clear manner of death.

Question 15

The Sheridan’s

Answer 15

• Determined as a murder suicide
• John had soot in lungs – alive when fire started, and knife that inflicted his wounds was never found
• Suicide ruling was questioned
• Johns death is now undetermined

Question 16

What is algor mortis?

Answer 16

Algor mortis is the process of the body cooling down to match the ambient temperature after death.

The body cools at a rate of -0.5 to -0.75°C per hour under normal room temperature

Question 17

What factors can influence the rate of algor mortis?

Answer 17

Body size, clothing, environmental conditions, and wind can all influence the rate of cooling.

Question 18

What is livor mortis?

Answer 18

Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in the lower parts of the body due to gravity, causing the skin to become bluish-purple.

Question 19

When does livor mortis begin, and when does it become fixed?

Answer 19

It begins 20 minutes to 3 hours after death and becomes fixed after 16 hours.

Question 20

How can livor mortis help determine if a body was moved?

Answer 20

Different patterns of lividity may show that the body was moved after death, as blood pooling shifts with gravity.

Question 21

What is rigor mortis?

Answer 21

Rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles after death due to chemical changes in muscle tissue.

Question 22

When does rigor mortis start and disappear?

Answer 22

It starts within 24 hours after death and disappears after 36 hours.

Question 23

What factors can affect the progression of rigor mortis?

Answer 23

Temperature, activity before death, and muscle mass can alter how rigor mortis progresses.

Question 24

How is potassium in the eye used to estimate time of death?

Answer 24

After death, potassium is released into the vitreous humor of the eye, and measuring its levels can provide an estimate of time since death.

Question 25

How are potassium levels in the eye measured?

Answer 25

Samples are taken from both eyes at different intervals to monitor changes, as the release of potassium is temperature-dependent.

Question 26

How can stomach contents help estimate time of death?

Answer 26

The stage of digestion can provide clues about when the decedent last ate by identifying food, its consistency, degree of digestion, and the presence of bile or pills.

Question 27

What is autolysis in decomposition?

Answer 27

Autolysis is the breakdown of cells by their own enzymes, and the rate varies depending on the organ and the mechanism of death.

Question 28

What is putrefaction, and what are its effects?

Answer 28

Putrefaction is the decomposition caused by bacteria, leading to bloating, discoloration, and foul odors. It starts with green discoloration in the abdomen and spreads to the face.

Question 29

What are some physical signs of decomposition?

Answer 29

Skin slippage (blistering and peeling)
Bloating
Bulging eyes and a protruding tongue

Question 30

What is adipocere, and how does it form?

Answer 30

Adipocere is a waxy substance that forms on fatty tissues during decomposition. It develops over approximately 3 months in moist environments.

Question 31

Why is time of death vital in homicide cases?

Answer 31

It supports or refutes alibis, exonerates the innocent, and helps investigators focus on the timeline before death, potentially identifying the unknown.

Question 32

What are some general methods for estimating time of death?

Answer 32

Anamnestic: based on victim’s regular activities
Eye witnesses: less reliable unless trained
Corporeal: stages of decomposition
Environmental: insects or plants at the scene

Question 33

What is the early postmortem interval, and what methods are used to estimate time of death during this period?

Answer 33

The early PMI covers the first few hours (up to 24 hours) after death. Methods include algor mortis, rigor mortis, livor mortis, digestion, and changes in the eyes.

Question 34

How do eye changes help in estimating time of death?

Answer 34

Eyes develop a cloudy film within 2-3 hours if partially open. Chemical changes in the vitreous humor, such as increases in potassium and urea, can also provide time estimates.

Question 35

What is adipocere, and how does it form?

Answer 35

Adipocere is a waxy substance formed on fatty tissues during decomposition in moist, anaerobic environments. It forms over weeks to months and preserves tissue.

Question 36

What is mummification, and where does it occur?

Answer 36

Mummification is the preservation of the body in dry environments, often indoors. The body dries out and can remain well-preserved.

Question 37

How does forensic anthropology help estimate time of death?

Answer 37

It involves measuring the rate of breakdown of bone and organic materials using methods like Carbon-14 dating, nitrogen levels, and DNA degradation.

Question 38

How does forensic botany help estimate time of death?

Answer 38

Plant growth around or through remains, and plants crushed by the body can provide clues. Pollen analysis can indicate the season of death.

Question 39

How does forensic entomology estimate time of death?

Answer 39

Insects are attracted to the body in predictable sequences. Studying maggots and other insects can estimate time since death, ranging from hours to years.

Question 40

What are some common myths about death?

Answer 40

Hair and fingernails grow after death (False, skin shrinks exposing them).
Dead people bleed (False, decomposition fluids are mistaken for blood).
Dead people grow new skin (False, surface skin sloughs off exposing clean skin).
Worms come from inside the body (False, maggots arrive from external sources)