Section Ⅰ DEATH SCENE INVESTIGATION 3
1 Initial Response 3
Notification 3
Scene Coordination 3
Arrival at Scene 4
Immediate Actions 4
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 4
Law Enforcement First Responders 5
Legal Authority 5
Identifying Scope of Scene 5
Identifying Ancillary Scenes 5
Administrative Scene Controls 6
Major Scene Considerations 6
Media Area 7
Command Briefings 7
2 Scene Evaluation, Analysis, Strategy, and Direction 9
Death Scene Response 9
Initial Information 9
Arrival at Scene 9
Scene Evaluation 9
Initial Walk-Through 9
Preliminary Examination of Deceased 10
Movement to Body: Point-to-Point Search 10
Determine Death 10
Presumptive Determination of Death 10
Victim Alive, Expected to Die 10
Preserving Perishable Evidence on Clothing or Body 10
Postmortem Indicators 11
Pronouncement of Death 11
EMS 11
Medical Doctor 11
Justice of the Peace 11
Coroner 11
Identify, Secure, and Preserve Primary Scene 11
Identify, Secure, and Preserve Secondary Scenes 12
The Body: Primary and Secondary Scenes 12
Preserve Perishable Evidence 12
Note Scene Indicators 13
Documentation of Injury 13
Documentation of Postmortem Indicators 13
Investigative Plan and Scene Strategy 13
Scene Considerations 14
Order of Processing 14
Investigative Plan 14
Determine Investigative Direction 15
3 Natural Deaths 17
Definition of Natural Death 17
Legal Considerations 17
Death Scene Interviews 18
First Responders 18
Family Members 18
Decedent's Physician 18
Scene Considerations 19
Recovery of Human Remains 19
Initial Approach and Contact with Body 19
Initial Approach 19
Preliminary Determination of Death 20
Documentation, Preservation, and/or Collection of Perishable Evidence 20
Post Mortem Indicators 20
Death Scene Processing 21
Take Control of Scene 21
Conduct Initial Scene Walk-Through 22
Legal Determination of Death 22
Plan Development 22
Conduct Team Briefing 22
Scene Processing 23
Documenting Scene Indicators 24
Identifying Secondary Death Scenes 24
Processing Body 24
Photographing Body 24
Sketching Body 25
Documenting with Notes 25
Examination of Body 25
Outdoor Death Scenes 26
Common Indicators of Natural Death 26
Related Searches 26
4 Accidental Deaths 27
Definition of Accidental Death 27
Legal Considerations 27
Death Scene Interviews 28
First Responders 28
Witnesses 28
Gunshot Residue (GSR) Examination and Collection 28
Scene Considerations 29
Recovery of Human Remains 29
Initial Approach and Contact with Body 29
Initial Approach 29
Preliminary Determination of Death 30
Documentation, Preservation, and/or Collection of Perishable Evidence 30
Post Mortem Indicators 30
Death Scene Processing 31
Take Control of Scene 31
Conduct Initial Scene Walk-Through 31
Legal Determination of Death 32
Plan Development 32
Conduct Team Briefing 32
Scene Processing 32
Documenting Scene Indicators 33
Identifying Secondary Death Scenes 34
Processing Body 34
Photographing Body 34
Sketching Body 35
Documenting with Notes 35
Examination of Body 35
Outdoor Death Scenes 36
Evidence Commonly Associated with Accidental Deaths 36
Related Searches 36
5 Suicidal Deaths 37
Definition of Suicide 37
Legal Considerations 37
Death Scene Interviews 38
First Responders 38
Gunshot Residue (GSR) Examination and Collection 38
Scene Considerations 38
Recovery of Remains 39
Initial Approach and Contact with Body 39
Initial Approach 39
Preliminary Determination of Death 39
Documentation, Preservation, and/or Collection of Perishable Evidence 39
Post Mortem Indicators 40
Death Scene Processing 41
Take Control of Scene 41
Conduct Initial Scene Walk-Through 41
Legal Determination of Death 41
Plan Development 41
Conduct Team Briefing 42
Scene Processing 42
Documenting Scene Indicators 43
Identifying Secondary Death Scenes 43
Processing Body 43
Photographing Body 44
Sketching Body 44
Documenting with Notes 44
Examination of Body 45
Outdoor Death Scenes 46
Evidence Commonly Associated with Suicides 46
Related Searches 46
6 Homicidal Deaths 47
Definition of Homicide 47
Legal Considerations 47
Death Scene Interviews 48
First Responders 48
Witnesses 48
Gunshot Residue (GSR) Examination and Collection 49
Scene Considerations 49
Recovery of Human Remains 49
Initial Approach and Contact with Body 50
Initial Approach 50
Preliminary Determination of Death 50
Documentation, Preservation, and/or Collection of Perishable Evidence 50
Post Mortem Indicators 50
Death Scene Processing 51
Identifying Primary and Secondary Death Scenes 51
Primary Scene 51
Secondary Scenes 52
Take Control of Scene 52
Conduct Initial Scene Walk-Through 52
Legal Determination of Death 52
Plan Development 52
Conduct Team Briefing 53
Scene Processing 53
Document Scene Indicators 54
Processing Body 54
Photographing Body 55
Sketching Body 56
Documenting with Notes 56
Examination of Body 57
Outdoor Death Scenes 58
Evidence Commonly Associated with Homicidal Deaths 58
Related Searches 58
7 The Role of Medical Examiner 59
Establishing Cause of Death 60
Establishing Manner of Death 60
Death Scene 60
Scene Considerations 60
On-Scene Body Processing Procedures 61
Circumstances Requiring Autopsy 61
Procedures in Lieu of Autopsy 62
Reports and Reporting 63
Outbrief 63
Preliminary Autopsy Report 63
Toxicology Report 63
Final Autopsy Report 63
8 Autopsy Protocol and Investigator's Role 65
Circumstances Requiring Autopsy 65
Procedures in Lieu of Autopsy 66
Investigator's Responsibilities at Autopsy 66
Equipment Required 66
Arrival 66
External Examination 67
Internal Examination 68
After Examination 68
Autopsy Photography Guidelines 68
General 68
ME Photographer 69
Investigator 69
Required Photographs and Documentation 69
Injury Mapping 70
Internal Examination Photographs 72
Evidence Photographs 72
Custody of Evidence from Autopsy 72
Outbrief with Medical Examiner 73
Section Ⅱ RECOVERY OF REMAINS 73
9 Searching for Human Remains 77
General Search Guidelines 77
Specific Search Guidelines 77
Point-to-Point Search 77
Line Search 79
Grid Search 79
Spiral Search 80
10 Surface Recovery of Human Remains 81
General 81
Locating Remains 81
Visual Techniques 81
Cadaver Dogs 82
Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and Thermal Tomography 82
NecroSearch International 82
Body Processing 82
Scene Processing 83
Establishing Datum 83
Establishing Grid 83
Surface Documentation and Recovery of Evidence 86
Recovery of Remains 86
Sifting Soil 87
Scientific Assistance 87
11 Recovery of Buried Human Remains 89
General Principles 89
Locating Remains 89
Visual Methods 89
Expedient Grave Indicators 89
Shallow Grave Indicators 90
Buried Remains Indicators 90
Probing Method 90
Cadaver Dogs 91
Technological Methods 91
NecroSearch International 92
Processing Scene 93
Surface Documentation and Recovery of Evidence 93
Surface Preparation 93
Establishing Datum 93
Establishing Grid 93
Preparing Sifting Site 96
Excavating Grave 96
Sifting Soil 99
Impression Evidence 99
Soil Evidence 99
12 Aquatic Recovery of Human Remains 101
General Principles 101
Locating Remains 101
Surface Search 101
Aerial Search 102
Underwater Search 102
Drift 103
Computer Simulation Modeling 103
Cadaver Dogs 103
Technological Search 104
Trained Volunteer Teams 105
Processing Scene 106
Processing Body 106
Documenting Recovery 106
Remains Recovered from Predator 107
13 Estimating Postmortem Interval 109
Determining Time Range 109
Immediate Postmortem Changes 109
Early Postmortem Changes 109
Postmortem Lividity (Livor Mortis) 109
Postmortem Rigidity (Rigor Mortis) 110
Postmortem Cooling (Algor Mortis) 110
Factors Affecting Rate of Temperature Change 111
Late Postmortem Changes 111
Decomposition 111
Adipocere Development 111
Mummification 111
Skeletonization 112
Other Postmortem Factors 112
Section Ⅲ WOUND DYNAMICS AND MECHANISMSOF INJURY 112
14 Asphyxiation 115
Strangulation 115
Manual Strangulation (Throttling) 115
General 115
Scene 115
Body 116
Ligature Strangulation (Garroting) 116
General 117
Scene 117
Body 117
Hanging 118
General 118
Scene 118
Body 119
Autoerotic Asphyxiation 120
General 120
Scene 120
Body 121
Choking 121
General 121
Scene 121
Body 121
Smothering 121
General 122
Scene 122
Body 122
Mechanical Asphyxia 123
General 123
Scene 123
Body 123
Chemical Asphyxia 124
General 124
Scene 124
Helium or Nitrogen Scene (Exit Bag or Exit Hood 124
Carbon Monoxide Scene: Heater 125
Carbon Monoxide Scene: Vehicle 125
Body 126
Drowning 126
General 126
Scene 126
Body 127
15 Sharp Force Injuries 129
General 129
Scene 129
Body 129
16 Blunt Force Injuries 133
General 133
Scene 133
Body 133
17 Chopping Injuries 135
General 135
Scene 135
Body 135
18 Firearms: Handgun and Rifle Wounds 137
Gunshot Wounds 137
Entrance and Exit Wounds 137
Entrance Wounds 137
Exit Wounds 137
Effects of Distance on Gunshot Wounds 138
Contact Gunshot Wounds 138
Hard Contact Wounds 138
Loose Contact Wounds 139
Angled Contact Wounds 139
Incomplete Contact Wounds 141
Near Contact Wounds 141
Intermediate Range Wounds 142
Distant Wounds 143
Rifle Wounds 143
19 Firearms: Shotgun Wounds 145
Shotgun Wounds 145
Exit Wounds 145
Shotcup and Wadding 145
Effects of Distance on Wounds 145
Contact Wounds 145
Stellate Wounds 147
Hard Contact Head Wounds 147
Intra-Oral Wounds 147
Wounds to Trunk 147
Near Contact Wounds 147
Close and Intermediate Range Wounds 147
Long Range Wounds 149
20 Explosive Injuries 151
General Considerations 151
Scene 151
Body 152
Mechanisms of Blast Injuries 152
Primary 152
Secondary 152
Tertiary 153
Quaternary 153
Cautions 153
21 Thermal Injuries 155
General Considerations 155
Scene 155
Body 156
First Degree Burns 156
Second Degree Burns 156
Third Degree Burns 157
Fourth Degree burns 157
Deaths from Fire-Related Injuries 157
22 Electrical Injuries 159
Scene 159
Body 159
Section Ⅳ SPECIAL DEATH SCENE INVESTIGATIONS 159
23 Infant Deaths 163
Violent Death 163
Asphyxial 163
Asphyxial by Entrapment (Rollover) 163
Shaken Baby Syndrome and Shaken Baby with Impact Syndrome 164
Medical Findings 164
Failure to Thrive 165
Organic Causes 165
Neglect 165
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) 166
Victim 166
Scene 167
Dietary History 168
Medical History 169
Mother's Pregnancy History 170
24 Child and Infant Deaths: Physical Abuseand Neglect 171
Scene 171
Weapon or Item Used to Inflict Injury 171
Burns, Scalds, Immersion Burns 171
Falling Injuries and Staged Accidents 172
Neglect 172
Body 173
Skeletal System Injuries 173
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Injuries 173
Immersion, Contact, and Cigarette Burns 174
Head and Central Nervous System Injuries 175
Chest and Abdominal Injuries 176
Autopsy 176
Additional Questions for Medical Examiner 177
Medical Records Review 177
25 Child Deaths: Sexual Abduction and Murder 179
Abduction 179
Missing Child Report 179
Scene 180
Sexual Assault 180
Searches Related to Pedophile 180
Murder 182
Body Recovery 183
Evidence on Body 183
Examination of Suspect 184
26 Sexual Activities Resulting in Death 185
Natural Death during Coitus 185
Body 185
Scene 185
Accidental Death during Autoerotic Asphyxia 185
Body 186
Scene 186
Homicide: Sexual Asphyxia by Partner 186
Face Sitting and Breath Control 186
Body 186
Scene 187
Body 187
Scene 187
27 Sexual Assaults Resulting in Death 189
Examination of Victim 189
Sexual Assault Evidence 189
Physical Assault Evidence 190
Examination of Suspect 190
Examination of Intimate Partner 191
Scene Considerations 191
28 Death Scenes with Multiple Victims 193
Multiple Victims at a Single Location 193
Spree Killings 193
Mass Murders 194
Section Ⅴ DEATH SCENE MANAGEMENT, TASKS,AND RESPONSIBILITIES 194
29 Death Scene Management 197
Arrival and Initial Organization 197
Strategy and Direction 197
Available Personnel 198
Scene Documentation and Processing 198
Command Function 198
Scene Completion and Post-Scene Activities 199
30 Death Scene Sketching 201
Sketch Components 201
Depictions 201
Sketch Types 203
Scene Measurements 204
Methods of Measuring 207
Evidence Identification 210
31 Death Scene Photography and Videography 211
Photography 211
Set-Up 211
Technique 211
General Guidelines 212
Flash Use 213
Filter Use 214
Scene Photography 214
Overlapping Method 214
Progressive Method 214
Photographing Evidence 214
Photographic Perspectives 215
Videography 217
Set-Up 217
Technique 217
Videography Subjects 217
32 Death Scene Notes and Observations 219
Scene Observation 219
Indoor Scene Observations 219
Doors 219
Windows 220
Kitchen and Dining Room 220
Environmental Controls 220
Laundry and Utility Areas 220
Lighting 220
Telephones and Mobile Phones 220
Mail 220
Wastebaskets and Ashtrays 221
Bath and Toilet Areas 221
Calendars and Planners 221
Computers and Internet 221
Body 221
Clothing 221
Postmortem Indicators 221
Identification of Decedent 222
Wounds and Injuries 222
Outdoor Scene Observations 222
Environmental Conditions 222
Immediate Area of Death Scene 222
Extended Area of Death Scene 222
33 Death Scene Search Procedures 223
General Search Guidelines 223
Confined Area Searches 223
Point-to-Point Search 223
Clockwise and Counterclockwise Search 224
High and Low Search 224
Sector or Zone Search 224
Open Area Search 225
Line Search 226
Grid Search 226
Spiral Search 226
Specific Search Guidelines 228
Body Search 228
Vehicle Search 229
Exterior 229
Interior 229
Trunk 229
Engine Compartment 229
Computer Search 230
Seizure 230
Analysis 230
Section Ⅵ DEATH SCENE EVIDENCE PROCESSING 233
34 Documenting and Processing Bloodstain Patterns 233
Detection 233
Visual Method 233
Alternate Light Source (ALS) Method 234
Infrared (IR) Method 234
Chemical Enhancement Method 235
Luminol 235
BlueStar 236
Fluorescein 236
Isolation and Identification of Discrete Patterns 236
Spatter 236
Linear Spatter 236
Non-Linear Spatter 237
Non-Spatter 237
Documentation 238
Mapping 238
Clothing 240
Mapping Large Area Patterns 240
Photography 241
Sketching 241
Sampling and Collection 241
35 Documenting Shooting Scenes 243
Recovery of Firearm Evidence from Scene 243
Weapon 243
Safety: Paramount Concern 243
Firearm Documentation 243
Ensuring Weapon Safety 244
Processing Weapon at Scene 244
Collection and Packaging of Firearm 244
Recovery of Firearm from Water 244
Recovery of Casings, Cartridges, and Bullets 245
Collection and Packaging of Bullets and Cartridges 245
Additional Analyses 245
Documenting Bullet Defects 245
Chemical Testing for Bullet Defects 247
Copper 247
Lead 247
Recovery of Firearm Evidence from Body and clothing 248
Detection of Gunpowder Patterns 248
Visual 248
Infrared (IR) 248
Collection and Packaging of Clothing 249
Documentation and Collection of Gunshot Residue (GSR) 250
Gunshot Wounds of Suicide 250
Scene 250
Body 251
Mechanisms of Injury 251
Wound Dynamics 251
36 Entomological Evidence 253
Adult and Flying Insects 253
Collection of Crawling Insects 253
Collection of Maggots, Pupae, and other Immature InsectForms 253
Collection of Insects in Soil 254
Documentation 254
37 Biological Evidence 255
Touch DNA Analysis 255
Detection 255
Preservation and Collection 255
Biological Fluids and Stains 256
Detection 256
Scene Analysis 256
Collection of Biological Stains 256
General 257
Dry Stains 257
Wet Stains 258
Liquid Stains 258
Packaging 258
38 Trace Evidence at the Scene 261
General Processing Guidelines 261
Detection 261
Collection 261
Packaging 262
Hairs 262
Fibers 263
Paint 263
Collection 263
Control Samples 263
Known Samples 263
Packaging 264
Glass 264
Collection 264
Packaging 264
Building Materials 265
Collection 265
Soil 265
Collection 265
Known Sample 265
Alibi Sample 266
Packaging 266
Trace Metals 266
Collection 266
Hazardous Materials 267
39 Friction Ridge Evidence at the Scene 269
Prints on Body 269
Patent Prints (Visible) 269
Latent Prints 270
Detection 270
Transfer Lift Method (Figure 39.1) 270
Prints at Scene 271
General 271
Detecting Prints 272
Oblique Lighting 272
Reflected Ultraviolet Imaging System (RUVIS) 272
Alternate Light Sources 272
Photography of Prints 272
Prints on Non-Porous Surfaces 273
Superglue (Cyanoacrylate) Fuming 274
Prints on Porous Surfaces 274
Chemical Development of Latent Prints 275
Latent Prints on Non-Porous Surfaces 275
Packaging Latent Print Evidence 275
Non-Porous 275
Porous 276
40 Impression Evidence 277
Toolmarks and Bites 277
General 277
Detection 277
Photography 277
Processing and Casting Toolmarks 278
Bite Marks: Special Considerations 278
Footwear and Tire (Three-Dimensional) Impression Evidence 279
General 279
Detection 280
Photography 280
Processing and Casting 280
Impressions in Snow 281
Tire Marks: Special Considerations 281
Packaging 282
Footwear and Tire (Two-Dimensional) Impression Evidence 282
Photography 282
Detection 282
Processing 283
Electrostatic Dust Print Lifter 283
Stati-Lift? 284
Gel Lift 284
Tape Lift 284
Moist Impression 285
Processing: Wet 285
Processing: Dry 285
Packaging 285
Appendix A: Universal Precautions for Blood Borne Pathogens 287
Appendix B: Death Scene Notes 291
Appendix C: Death Scene Notes: Supplemental 293
Appendix D: Biological Evidence Notes 295
Appendix E: Friction Ridge Evidence 297
Appendix F: Impression Evidence Notes 299
Appendix G: Trace Evidence Notes 301
Appendix H: Death Scene Entry log 303
Appendix I: Photographic Log 305
Appendix J: Photographic Head Slate 307
Appendix K: Immersion Burn Worksheet 309
Appendix L: SUID Scene Worksheet 311
Appendix M: Firearms Documentation worksheet 319
Appendix N: Post Blast Worksheet 321
Appendix O: Druggist Fold 323
Appendix P: Post Mortem Indicators Worksheet 325
Index 327