Injury and Death Investigation. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Name the various legal definitions related to felony assaults and homicides. Discuss the various

Injury and Death Investigation

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Name the various legal definitions related to felony assaults and homicides.

Discuss the various stages of the medico-legal examination, including the autopsy.

Describe the various postmortem changes occurring at the time of death.

Recognize the potential evidentiary value of gunshot wounds, incised and stab wounds, lacerations, and defensive wounds.

Discuss the role of the forensic entomologist in determining time of death.

Identify the characteristics of strangulation wounds. Describe wounds inflicted with a blunt object as opposed to

those inflicted with a sharp-edged instrument.

© 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 2

LEARNING OBJECTIVES continued Discuss information used by investigators to

distinguish between homicides and suicides. Be familiar with the methods and evidence

involved in suicides. Discuss the characteristics of various poisons and

their associated manifestations. Outline facts that need to be determined in the

investigation of fire deaths. Discuss serial murderers, their profiles, myths and

misconceptions. Understand the role of the National Center of the

Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) in serial murder investigations.


The Law

Felonious assault is also know as: Aggravated assault Assault with intent to commit murder Felonious battery


The Law

Homicide Nonfelonious homicides Felonious homicide

Murder Homicide

Justifiable homicide Excusable homicide


The Medico-Legal Examination Brings in medical skills to bear on

injury and death investigations. Forensic pathologist

Studies how and why people die


The Autopsy

The autopsy determines: Time and precise cause of death What type of weapon was employed? If multiple wounds were inflicted, which wound

was fatal? How long did the victim live after the injury? What position was the victim in at the time of

the assault? From what direction was the force applied? Is there any evidence of a struggle or self-

defense? Is there any evidence of rape or other sex-

related acts? Was the deceased under the influence of alcohol

or any type of drug?© 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 7

Individual Observations Used To Estimate Time Of Death When used together the following

individual observations of a body may be used to estimate the time of death body temperature (algor mortis) rigor mortis livor mortis (lividity) Cadaveric spasm (death grip) decomposition changes stomach contents


Forensic Entomology

Study of the insects associated with a dead body which is used to determine the elapsed time since death.


Forensic Entomology Body Area from Which to Collect

Insects


Evidence From Wounds

Firearm Wounds When a bullet strikes a body, the skin is

first pushed in and then perforated while in the stretched state

Firearm residues Detecting firearm residues on the hands

of an individual may be of great importance in evaluating deaths due to gunshot wounds


Firearm Wounds

When a bullet penetrates the skin: the skin is pressed inward the skin is stretched and perforated the skin then returns to its original position


Close and Distant Shots

Firearm Discharged at Close Range


Close and Distant Shots

Firearm discharged from a distance


Incised Wounds

Typically bleed a lot Are inflicted with knives or razors Are narrow at the edges and gaping

in the middle


Puncture Wounds

Usually small and have little or no bleeding

Can be easily overlooked Cause death in the same way as stab

wounds


Lacerations

Open, irregularly shaped wounds In an assault these wounds are

caused by clubs, pipes, pistols, or other such blunt objects


Defense Wounds

Defense wound are suffered by victims attempting to protect themselves from an assault, often by a knife or club


Strangulation Wounds

Ligature strangulation The pressure on the neck is applied by a

constricting band that is tightened by a force other than the body

Manual strangulation Pressure of the hand, forearm, or other

limb against the neck, compressing the internal structures of the neck


Suicide

Reasons for suicide: Ill health Severe marital strife Recent emotionally damaging experience Financial difficulties Perceived humiliation Actual humiliation Remorse over loss of loved one Revenge


Suicide

Methods Gunshot wounds Suicide by use of a shotgun Hanging Sleeping pills and other pharmaceuticals Drowning Cutting and piercing instruments Poisons Opiate-overdoses Gases Jumping from high places


Facts To Be Determined In Fire Death Investigations Coordination and Cooperation

Coordination of and cooperation between police and fire investigators are of paramount importance in the successful investigation of any questioned fire

Degrees of Burning Burns are medically classified into four types

Identification of Remains Because fire destroys human tissue,

identification of the remains may be especially difficult

Scene Considerations As with any physical evidence, burned bodies

must be sketched, measured, and photographed


Facts To Be Determined In Fire Death Investigations continued Examination of the External Body

The body of the deceased should be examined in detail both at the scene and again at the morgue

Examination of the Internal Body Soot, other debris, or burning in the air passages

Toxicology Examination The pathologist should take samples for later

examination by a toxicologist Histologic Examination

Microscopic examination of tissues is also an important part of the postmortem examination


Facts To Be Determined In Fire Death Investigations continued “Flash” Fires

Concentrated burns in one area of a body may indicate the nature and cause of death

Motives of Fire Deaths In fire deaths, various motives should be

kept in mind by investigators Recording the Scene

Photographs of the body in its original position and of the room or area in which it is found


Serial Murder For the law enforcement community,

“serial murder” usually refers to: sexual attacks resulting death of young women, men,

or children committed by a killer who tends to

follow a distinct physical or psychological pattern.


Serial Murder continued

There are seven major components that may serve as flags to alert investigators to the possibility that a serial murderer is operating in their jurisdiction: One or more individuals (in most cases, males)

commit a second murder and/or subsequent murders.

There are generally no prior relationships between victims and attacker (if there is a relationship, it will be one that places the victim in a subjugated position relative to the killer.

Subsequent murders occur at different times and have no apparent connection to the initial murder.


Serial Murder continued

Subsequent murders are usually committed in a different geographic location.

The motive is not for material gain; it is for the murderer’s desire to have power or dominance over his or her victims.

Victims may have a symbolic value for the murderer; and/or they may be perceived as lacking prestige, being unable to defend themselves or alert others to their plight, or being powerless given their immediate surroundings.

Victims typically include vagrants, the homeless, prostitutes, migrant workers, homosexuals, missing children, single women (out by themselves), elderly women, college students, and hospital patients.


National Center For The Analysis Of Violent Crime (NCAVC) Designed to form a partnership

among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of potentially related, unsolved violent crimes


Documents

Injury and Death Investigation. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Name the various legal definitions related to felony assaults and homicides. Discuss the various