Death Investigation
Published on Mar 19, 2016
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Death Investigation
USDJ Guide for Scene Investigators
Created so there was a consistency from scene to scene, regardless of jurisdiction, so death scenes were investigated properly
Photo by Jesse757
Arriving at the Scene
- Introduce self and identify role
- Exercise scene safety
- Confirm or pronounce death
- Participate in scene briefing
Introduce: establish contact, ID first responder to determine what was altered
Safety: hostile crowds, collapsing structure, traffic, etc. wear protective equipment
Confirm death: ID who made determination of death,
Scene briefing: establish responsibilities of agencies, exchange information, witness accounts, location, etc.
Safety: hostile crowds, collapsing structure, traffic, etc. wear protective equipment
Confirm death: ID who made determination of death,
Scene briefing: establish responsibilities of agencies, exchange information, witness accounts, location, etc.
Photo by Tony Webster
Arriving at the Scene cont.
- Conduct a scene walk through
- Establish chain of custody
- Follow laws pertaining to evidence
Walk through: Reassess boundaries, entry/exit, fragile evidence ID, view body
COC: Document your arrival, document evidence, collect evidence, witness lists, other people on scene
Laws: ensure policies are adhered to so evidence/etc. can be admissible in court
COC: Document your arrival, document evidence, collect evidence, witness lists, other people on scene
Laws: ensure policies are adhered to so evidence/etc. can be admissible in court
Photo by Derek Bridges
Documenting and Evaluating the Scene
- Photograph scene
- Description of scene
- Establish probable location of injury/illness
Photograph: remove people, overall, various perspectives, scales, body (even if body or evidence has been moved)
Scene description: diagram/descrip of evidence relative to body, blood, note temp, odor, lights,
Location of Injury: doc where death was confirmed, note if body was transported, rigor, livor mortis, temp, clothing, drag marks, interview family/others
Scene description: diagram/descrip of evidence relative to body, blood, note temp, odor, lights,
Location of Injury: doc where death was confirmed, note if body was transported, rigor, livor mortis, temp, clothing, drag marks, interview family/others
Photo by Khánh Hmoong
Documenting and Evaluating the Scene cont.
- Collect/inventory property and evidence
- Interview witnesses
Property: drugs, prescription meds, money, valuable property safeguarded
Witnesses: Get their name, address, DOB, work, #s, get their relationship to decedent, note discrepancies,
Witnesses: Get their name, address, DOB, work, #s, get their relationship to decedent, note discrepancies,
Photo by winterofdiscontent
Documenting and Evaluating the Body
- Photograph the body
- Conduct external examine of body
- Preserve evidence on body
- Establish decedent identification
Photograph: body and scene, face, with and without scales, surface beneath body after it has been moved
External Exam: Decedent position, physical char, clothing, personal effects, marks, scars, tattoos, injury, resuscitative efforts, other specialists?
Preserve evidence: photograph evidence, blood/bodily fluids, purge, protect hands/feet in bags, collect trace evidence
ID: Visual, FPs, dental, DNA, tattoos, personal effects
External Exam: Decedent position, physical char, clothing, personal effects, marks, scars, tattoos, injury, resuscitative efforts, other specialists?
Preserve evidence: photograph evidence, blood/bodily fluids, purge, protect hands/feet in bags, collect trace evidence
ID: Visual, FPs, dental, DNA, tattoos, personal effects
Photo by Great Beyond
Documenting and Evaluating the Body cont.
- Document post mortem changes
- Participate in scene debriefing
- Establish notification procedures
- Ensure security of remains
Post mortem: Livor (consistent with body position) rigor level, decomposition, insect/animal activity, temp
Scene debriefing: post scene responsibilities set, specialists needed (entomologist, OSHA), press relations
Notifications: ID and locate next of kin, notify kin, determine if other agency needed
Remains: Body is protected, secure property on body, place ID on body, secure transport
Scene debriefing: post scene responsibilities set, specialists needed (entomologist, OSHA), press relations
Notifications: ID and locate next of kin, notify kin, determine if other agency needed
Remains: Body is protected, secure property on body, place ID on body, secure transport
Photo by Phliar
Establishing Decedent Profile Information
- Document the discovery history
- Determine terminal episode history
- Document decedent medical history
Discovery history: who/when/where/how body was discovered
Terminal episode: when/where/how/who saw decedent alive last, incidents prior to death, symptoms, EMS records
Medical history: medication, alcohol, drug use, family history, info from hospitals, physicians, document physical char.
Terminal episode: when/where/how/who saw decedent alive last, incidents prior to death, symptoms, EMS records
Medical history: medication, alcohol, drug use, family history, info from hospitals, physicians, document physical char.
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Establishing Decedent Profile Info. cont.
- Document decedent mental health history
- Document decedent social history
Mental health: hospitalizations, medications, suicide attempts, determine who treated decedent, family history
Social history: marital, family deaths, sex, employment, finances, routines, relationships, criminal history
Social history: marital, family deaths, sex, employment, finances, routines, relationships, criminal history
Photo by Marcin Wichary
Completing the Scene Investigation
- Maintain jurisdiction over the body
- Release jurisdiction of the body
- Perform exit procedures
- Assist the family
Jurisdiction: transport of body, procedures done on body
Release: who signs death certificate, confirm date/time/location of death, release to funeral director
Exit: walk through before exiting, collect evidence, personal materials,
Family: inform family if autopsy needed, share services available to them, tell them when body will be released, when reports will be available.
Release: who signs death certificate, confirm date/time/location of death, release to funeral director
Exit: walk through before exiting, collect evidence, personal materials,
Family: inform family if autopsy needed, share services available to them, tell them when body will be released, when reports will be available.
Photo by lennyvandijk
