Download 10. Types of Death

Types of Death
Aim: how does a CSI use the
various stages of death to help
solve a crime?
HW: Finish Dead Flies Tell No
Lies
An inconsiderate slob dumped trash on Rachel Rabbit's lawn.
One of these two suspects is guilty. Slylock Fox found
evidence that may identify the loathsome litterbug.
What did Slylock observe to help him identify the trash tosser?
Hint: Notice the bones in the trash.
Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/BrainBogglers/index.html
Slylock found bones in the trash.
The bull is an herbivore and only eats
plants.
The raccoon is an omnivore and eats
both plants and animals. The raccoon
is the trash tosser.
1. Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who was convicted on the
basis of which type of forensic evidence?
A. Bite marks
C. DNA fingerprinting
B. Latent fingerprints
D. Ballistics
2. The time of death can be calculated by various means. One is rigor
mortis, Latin for 'the stiffness of death'. Another indication is livor mortis
or lividity. What does this term refer to?
A. Cloudiness in the eyes
B. Gravitational pooling of blood
C. Degree of digestion of stomach contents
D. Relaxation of muscles following to rigor mortis
3. When attempting to identify a skeleton, craniofacial morphology (the
structure and form of the skull and face) is the best indicator of race.
One group of human beings has a unique, rounded jaw bone which is
called a 'rocker jaw'. This is a characteristic of which ethnic group?
A. Australian Aborigines
C. African Americans
B. Chinese
D. Hawaiians
1. Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who was convicted on the
basis of which type of forensic evidence?
A. Bite marks
C. DNA fingerprinting
B. Latent fingerprints
D. Ballistics
2. The time of death can be calculated by various means. One is rigor
mortis, Latin for 'the stiffness of death'. Another indication is livor mortis
or lividity. What does this term refer to?
A. Cloudiness in the eyes
Livor is Latin for 'a black and blue
spot' and refers to the discoloration
B. Gravitational pooling of blood
of the skin in the lowest part of a
C. Degree of digestion of stomach contents
resulting
from
the
D. Relaxation of muscles following to rigor mortis body
gravitational pooling of blood.
3. When attempting to identify a skeleton, craniofacial morphology (the
structure and form of the skull and face) is the best indicator of race.
One group of human beings has a unique, rounded jaw bone which is
called a 'rocker jaw'. This is a characteristic of which ethnic group?
A. Australian Aborigines
C. African Americans
B. Chinese
D. Hawaiians
Manner in which death occurred
classified into 5 categories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Natural
Accidental
Homicide
Suicide
Undetermined????
Estimating Time of Death
• After death body goes through several stages
of decomposition
• Based on stage victim was found in, time of
death can be determined
Rigor Mortis
• Immediately following death, Muscles
shorten & body parts stiffen in position they
were in when death occurs
• Appears within 24 hours
• Disappears within 36 hours
• Rigor mortis is the reason why the word
"stiff" is a slang term for a dead body
Livor Mortis
• Blood settles to areas closest to ground
• Skin turns a blue/purple color
• Begins immediately and continues up to 12
hours after death
• No discoloration in areas that were restricted
by clothing/objects
• Determines change of position after death
Algor Mortis
• Body starts to lose heat
• 1-1.5°F per hour until room or outside
temperature is reached
(Rate of heat loss influenced by location, size of
body, clothing, & weather conditions)
• Only gives an approximate time of
death
Potassium Levels
• After death cells within
the inner surface of the
eye release K into
ocular (eye) fluid
• Check amount of K at
various intervals to
determine rate its
released and
approximate time of
death