Death scene investigation : procedural guide / by Michael S. Maloney.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Maloney, Michael S., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Forensic pathology.

Death--Causes.

Death.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (532 pages) : illustrations, graphs, photographs

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Boca Raton, Florida ; London, [England] ; New York, [New York] : CRC Press, 2018.

Summary:

Those tasked with investigating death scenes come from a variety of backgrounds and varying levels of experience. Whether a homicide detective, crime scene investigator, medico-legal death investigator, coroner or medical examiner, Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide, Second Edition provides the investigator best-practice techniques and procedures for almost any death scene imaginable, including for deaths occurring even under the most unusual of circumstances.This Second Edition is fully updated to include new coverage on shallow graves, human remains at crime scenes, poisonings, expanded coverage of projectile weapons, videography, touch DNA, death notifications, and a newly added chapter dedicated to sexual deaths. In addition, the book serves as an on-scene ready reference which includes instructions on procedure including the initial notification of a death, processing the scene and body, the investigator's role at autopsy, and analyzing the scene indicators to place evidence into context.Topics discussed include:Initial response and scene evaluationDeath scene management including documentation, sketching, photography, videography, observations, and search proceduresA special death investigation matrix that walks the investigator though a decision tree to help in ambiguous deathsContains discussion of all manners of death, including accident, suicide, natural and homicideCoverage of recovery of human remains from open field, aquatic, and buried sites including estimating the time of death.Wound dynamics and mechanisms of injury that covers asphyxiation, sharp and blunt force trauma, chopping injuries; handgun, rifle, and shotgun wounds, electrical injuries, and moreThe bulleted format and spiral binding allows for easy use and reference in the field with sections that are self-contained and cross-referenced for quick searches. With its thorough and detailed approach, Death Scene Investigation, Second Edition will be a must-have addition to any crime scene and death investigator's tool kit.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Foreword

Foreword, 1st Edition

Preface

Acknowledgments

Author

Section 1: Death Scene Investigation

Chapter 1: Death Scene Response

Initial Notification

Preparation

Coordination en Route

Arrival at the Scene

Establish a Perimeter

Immediate On-Scene Coordination

Initial Scene Evaluation: Walk-Through (with Preservation of Perishable Evidence)

Initial Approach to the Body

Preliminary Determination of Death

Documentation, Preservation, and/or Collection of Perishable Evidence

Document Postmortem Indicators

Livor Mortis -Purplish Discoloration in Dependent Areas

Rigor Mortis -Stiffening of Muscles and Joints

Algor Mortis -Reduction in Body Temperature

Assessing and Establishing the Perimeter

Primary Scene: Inner Perimeter

Primary Scene: Outer Perimeter

Identifying Ancillary Scenes

Establishing Scene Controls

Scene Assessment, Planning, and Investigative Strategy

Chapter 2: Natural Deaths

Definition of Natural Death

Worksheets and Documentation

Initial Scene Response

Scene Considerations

Death Scene Processing

Identifying Primary and Secondary Death Scenes

Primary Scene

Secondary Scenes

Take Control of Scene

Scene Organization

Legal Determination of Death

Plan Development

Conduct Team Briefing

Scene Processing

Processing the Body

Photographing the Body

Sketching the Body

Examination of the Body

Outdoor Death Scenes

Common Indicators of Natural Death

Related Searches

Death Scene Interviews

First Responders

Family Members

Decedent's Physician

Death Notification

General Guidelines

Notification Procedure

Chapter 3: Accidental Deaths

Definition of Accidental Death

Initial Scene Response.

Scene Considerations

Processing: Examining the Mechanism of Death

Processing

Examination

Documenting Scene Indicators

Sketching Body

Documenting with Notes

Examination of Body

Evidence Commonly Associated with Accidental Deaths

Review of Operator (Victim) Training and Certification

Witnesses

GSR Examination and Collection

Chapter 4: Suicidal Deaths

Definition of Suicide

Take Control of the Scene

Photography and Videography of the Body

Evidence Commonly Associated with Suicides

Chapter 5: Homicidal Deaths

Definition of Homicide

Primary Scene.

Secondary Scenes

Document Scene Indicators

Processing Body

Photographing Body

Evidence Commonly Associated with Homicidal Deaths

Additional Functions Associated with the Death Scene

GSR Examination and Collection Questions

Section 2: The Medicolegal Death Investigation

Chapter 6: The Role of the Medicolegal Death Investigator

Body and Scene Processing

Transportation of Remains

Chapter 7: The Role of the Coroner

Establishing Identity

Presumptive Identification

Confirmatory Identification

Establishing Cause of Death

Establishing Manner of Death

At the Death Scene

Coroner's Inquest

Chapter 8: The Role of the Medical Examiner

Establishing Postmortem Interval

On-Scene Body Processing Procedures

Circumstances Requiring Autopsy

The Forensic Autopsy

Procedures in Lieu of Autopsy

Reports and Reporting

Outbrief

Preliminary Autopsy Report

Toxicology Report

Final Autopsy Report

Chapter 9: Autopsy Protocol and the Investigator's Role

Procedures in Lieu of Autopsy.

Investigator's Responsibilities at Autopsy

Equipment Required

Arrival

External Examination

Internal Examination

After Examination

Autopsy Photography Guidelines

General

ME Photographer

Investigator

Body at Autopsy Photography

Clothed

Unclothed

Identification

Photography of Injuries

Injury Photography Guidelines

Injuries

Injuries (Injury Mapping)

Internal Examination Photographs

Evidence Photographs

Custody of Evidence from Autopsy

Outbrief with Medical Examiner

Section 3: Recovery of Human Remains

Chapter 10: Searching for Human Remains

Isolating a Search Area

Scientific Assistance

General Search Guidelines

Specific Search Guidelines

Point-to-Point Search

Line Search

Grid Search

Spiral Search

Chapter 11: Surface Recovery of Human Remains: Open Field Recovery and Expedient Graves

General Principles

Locating Remains

Visual Techniques

Cadaver Dogs

Forward-Looking Infrared and Thermal Tomography

NecroSearch International

Body Processing

Establishing Datum

Establishing a Grid

Surface Documentation and Recovery of Evidence

Recovery of Remains

Sifting Soil

Soil Evidence

Chapter 12: Recovery of Buried Human Remains: Shallow Grave, Buried Remains, and Exhumation

Visual Methods

Expedient Grave Indicators

Shallow Grave Indicators

Buried Remains Indicators

Exhumation Site Location

Probing Method

Technological Methods

Recovery of Buried Remains

Surface Preparation

Establishing Grid.

Preparing Sifting Site

Excavating the Grave

Impression Evidence

Exhumation of Remains

Chapter 13: Aquatic Recovery of Human Remains

Surface Search

Aerial Search

Underwater Search

Drift

Computer Simulation Modeling

Technological Search

Processing the Scene

Documenting Recovery

Remains Recovered from Predator

Chapter 14: Postmortem Changes: Estimating Postmortem Interval (Time since Death)

Determining Time Range

Immediate Postmortem Changes

Early Postmortem Changes

Postmortem Lividity (Livor Mortis)

Postmortem Rigidity (Rigor Mortis) 3

Postmortem Cooling (Algor Mortis)

Late Postmortem Changes

Decomposition

Adipocere Development

Mummification

Skeletonization

Other Postmortem Factors

Forensic Entomology

Stomach Contents

Scene Indicators

References

Section 4: Wound Dynamics and Mechanism of Injury

Chapter 15: Asphyxiation

Strangulation

Manual Strangulation (Throttling)

Scene

Body

Ligature Strangulation (Garroting)

Hanging

Autoerotic Asphyxiation

Choking

Smothering

Mechanical Asphyxia

Chemical Asphyxia

Helium or Nitrogen Scene (Exit Bag or Exit Hood)

Carbon Monoxide Scene: Heater

Carbon Monoxide Scene: Vehicle

Drowning

Scuba Scene

Chapter 16: Sharp Force Injuries

Body.

Chapter 17: Blunt Force Injuries: Blunt Instrument Blows, Fall from a Height, Collisions.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-351-60658-1

OCLC:

1007497135