Death Scene Investigation & The Medicolegal Death Investigator

1. Death Scene Investigation&The Medicolegal Death Investigator Kelly Green B.A., F-ABMDI Senior Forensic Death Investigator Tarrant, Parker & Denton County Medical Examiners District

2. What is a Medicolegal Death Investigator? • Why is the Medical Examiners Office Here? • What can the Medical Examiners Office do to help me?

3. Duties of the Death Investigator • Scene Investigation • Scene Photography • Secure property that is on the deceased • Arrange for proper transportation of the body • Preserve Trace Evidence • ID the Deceased • Notify the Next of Kin • Obtain medical records of the Deceased

4. In Other Words: • The Forensic Death Investigator is the “Eyes and Ears” of the Forensic Pathologist

5. Goal: To conduct a thorough, independent, investigation of the circumstances surrounding a death to provide the Forensic Pathologist factual data to be used in conjunction with the examination findings in order to reach a conclusion as to the Cause and Manner of Death

6. Types of Jurisdictions in Texas • A) Medical Examiner • B) Justice of the Peace

7. Medical Examiners Authority • Texasccp. Art.49.25 • Death occurring outside of a hospital, within 24 hours of admission, or due to possible trauma or foul play. • Death that occurs in custody • Death of a child under age 6 • Any death in which an attending physician is unable to certify as to the cause of death

8. Scene Investigation. • Thorough examination of the scene seeking details or items that may be related to the death

9. Be alert for potential Hazards

10. Document: • Postmortem changes • Position of the body • Trauma • Notes, or messages (computer, audio & Video Tapes)

11. Illegal drugs • Alcoholic beverages • Weapons • Medications

12. Blood Evidence (stains, spatter)

13. Useful Information • Medical History • Medications and Container pharmacy, physician, amount filled, date filled,amount remaining • Identification Documents

15. Photography Photograph Surroundings And Items that may be Pertinent to the investigation

16. Exam of Body • General description of body and clothing • Assessment of trauma • Post-mortem changes • Blood evidence • Physical and trace evidence • Presence or absence of valuables

17. Rigor Mortis • Starts in ½ to 1 hour at room temperature • Peaks in approximately 12 hours • Gradually declines after another 12 hours • Can be affected by environment, antemortem activity, and drug use.

19. Livor Mortis • “Pooling of the blood” • Is “blanchable” at first then gradually becomes fixed. • Can indicate if a body has been moved after death. • Color can indicate possible CO poisoning

20. Body Temperature • Algor Mortis

21. Decomposition • Begins at death. • Is strongly affected by environment. • Is caused by action of body enzymes, and bacteria on tissue. • Is slowed by immersion, burial, cold. • 1 week in air = 2 weeks in water = 8 weeks in soil

22. Types of Trauma • Blunt Force • Sharp Force • Electrical • Chemical • Thermal

23. Trace Evidence Preservation • Bags on Hands, Feet ect…. • Paper not Plastic • Wrapping in clean white sheet • Placement in transport pouch. • Alerting Prosector if biological evidence is possibly present.

24. Identification • Done on scene if situation permits. • Otherwise accomplished at the TCME Office using Forensic methods

25. Types of Identification • Circumstantial • Visual • Forensic

26. Methods of Circumstantial Identification • Clothing • Jewelry • Place, Time, and/or Event

27. Methods of Visual Identification • In Person • By Photograph • Remote Viewing

28. Methods of Forensic Identification • Dental • X-Rays (Anthropologic) • Fingerprints • DNA

29. Position of the body • Is it consistent with observed rigor, and lividity? • Has the body been “posed”? • Has the body been moves or dumped?

30. Autopsy Elements • Examination of the scene • Identification of the decedent • External and internal examination • Toxicological and histological studies • Interviews with witnesses, doctors, etc. • Evaluation of relevant records

31. Autopsy Findings • Type of weapon used • Consistency of wounds and evidence • Determination of fatal wound • Length of time of victim survival • Post-injury abilities of decedent • Whether body was dragged or dumped • Vectors of applied force

32. Autopsy Purposes • Establish cause and manner of death • Identify, recover, and preserve evidence • Provide factual, objective medical report • Separate natural deaths from unnatural • Provide interpretation and correlation of facts and circumstances

33. Cause Of Death • Gunshot wound to head • Transection of aorta due to stab wound • Cardio-respiratory Arrest

34. Manner of Death • Natural • Accidental • Homicide • Suicide • Undetermined

35. Services Provided by the Tarrant-Parker& Denton County Medical Examiners District • Examination • Identification (Forensic Odentologist) • Toxicology • Firearms examination • Fingerprint Examination (In House AFIS) • Questioned Document Examination

36. Photography Lab • Anthropology Lab • DNA Testing • Histology Lab • Courtroom Testimony

37. Conclusion • The Medicolegal Death Investigator gathers Facts , and acts as the liaison on the scene between the Law Enforcement Investigator, and the Forensic Pathologist. • The Medical Examiners Office is present to determine the cause and manner death

38. The Medical Examiners Office can assist your investigation through the collection and scientific analysis of facts and evidence.