1. Autopsy Procedures FORENSIC SCIENCE

2. AUTOPSY Postmortem examination of the body, including dissection of the corpse There are two systems of death investigators in the US: the coroner system and the medical examiner system Coroner is typically an elected positions Medical examiners are medical doctors who may also be forensic pathologists. They are appointed by the state’s governor. A forensic pathologist is a medical doctor who is trained to identify why and how someone died & present those findings to the court The primary goal of a medical examiner is to determine cause and manner of death.

3. STEPS TO A DEATH INVESTIGATION Step one: preliminary investigation at the death scene Death investigator is employed by coroner/medical examiner’s office. Responsible for initial assessment of body/death scene. Photographs and sketches body at scene Document any signs of trauma Make observations to help medical examiner make TOD determination Time between death and discovery: postmortem interval (PMI) At scene they look for obvious signs of decomposition Also look for scene markers- nonbiological evidence that provides clues to TOD Assessment of scene, collection of evidence, documentation and delivery to lab Death investigators also interview witnesses and victim’s family

4. STEPS TO A DEATH INVESTIGATION Step two: medical examination of body Assigned a case number, update chain of custody External examination: clothing, completes external examination, and X rays. Then examined for any biological and nonbiological evidence. Autopsy- determine body temp, removes and examines the following structures: brain, larynx, hyoid bone, heart and lungs. If a victim has been strangled, hyoid bone is usually broken Collects samples of blood, urine and bile. Then internal organs are removed and the mass of each is measured Stomach contents are analyzed Tissue samples are collected from various organs for DNA and toxicology screenings

5. Biological EvidenceProper method of collection Blood for DNAArterial blood collected from artery (femoral artery in leg) Dried blood on victim: scraped off with scalpel or swabbed with moist swab, then added to test tube for analysis SemenIf sexual assault is suspected then swabs are taken of vagina, rectum and inside mouth. Slides are then wiped and air dried for further analysis HairPlaced in envelope. Control hairs from victim are collected as well Tissue each sample is placed in separate sterile container. Stored in refrigeration until analysis can be completed FingernailsVictim’s fingernails are cut and each is placed in separate clean, sterile envelopes to be analyzed for skin and other trace evidence Bite marksSwabbed for DNA, photographed and possibly a cast of bite mark will be made. Bite marks may be excised along with some surrounding tissue to be preserved

6. STEPS TO DEATH INVESTIGATION Step 3: Laboratory tests Toxicology- detection of drugs, alcohol and/or poisons Histology- study of tissues. Tissue is sliced very thinly, stained and studied under the microscope for abnormalities Neuropathology- study of disease and trauma associated with the nervous system. More than half of all deaths are associated with the nervous system, most often the brain. Serology- study of blood, semen and other bodily fluids

7. AUTOPSY REPORTS The medical examiner is responsible for all autopsy reports Responsible for testifying at court with relation to autopsy findings Parts of report Heading: name, age, gender of victim External examination: all findings from external exam including diagrams. Includes overall description of victim, full description of body Evidence of injury: external and internal injuries Internal examination: weighs and describes each organ noting any abnormalities Medical examiner’s findings and opinion: summarizes findings and gives his or her own opinion