1. Chapter 7
Death Investigations

2. Four Types of Death Natural Accidental Noncriminal Suicide
Homicide Noncriminal or Criminal

3. Classification of Homicide
Criminal (felonious)
Murder (first, second, and third degree)
Manslaughter (voluntary and involuntary)
Noncriminal (non-felonious)
Excusable Homicide
Justifiable Homicide

4. Degrees of Murder
First-degree murder – requires premeditation and the intent to cause death.
Second-degree murder – includes the intent to cause death but not premeditation.
Third-degree murder – results from an act that is imminently dangerous to others and shows a disregard for human life.

5. Manslaughter The unlawful killing of another person with no prior malice
Voluntary manslaughter – intentionally causing the death of another person in the heat of passion, caused by words or acts that provide adequate provocation.
Involuntary manslaughter – accidental homicide that results from extreme negligence.

6. Noncriminal Homicide
Excusable homicide – the unintentional, truly accidental killing of another person.
Justifiable homicide – killing another person under authorization of the law.

7. Degrees of Homicide

8. Various Elements of Murder Defined
Premeditation – considering, planning, or preparing for an act, no matter how briefly, before committing it
Malicious intent – implies ill will, wickedness or cruelty
Heat of Passion – results from extremely volatile arguments between two people

9. Investigating Suicide
Check for weapons on or near the body
Attempt to find a note or letter
Look for videos or cassettes describing the actions taken
Examine any pads of paper near the body
Look for manuals on how to commit suicide
Check on prior arrangements with an undertaker or other evidence of putting one’s affairs in order

10. Steps when Confronting a Suicidal Person
Contain the area
Make a clear demand for compliance if time and circumstance allow
Ask the person what he or she wants
Remain a good listener while avoiding making promises or committing to anything
Slow down the situation where possible

11. Primary Goals of the Homicide Investigation
Establish whether a human death was caused by the criminal act or omission of another
Determine who caused the death

12. Focus of the Investigation
Assess the victim
Document everything you can about the scene
Identify the victim
Establish the time of death
Establish the cause of and the method used to produce death
Develop a suspect

13. Identification of the Victim
Family, relatives, or acquaintances
Personal effects
Fingerprints
DNA analysis
Dental and skeletal studies
Clothing and laundry marks
Missing-persons files

14. Estimating the Time of Death
Body temperature
Rigor mortis – stiffening of parts of the body after death
Postmortem lividity – discoloration of the body
Appearance of eyes
Stomach contents
Stage of decomposition
Evidence suggesting a change in the victim’s normal routine

15. Rigor Mortis Appears in head: 5 to 6 hours
Appears in upper body: 12 hours
Appears in entire body: 18 hours
Disappears in same order: 36 hours

16. Most Common Case of Unnatural Death
Gunshot wounds
Stabbing and cutting wounds
Blows form blunt instruments
Asphyxia induces by choking
Drowning
Hanging
Smothering
Strangulation
Gases or poisons
Poisoning and drug overdose
Burning
Explosions
Electric shock
Lightening

17. Suicide Indicators Gun held against skin Wound in mouth or temple
Not shot through clothing, unless shot in chest
Weapon present
Hesitation wounds
Wounds under clothing
Weapon present
Usually wounds at throat, wrists, or ankles
Seldom disfigurement
Body not moved

18. Murder Indicators Gun fired from more than a few inches away
Angle or location that rules out self-infliction
Shot through clothing
No weapon
Defense wounds
Wounds through clothing
No weapon present
Usually injuries to vital organs
Disfigurement
Body moved

19. Types of Murder
Mass Murder – multiple victims are killed in a single incident
Serial Murder – the killing of three or more separate victims with a “cooling off” period between the killings
Lust Murder – a sex-related homicide involving a sadistic, deviant assault