1. Meaning, Manner, Mechanism, Cause and Time
Death
Meaning, Manner, Mechanism, Cause and Time

2. A word of caution...
This section specifically deals with dead bodies, views, and measurements
I have tried to be sensitive but we will have to view dead bodies at autopsy and during the decay process.

3. Definition of death
There is not one specific definition for death that all experts singularly agree upon
Some determine it as the cessation of,or end of life
Others determine it as the irreversible cessation of circulation of blood
Some define it as the point at which there is no longer functional brain activity

4. Why so many definitions?
As technology has increased, so has our ability to sustain life and to determine living from dead
In older times, bodies would be left to decompose in waiting mortuaries to absolutely be sure person was dead as decay set in
After invention of stethoscope, heartbeat easier to measure
After invention of EEG, brain waves became measurable, thus including them into the alive vs. Dead conversation.

5. Autopsies and pathologists
An autopsy is an examination on a deceased persons body
Is performed by a pathologist, a medical doctor who specializes in how disease affects the body
A forensic pathologist is charged with the duty of determining time, cause, manner, and mechanism of death for legal purposes

6. Other people you should know... ME
Medical examiner - ME
A public official charged with investigating all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, or unnatural deaths and is a physician. Medical examiners have replaced coroners in most states and jurisdictions
Determine such things as the positive identification of a corpse, the time of death, whether death occurred at the location where the corpse was found, and the manner and cause of death.
Conduct autopsies and other medical tests to determine any or all of the details of death.
often work in conjunction with a legal team, such as a state prosecutor's office, and will testify at trial as to their findings and determinations.

7. Other people you should know...Coroner
an officer, as of a county or municipality, whose chief function is to investigate by inquest, as before a jury, any death not clearly resulting from natural causes.
May also be responsible for certification of death in their jurisdiction

8. Who gets an autopsy? We investigate any death that is...
Traumatic - occurring from an incident that could be accidental, homicidal or self-inflicted
Unusual- occurring in circumstances that appear to be unnatural or suspicious
Sudden- taking place within a few hours of the onset of symptoms
Unexpected - occurring in someone who was not thought to be ill

9. THE AUTOPSY – main body
Body fluids are collected corroborate to time of death
V incision made in chest and skin, muscle and soft tissues removed
Rib cage, sternum, and organs of torso removed
Extra fluid in torso removed
Genetalia removed
corroberate

10. THE AUTOPSY - head
Brain removed by removing skin, then using bone saw to cut, chisel and hammer to pop skull cap
Pituitary removed

11. AUTOPSY – Final Samples weighed, dissected and sent for tests.
Organs examined, body prepped for funeral home
Body sewn back together and washed down with hose.

12. Michael Jordan’s Father
James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father, was shot dead at 47 years of age on US Highway 74 near Lumberton, NC.
The elder Mr. Jordan’s body washed ashore miles away in SC near Marlboro County. The body was badly decomposed and although dentals and autopsy records were taken, he was cremated due to lack of space and condition of body.
Three days later his vandalized vehicle was discovered in wooded area.
He was identified by dental records. His assailants allegedly even made videos wearing items from the car, including his glasses and championship replica ring.
One of the convicted men is now claiming need for retrial based on the fact that one of the blood technicians may have exaggerated results by saying inconclusive instead of no blood found. He also has changed his name to Lord U Allah instead of Daniel Green.

13. Four Manners of Death: Natural
A natural death is caused by interruption and failure of body functions resulting from age or disease
Is most common manner of death
Makes up at least half of cases investigated by a medical examiner

14. Four manners of death: Accidental
Death caused by unplanned and unforeseen events
Examples include falls, auto accidents and in home electrocutions

15. Four Manners of Death: Suicidal
Death in which a person purposefully kills oneself
Self-inflicted gunshot wounds, self-hangings, drug overdoses and others are considered suicides.

16. Four Manners of Death: Homicide
Death of one person caused by harm from another
Occur at the hands of someone other than the deceased

17. Unclassified deaths
Occurs when the coroner cannot accurately determine the appropriate category for the death
Ex. A habitual drug user with a history of overdoses is likely to be either accidental or suicidal. It also could be homicidal but it is never natural. The autopsy and lab reports will look the same for the accidental and the suicide. The intent or lack thereof may not be apparent.

18. Other circumstances of natural cause
If a natural cause of death occurs because the person was prevented from getting care by someone on purpose the caregiver can be charged with homicide
If a person has a heart attack or dies from a natural cause that was resultant from injury during an attack or during a medical procedure it can be deemed accidental or homicidal and can go to court

19. Example of Negligence
Mary Strawser – 76 year old woman from Rushsylvania, OH. Lived in extremely neat and clean home.
Facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; theft; and two counts of failure to provide for an impaired person for the March 10 death of her mother, 101 year old Blanche Cowen
Mother was found in a broken trailer with no amenities next to the home being cared for by a mentally impaired man.

20. Strawser Case
Mother was found on ratted couch in pile of her own waste. Had not been moved from area in months.
Died from dehydration, UTI and bedsores so deep bone was exposed. Skin was molded and decaying on body. Cited by detectives as worst neglect ever seen in history of county.
Daughter claims to have not visited for a year for fear of getting mother ill, but never missed trips to bank to get mothers monthly check payouts. Made final withdraw from account hours after mother died.
Impaired man had once been a relative by marriage, and has received lesser charges for the incident.

21. Cause of death Defined as the reason someone dies
Diseases or injuries that alter the individuals physiology( physical structures) and lead to death)
Proximate cause of death refers to an underlying cause of death as opposed to the final cause - example radiation exposure causing cancer that kills a person.

22. Mechanism of death
Describes the specific change in the body that brought about the cessation of life
This includes the variations and actual physiological changes of the person's body

23. How are the two different?😁
Example causes: disease, stroke, heart attack, bludgeoning, shooting, burning, drowning, massive trauma to the body, strangulation, hanging and suffocation
Example mechanisms: loss of blood (exsanguination), loss of brain function, heart stopping to beat (pulmonary arrest), lungs failing to function (respiratory arrest)

24. How do they combine?
A forensic pathologist might say someone who died in a car accident died from massive trauma to the body leading to pulmonary arrest. The trauma to the body is the cause. The pulmonary arrest is the mechanism. If a true accident – ACCIDENTAL.
If blame is to be assigned - in that car accident, say the person had blunt trauma that caused lethal brain injury, then then other driver who was at fault may be charged with vehicular homicide. In this case it would be a HOMICIDE
If in that car accident it is determined that the victim died from unchecked internal bleeding as a result of poor treatment of his trauma, then the paramedics are in trouble. Also a HOMICIDE

25. Time of death Estimated - best guess as determined by medical examiner
Legal - the time when the body was discovered or pronounced dead. This is also the time recorded on the death certificate
Physiological - the time at which the victim's vital functions actually ceased
May vary significantly if the body was found well after the physiological death occurred- most deaths do not occur in the presence of an attending physician

26. Time of death: Algor Mortis
Roughly means "death heat" and refers to temperature loss in a corpse
Normal body temp is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37C)
Loses heat at 1.5 degrees F(.78C) per hour until it reaches ambient temperature ( the temperature of its surroundings)
Ideally taken from liver or rectally
Once at ambient temp, no longer useful data

27. Algor mortis

28. Algor mortis complications
Sooner after death body is found, more accurate the measurement
Surrounding air, water and soil temp are all important factors
Obesity, clothing, warm still air, direct sunlight, and enclosed environment slow heat loss
Exposure to cold, water, moving air, cold surfaces and shade speed up heat loss
Elderly, chronically ill, emaciated, and children lose heat faster than regular adults

29. Time of death: Livor mortis
Means roughly "death color"
Appear as dark purplish portions of the body
Caused by stagnation(pooling) of blood in the vessels
Can indicate time of death and if a body has been moved
White or lighter areas indicate places where body made contact with a point of pressure

30. Livor mortis

31. Abnormalities of Livor mortis
If there is red or pink discoloration, it may indicate high levels of oxygen in the blood - characterized in carbon monoxide or cyanide positioning or exposure to cold temps
If there is deep purple, may indicate poorly oxygenated blood and death from heart failure, shock, or asphyxia

32. Livor mortis

33. Livor mortis timeline
Appears between 30 minutes to a couple of hours after death
Reaches its full discoloration between hours
After 6-8 hours lividity is fixed in areas and coloration
Hot and humid environments fix lividity faster
Asphyxial deaths slow Livor from setting in

34. Time of death: Rigor Mortis
Means roughly " death stiffness"
Occurs due to loss of ATP in the muscles which cause them to contract
Will later lose this as they decomposed

35. Timeline of Rigor Mortis
Starts about 2 hours after death in face and goes downward in head to toe fashion
Entire process takes 8-12 hours
Body stays this way for 18 hours
Process reverses itself and muscles become flaccid

36. Rigor Mortis

37. Abnormalities of Rigor Mortis
If using a muscle, say running, the rigor will start there first
If poisoned by strychnine, muscles immediately contract
A person who had a fever inducing illness, may experience faster
Cold conditions slow down

38. Rates of Decay: two processes
Autolysis is the process of self- digestion. Enzymes within the cell begin chemical breakdown of the cells and tissues. Is sped up by heat and slowed by cold
Putrefaction is more destructive and is caused by bacteria that destroy the body's tissues. These come mostly from the digestive tract, but environmental bacteria and yeast may contribute - can be ugly and unpleasant

39. Highlights of putrefaction
After first 36 hours abdomen takes on greenish color - spreads to neck, shoulders and head
Bloating follows, beginning in the face which swells and where the eyes and tongue protrude
Skin begins to marble
Abdomen swells and skin, hair, and fingernails begin to slip from the body
Entire body turns green black and will split apart if moved

40. Putrefaction

41. Rates of Decay and factors
Location of body is major factor
So are temperature and humidity
Mummification may occur if procedure is followed with body or it is dry environment
Adipocere formation may occur in which the body's fat turns to soap like substance if kept in wet conditions

42. Bodies dumped in water
Have swollen hands and feet in two to three days
Separation of skin from body after five to six days
Loss of fingernails at eight to ten days
Float after eight to ten days in warm water or after two to three weeks in cold water

43. Doctor my eyes...
The corneas ( clear covers over your eyes) become cloudy and opaque after death
Takes a few hours if eyes were open at death or up to 24 if they were closed
Concentration of potassium in vitreous humor also increases

44. Other clues
Stomach contents- may be used to determine time of death due to regularity of stomach voiding itself of food every 4 to 6 hours
If largely not digested or rare materials will help establish timeline

45. Bugs and timelines
Blowflies are first insects usually to show up on body (within first hour of death) and will lay eggs in moist areas of corpse
Will hatch to larvae within 24 hours
Will grow and repeatedly molt over 6 to 10 days
Then become pupae for 12 days
Hatch to adult flies
This gives a specific timeline for death unless extenuating circumstances (ex wintertime in an area)

47. Bugs and timelines Other bugs will be examined as well
A forensic entomologist will be called in if necessary to examine to determine type of bugs, where each insect is in its development cycle, and how many cycles have occurred

48. Other scene indicators
Missed or forgotten appointments
Broken watches or clocks
Victims manner of dress (ex. Dressed for work and near front door)

49. Cadaver Dogs Very few dogs able to ever find actual bodies.
Trained to search for 5 particular gases – methanol, ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, organic acids
Many trained at the Body Farm or Schools with Body Farms similar in construction

50. The Body Farm Area at the University Of Tennessee
Founded by William Bass
Outdoor lab devoted to study of taphonomy (how bodies decompose after death)
FBI uses it as training facility as do other law enforcement agencies
Helps give more accurate estimations of time of death