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

2. Meaning of Death End of life
“irreversible cessation of circulation of blood”
Brain activity stopped

3. Forensic Pathologist
Medical doctor who conducts examination on deceased
Conducts autopsy (post-mortem)
Medical examiner (M.E.), coroner

4. Question Forensic Anthropologist Can Answer
Are the remains human?
Are the remains a single individual or mixed remains of several individuals?
When did the death occur?
Was the body disturbed after death?
What are the gender, age, and race of the individual?
What caused the death?
What kind of death was it- a homicide, a suicide, an accident, or a natural death, or is the cause still undetermined?
Did the individual have any anatomical peculiarities, signs of disease, or old injuries?
Can the individual’s height, body weight, and physique be estimated?

6. Manner of death Cause of death Mechanism of death Time of death
means by which they died the reason they died specific body failure when they died

7. Manner of Death Natural Accidental Suicidal Homicidal Undetermined
Interruption and failure of body functions resulting from age or disease
Caused by unplanned events
Purposefully killing oneself
Caused by another person; murder

8. Cause of Death (COD) Natural causes
Heart disease
Cancer
Stroke
Respiratory Disease
Accidents

9. Cause of Death (COD) Homicide/Suicide
asphyxiation (lack of oxygen)
exsanguination (bleed to death)
poison
hanging
drowning

10. Mechanism of Death (specific body failure)
Cause:
Shooting
Heart attack
Mechanism:
Loss of blood
Heart stopping

11. Time of Death (TOD) Livor Mortis Rigor Mortis Algor Mortis
Stomach and intestinal contents
Changes of the eye
Stages of decomposition
Insects (forensic entomology)

12. Time of Death (TOD) Livor mortis Rigor mortis Algor mortis
Death color – pooling of blood in tissues after death (lividity)
Death stiffness – stiffening of skeletal muscles after death
Death heat – cooling of body after death

13. Livor Mortis Lividity: pooling of blood in body
Begins 2 hrs. after death
2-8 hrs.: color disappears when skin is pressed
>8 hrs.: permanent discoloration

14. Livor Mortis Hot, summer day – blood pools faster
Cool room: slower process
Can determine if body was moved

15. Rigor Mortis
Cause: no oxygen to cells  calcium buildup  muscle fibers remain contracted
Starts 2 hrs. after death
Starts at head  legs
12 hrs: most rigid
Stiffness disappears after 36 hrs.

16. Factors affecting rigor mortis:
Ambient temperature
Person’s weight
Type of clothing
Illness
Level of physical activity shortly before death
Sun exposure

17. Algor Mortis Temperature loss in a corpse
Thermometer inserted in liver
1 hr. after death: cools 1.4°F per hour
1-12 hrs: cools 0.7°F per hour until it reaches surrounding temp.

18. Factors affecting algor mortis:
Cooler environment – lose heat faster
Windy – fast heat loss
Excess body fat – slows heat loss
Clothing – slows heat loss
Rule of thumb: 1°F per hour

19. Stomach and Intestinal Contents
0-2 hours after last meal: undigested stomach contents present
4-6 hours after meal: stomach empty, food in S.I.
12+ hours after meal: S.I. empty, wastes in L.I.

20. Eye after death Thin film on eye surface: 2-3 hours (eyes open)
24 hours (eyes closed)

21. Stages of Decomposition
0-2 Days:
Green, purplish stains
Skin: marbled appearance
Face discolored
Flies lay eggs on corpse

22. Stages of Decomposition
4 Days:
Skin blisters
Abdomen swells (CO2 gas released by bacteria in intestines)
Maggots on corpse

23. Stages of Decomposition
6-10 Days:
Corpse bloats with CO2, chest and abdomen burst and collapse
Fluids leaks from body openings
Eyeballs and other tissues liquify
Skin sloughs off
More eggs, maggots, flies, beetles

24. Stages of Decomposition
10-20 Days:
Bloated body collapses
Flattened body, creamy flesh
Strong smell of decay
Fluids drain and seep
Days:
Body dry; decays slowly
Hair disappears, leaving bones