DEATH & HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

□ Introduction and course overview

□ Forensic Autopsy

What is death? – What is cause of death? – What is mechanism of death? – What is manner of death? – Why autopsies are performed - Autopsy requirements - External exam – Photographs - X-rays - Internal exam - Evidence collection - Aircraft fatalities - Drug related deaths - Sexual homicides - FSS 406.11 - 406.14 - General concerns

□ Estimating the time of death

Legal significance of time of death – Time of death issues - Livor mortis – Rigor mortis – Body temperature – Decomposition – Ocular fluid – Stomach contents –Insect activity – Animal activity - Plant evidence – Unscientific scene markers

□ Establishing identity

Non-law enforcement experts – Reconstructive dental determinations – Bones – Personal identification – Clothing – X-rays – Medical & dental records – DNA – Tentative identifiction – Jewelry - Fingerprints

□ Death and injuries by gunshot

Appearances – Range of fire – Characteristics – Entrance wounds – Exit wounds – Affecting characteristics – Contact – Close non-contact – Searing – Stippling – Irregular appearances – Shotgun injuries - Bullet track – Supplemental Investigations & Reports

□ Blunt force injuries

Identifying pattern injuries – Injury categories – Abrasions – Contusions – Lacerations – Pedestrian fatalities- Defensive injuries – Blunt head trauma – Chopping wounds

□ Sharp force injuries

Common weapons – Wound characteristics – Common findings – Stabbing – Cutting (Incised)

□ Death by suicide

– Process same as a homicide – Three considerations – Determining manner of death – Wound characteristics – Investigative considerations – Victim background inquiry

□ Death by poison

Deaths by poison – Interesting quotes – Definition – A perfect case – Poisons vs. other means – Murder – Proving knowledge and access – Offender profile (Trestrail classification method) – MULTIPLE CRIME SCENES – Related items to search for (Search Warrant issues) – Suicide – Accidental deaths – Intentional or neglectful? – Poisoning agents – Expert consultation services

□ Fire deaths and burn injuries

Causes of fire deaths – Injury categories – Flame burns – Contact – Radiant Heat burns – Scalding burns – Determining extent of burn – Degree of burns – Flash burns – Fire deaths – Fire death investigation – Establishing identity – Pugilistic attitude – Physical findings - Findings at autopsy – Child victims – Motives – Fire and arson deaths – Self-immolation – Spontaneous combustion – Chemical burns – Microwave burns – Electrocution

□ Asphyxia deaths

Manners of asphyxia – Neck COMPRESSION – Airway blockage – Chest compression – Chemical asphyxia – Oxygen deprivation – Drowning – Autoerotic asphyxia

□ Aircraft fatalities

Six basic patterns of crashes – Types of aircraft crashes – Notifications that must be made - Causes of aircraft crashes – Scene work – Supplemental investigation – Investigation by the experts – Expert’s major concerns – Negligence – Culpable negligence – Florida State Statute 782.07

□ Train deaths

Hazards associated with train incidents – Governing laws – Amtrak Police - Incident types – Concerns – Scene investigation – Follow-up investigation

□ The homicide Investigation

The homicide detective – Homicide classifications – Motives – Law Enforcement notification – Legal hierarchy of notification - Protecting the crime scene – Drug related homicides – Sexual homicides – Crime scene = Starting Point- Crime scene concerns: locations of evidence , purposes of evidence, most common types of evidence, electronic evidence , threshold issues at trial, DNA related evidence, victim examination, hair and fiber evidence, bite mark evidence, Examining suspect in custody – “Take one last look” – Investigative considerations – additional considerations: The future of DNA, Professional development, what to expect from the other side