Forensic Science Lecture 29 Investigation of Suicide Read by Donald J. Ross, M.D. Martin, M., Field guide for death investigation Investigation of Suicide I. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Informant Information Name of person reporting the case, date and time Decedent Information Name, date of birth, age, sex, marital status, SS#, address, phone Identification Information How was decedent identified? Investigation of Suicide Next of kin information Name, relationship, address, phone, date and time notified, notified by whom Death event information Found or witnessed: date, time, location by whom Last seen alive: date, time, location, by whom Injury: date, time, location Name of physician Date of last visit Investigation of Suicide Autopsy determination Inform next of kin II THE SCENE General scene description – urban/rural, indoors/outdoors. Does house fit neighborhood Specific scene description – immediate location where body is found, including condition of room, motor vehicle, outdoor area, etc Investigation of Suicide Associate evidence to help estimate time of death Mail and or newspapers taken in or not – delivery date or time Lights and or television on? The state of portions of food or dishes and their content depicting meals recently eaten or being eaten Number of plates and glasses on table Investigation of Suicide III THE BODY Body location – on floor, in bed etc.. Body description Position and posture of the body relative to the scene as it was initially found What type of clothing is the decedent wearing – night-time attire or street clothes Stage of rigor mortis in fingers, jaw, limbs Color, location and degree of livor mortis Investigation of Suicide Ambient temperature and body temperature Post mortem changes or tissue destruction Artifacts due to skin erosion, animal or insect activity Initial examination of injuries, size, shape, location, patterns Presence of purge, exudates, vomit or blood origin and amount Clothing description – type and condition, correlate any defects with bodily injury Investigation of Suicide IV THE HISTORY What circumstances cause the body to be found and by whom? Decedent’s last documented or witnessed activity before death Investigation of Suicide Medical History Current medical problems and treatments Mental illness, psychiatric hospitalizations Recent medical treatment Nervous disorder Depression Medical-surgical Current medications – descendent compliant? Past, recent complaints or injuries Investigation of Suicide V PERSONAL HISTORY Recent changes in decedent's life or circumstances Changes in marital status, health problems, loss of money and or job, arrested, etc. Other trouble in a relationship with family or others Past history of being depressed, despondent, upset, delusions of guilt or withdrawal Did the decedent do anything differently on the day of the death – recent elevated mood? Recent occupation history – where how long job title Investigation of Suicide History ...

1. Forensic Science
Lecture 29
Investigation of Suicide
Read by Donald J. Ross, M.D.
Martin, M., Field guide for death investigation
Investigation of Suicide
I. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Informant Information
Name of person reporting the case, date and time
Decedent Information
Name, date of birth, age, sex, marital status, SS#, address,
phone
Identification Information
How was decedent identified?
Investigation of Suicide
Next of kin information
Name, relationship, address, phone, date and time notified,
notified by whom
Death event information
Found or witnessed: date, time, location by whom
Last seen alive: date, time, location, by whom
Injury: date, time, location
Name of physician
Date of last visit

2. Investigation of Suicide
Autopsy determination
Inform next of kin
II THE SCENE
General scene description – urban/rural, indoors/outdoors.
Does house fit neighborhood
Specific scene description – immediate location where body is
found, including condition of room, motor vehicle, outdoor
area, etc
Investigation of Suicide
Associate evidence to help estimate time of death
Mail and or newspapers taken in or not – delivery date or time
Lights and or television on?
The state of portions of food or dishes and their content
depicting meals recently eaten or being eaten
Number of plates and glasses on table
Investigation of Suicide
III THE BODY
Body location – on floor, in bed etc..
Body description
Position and posture of the body relative to the scene as it was
initially found
What type of clothing is the decedent wearing – night-time
attire or street clothes
Stage of rigor mortis in fingers, jaw, limbs
Color, location and degree of livor mortis
Investigation of Suicide

3. Ambient temperature and body temperature
Post mortem changes or tissue destruction
Artifacts due to skin erosion, animal or insect activity
Initial examination of injuries, size, shape, location, patterns
Presence of purge, exudates, vomit or blood origin and amount
Clothing description – type and condition, correlate any defects
with bodily injury
Investigation of Suicide
IV THE HISTORY
What circumstances cause the body to be found and by whom?
Decedent’s last documented or witnessed activity before death
Investigation of Suicide
Medical History
Current medical problems and treatments
Mental illness, psychiatric hospitalizations
Recent medical treatment
Nervous disorder
Depression
Medical-surgical
Current medications – descendent compliant?
Past, recent complaints or injuries
Investigation of Suicide
V PERSONAL HISTORY
Recent changes in decedent's life or circumstances
Changes in marital status, health problems, loss of money and
or job, arrested, etc.
Other trouble in a relationship with family or others
Past history of being depressed, despondent, upset, delusions of
guilt or withdrawal
Did the decedent do anything differently on the day of the death

4. – recent elevated mood?
Recent occupation history – where how long job title
Investigation of Suicide
History of alcohol and or drug abuse
Significant events e.g. anniversary of the death of a close
relative especially a spouse or parent, recently publicized
suicide story, etc.
Prevous attempts
Talking about suidice
Suicide note
Writing available for comparison, writing identified by…, Note
signed, a recording?
Investigation of Suicide
VI GUNSHOT SUICIDES – most common method
Usually contact type
Majority to head
Multiple shots are possible
Investigation of Suicide
VII OTHER EVIDENCE OF INTENT
Scars of previous attempts
Tattoos reflecting a preoccupation with death
Recent purchase of weapon
Change in personal habits
VIII FAMILY DENIAL
“He never tried this before”, “Had no reason to do this”, “He
had every reason to live”
Investigation of Suicide

5. IX BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE ALTERATION OF SCENE
Notes destroyed
Drugs removed
Body altered, e.g. clothing changed, body moved
Week 3 assignmentName:
Course:Current Ratio = total current assets/ total current
liabilities2.27Note: in B cell calculation is includedDays of
Cash on Hand = cash/(total operating expense/365)Age of
Accounts Receivable = accounts receivable, less allowance for
doubtful accounts/(net patient service revenue/365)Age of
Physical Plant = accumulated depreciation/depreciationYou will
receive a negative number..change to a positive number (Erase
information in this cell and put positive number here. Debt to
Equity Ratio = Long Term Debt/Balance at June 30, 20x2-Total
net assets Debt to Assets Ratio = Long TermDebt/total
assetsCollection Rate = net patient service revenue/gross patient
service revenueOperating Margin Ratio = gains or loss from
operations/net patient service revenueABC General Hospital
Statement of Revenue and Expenses - June 30,
20X2AssetsCurrent AssetsCash$1,985,000 Accounts Receivable
less allowance for doubtful
accounts3,720,000Inventory550,000Total Current
Assets$6,255,000Fixed AssetsPlant and
Equipment$10,000,000Less Accumulated Depreciation-
3,770,000Total Fixed Assets$6,230,000
Total Assets$12,485,000Liabilities and Net AssetsCurrent
LiabilitiesAccounts Payable$1,900,000Accrued Accounts
Payable850,000Total Current Liabilities$2,750,000Long Term
Debt2,800,000Pension Liability1,250,000Total
Liabilities6,800,000Net AssetsBalance at June 30,
20X14,775,000Gain or (Loss) from Operations910,000Balance
at June 30, 20X2 - Net Assets$5,685,000Total Liabilities and
Net Assets$12,485,000Gross Patient Service RevenueInpatient

6. Revenue$8,250,000Outpatient Revenue2,275,000Total Gross
Patient Service Revenue$10,525,000Less: Discounts-
1,455,250Net Patient Revenue$9,069,750Operating Expenses
Salaries & Benefits$5,110,000 Supplies and Services2,829,750
Interest100,000 Depreciation120,000Total Operating
Expense$8,159,750Gain or (Loss) from Operations$910,000
Name:_x000D_Assignment:_x000D_Date:_x000D_
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Forensic Science
Lecture 30
Suicide Lab
Read by Donald J. Ross, M.D.
911call
3 am July 4th
Dispatcher calls
Report of suicide
Police on scene and will meet you at locations
Basement
Information
Case 19444, Caller Ronda Vincent, at 02:00 hours, July 4th
2014, UWM in tub, 123 Main St. Queens, NY

8. Did he Drown?
Neck?
Lungs full of water?
Towel?
Soap?
Clothing?