This document discusses several post-mortem changes that can help determine time of death including: 1) Algor mortis, or loss of body heat, which occurs at a rate dependent on environmental factors. Rectal temperature can help estimate time since death. 2) Livor mortis, or pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body, which begins within 2-12 hours and becomes fixed within 12-24 hours. 3) Rigor mortis, or muscle stiffening, which begins within 2-4 hours, peaks at 12-24 hours, and passes within 24-48 hours. These post-mortem changes can provide clues but have many variables, so time of

1. Warren McLeod, MA, D-ABMDI South Puget Sound Community College

2. Time of death TIME OF DEATH: - may focus attention on specific suspect -corroborate/disprove alibi -NO SINGLE RELIABLE METHOD EXISTS -variables Homicide investigators should be aware of postmortem changes PROCESS OF DYING: -heart stops/blood stops organs die at various time frames -postmortem decomposition begins right at death (death of immune system) -temperature, time, location, humidity, physical condition, clothing

3. POST MORTEM Changes after death: -Color: waxy, translucent look Eyes: -no reaction to light/touch -cornea cloudy -tache noire Algor mortis: loss of body heat -98.6 during life -after life: loses heat until same as environment -rate of cooling a variable in determining time of death -rectum/liver temperature probe -ambient temperature -Livor mortis: Blood stops pumping and pools to lowest point Blanching-2-12 hours Fixed-12-24 hours

4. POST MORTEM Livor mortis: -tells position of the body -colors can vary Cherry red Deep red/purple Petechia

17. POST MORTEM Rigor mortis: stiffening/contracting of muscles -2-4 hours after death -neck/jaw/progresses -Full 12-24 hours -Passing-same progression as it started -Completely passed 24-48 hours. ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATES DUE TO VARIABLES! Cadaveric Spasm

18. GASTROINTESTINAL CONTENTS: -digested/undigested foods -various ingested foods at various times in body -empty within 4-6 hours -contents can be determined Putrification:-decomposition breakdown of cells/organs (autolysis) -effected by environment Bacterial -soft tissues to liquids/gases (phew) -starts right after death-noticeable after 24 hours -greenish discoloration after 36 hours (abdomen) -veins in skin purple blue (marbling)

19. Bloating-several days -Skin blisters Adipocere: -greasy, soap like substance on body surface (moist area)

20. EXTERNAL AGENTS OF CHANGE: - insects- Entomologist Stages of development -Animals- Domestic Ferrel