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Estimating Time of Death and Postmortem Interval

This document discusses methods for estimating time of death and the postmortem interval (PMI). Key indicators include algor mortis (cooling rate), rigor mortis (body stiffening), livor mortis (discoloration), and forensic entomology (using insect evidence). Additional evidence like crime scene details, victim habits, and decomposition state can provide clues but time of death and PMI can never be known with 100% accuracy, especially with advanced decomposition, water exposure, or freezing.

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Muhamad Zubair Muhamad Noh
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405 views

Estimating Time of Death and Postmortem Interval

This document discusses methods for estimating time of death and the postmortem interval (PMI). Key indicators include algor mortis (cooling rate), rigor mortis (body stiffening), livor mortis (discoloration), and forensic entomology (using insect evidence). Additional evidence like crime scene details, victim habits, and decomposition state can provide clues but time of death and PMI can never be known with 100% accuracy, especially with advanced decomposition, water exposure, or freezing.

Uploaded by

Muhamad Zubair Muhamad Noh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Estimating Time of Death and Postmortem Interval (PMI)

Postmortem Interval (PMI) The time elapsed from the moment of death until a corpse is discovered is also known as the postmortem interval, or PMI.
Time of Death The moment of death

Time of death and PMI cannot be determine with 100% accuracy particularly when a body is
Found in advanced state of decomposition Recovered in water Recovered in ice

Evidence for estimating time of death includes: Physical evidence present in the corpse (postmortem changes, presence of insects, etc) Environmental evidence (indoors, outdoors, buried, burned, in water, etc) Evidence at the crime scene (phone messages, 911 call, answering machine recordings, etc.) Habits of the victim (daily routine, relationships, etc.

Postmortem Interval (PMI) Algor mortis = cooling rate Rigor mortis = stiffening (onset 3 or more hours after death; can last 368 hours in temperate climates) Livor mortis = discoloration (onset generally within 1 hour and set within 12 hours of death)

Forensic entomology Life cycles of insects are well known and predictable Presents of insects, eggs, and larvae can be used to estimate how long a body has been dead and in a certain environment Blowfly and flesh fly are generally first to colonize Beetles are generally the next insects to colonize

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