Estimating TOD...and other homicide...

[cappuccina]

...investigation info, from the following site:

http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/315/315lect10.htm

ESTIMATING THE TIME OF DEATH

There's always going to be at least two (2) estimates of the time of death -- the police department's official estimate (which may or may not be yours) and the Medical Examiner's estimate. Legally, you should be within 4 hours of being accurate, but this is a tough standard even for the best coroners. Remember that, after death, the body starts to cool down to whatever the outside (or room) temperature is. At death, the body starts to drop from it's normal 98.6 degrees by a factor of 3 degrees the first hour and a factor of 1 degree each subsequent hour. Then, after 30 hours, it starts to go up again because of the heat generated by decomposition (but this varies by room or outside temperature, so you need to know weather conditions). The following table illustrates:

98.6 - time of death
95.6 - one hour after death
94.6 - two hours after death
93.6 - three hours after death
92.6 - four hours after death
91.6 - five hours after death
90.6 - six hours after death
-------- (to room or outside temp.)
66.6 - thirty hours after death
67.6 - thirty-one hours after death
68.6 - thirty-two hours after death
69.6 - thirty-three hours after death
-------- (to room or outside temp.)

Rigor mortis is also something you should know about. The body is limp until about 5-6 hours after death, then a hardness begins to set in around the jaw area in front of the ear (temporal mandibular joint area). It then spreads throughout the body for a period of time, and then the body goes limp again. The following chart illustrates:

stiffness in jaw -- 6 hours after death
stiffness in upper torso -- 12 hours after death
stiffness in whole body -- 18 hours after death
limpness returns to body -- 36 hours after death


Most Serious Stressors (related to committing murder or suicide)

1. Death of spouse
2. Divorce
3. Marital difficulties
4. Trouble with the law
5. Death of friend or family
6. Serious illness or disease
7. Fired at work
8. Retirement

Hmmmm...Raven was affected by 4 of the 8 things above... yikes!

Last, but not least, something my police and detective/investigator friends have always maintained:

With homicides, a good rule to follow is make the arrest within 72 hours or the chances of ever making it plummet (Morn 2000).

[golfmom]

...

With homicides, a good rule to follow is make the arrest within 72 hours or the chances of ever making it plummet (Morn 2000).

That was an amazing amount of interesting information. 72 hours have come and gone. Wish they'd release SOMETHING!

[Thinkoflaura]

Two other indicators used for TOD as early as Janet's body was found ( hours vs days) : Livor Mortis, which is the pooling of blood in dependent areas of the body and is measured in increments, and K+ level in the vitreous humor. Liver core temperature is the most accurate, and most common indicator of TOD, but all 3 tests can be done to validate accuracy, along with examination of digestive processes in the stomach and intestines at autopsy. They all work together to form a clinical picture, from what I just read in a book by Cyril Wect.
( I hope I am explaining it OK).

[cappuccina]

...yanno?

[Thinkoflaura]

Hopefully the medical examiner read your charts and info was proficient and accurate in determining Janet's TOD. :)

Another external factor which could come into play would be what state Kaiden was found in. If he was wearing a diaper so dirty that feces was on his clothing and bedding, or was completely soggy with urine, which no mother would leave her infant in when putting him to bed, it leads credence to the idea that she had been dead on the timeline side of the longest TOD.

[cappuccina]

I just Pray to God that they didn't do something like forget to take the temperature, which would help to botch the TOD determination... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Thinkoflaura]

I just Pray to God that they didn't do something like forget to take the temperature, which would help to botch the TOD determination... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

2 words: JonBenet Ramsey.

[newkid]

Hopefully it's such standard practice that they wouldn't forget.

[JerseyGirl]

Another external factor which could come into play would be what state Kaiden was found in. If he was wearing a diaper so dirty that feces was on his clothing and bedding, or was completely soggy with urine, which no mother would leave her infant in when putting him to bed, it leads credence to the idea that she had been dead on the timeline side of the longest TOD.That's a good point. But since we're only looking at an approximate window of about 4 hours that Raven was out of the home, I don't know how wet or soiled Kaiden would have been by the time LE arrived. But it's definitely something to consider, and I hope that investigators think to look at stuff like that. I would never even have thought of it had you not mentioned it.

[newkid]

That's a good point. But since we're only looking at an approximate window of about 4 hours that Raven was out of the home, I don't know how wet or soiled Kaiden would have been by the time LE arrived. But it's definitely something to consider, and I hope that investigators think to look at stuff like that. I would never even have thought of it had you not mentioned it.
I wouldn't have thought about it either. That breaks my heart though, that poor little guy.

[JerseyGirl]

I wouldn't have thought about it either. That breaks my heart though, that poor little guy.It really is very sad. He was probably lying there asleep, dreaming about Mommy & Daddy, and whatever else such a young baby might dream about. He had no idea, (thank God), but will never know his Mommy. One day she was there, and the next she was gone. And he's too little to understand anything other than "Where did Mommy go"? It is utterly heart-breaking. Like I've said before, I hope that his family will help him to learn about her, and send her kisses at night, etc. It's so very sad for him. :(

[Timex]

Once the blood leaves the body, it would start to seperate. Im trying to remember just how long it takes, but I know it isnt long. The red blood cells would seperate for the white blood cells and plasma, leaving a "yellowish" serium. I know there was a case where a conviction was gained because the husband said he called 911 immediatley, and this seperation showed that there had been a delay in the call.

[ewwwinteresting]

Anybody that is posting here know whether Raven, his family or Janet's family has been told the TOD? Is this something they would release to at least Janet's family or tell nobody until the crime is solved?

[SewingDeb]

Anybody that is posting here know whether Raven, his family or Janet's family has been told the TOD? Is this something they would release to at least Janet's family or tell nobody until the crime is solved?

I don't know, but this link about the backlog doesn't sound good:
http://www.wxii12.com/news/4583756/detail.html?treets=gws&tid=2654350408813&tml=gws_12pm&tmi=gws_12pm_1_11000206082005&ts=H
RALEIGH, N.C. -- There's a backlog of about 50 cases at the state crime lab, and the State Bureau of Investigation's only computer forensic technician says he could use some help.

Eric Hicks is in such high demand that he handles only murder or child exploitation cases.

Also, the 17 geneticists have 36,000 DNA samples awaiting analysis and review before they can go into a database. The 19 drug chemists who travel to methamphetamine lab busts have a backlog of 15,000 cases.

That backlog has delayed trials a year or more, left jails packed with defendants awaiting the lab's work, and a smaller pool of suspects when investigators use the DNA database to try to identify a rapist or killer.

[JerseyGirl]

SewingDeb, thank you for that link. It seems logical that that same backlog could create a delay in determining suspects as well, wouldn't it?

[SouthEastSleuth]

I meant to post this yesterday, but somehow forgot.

I had posted a few days ago about public access to ME reports, etc. Cappuccina kindly gave me all sorts of useful information and guidance in that regard! (Thanks again!)

I did notice in looking at the website for the NC State Medical Examiner that you can make a request for reports, etc. The statutes state that the guidlines for cases involving homicide are fairly strict. So, instead of using the online form to TRY and request anything, I called over there...

I spoke with a "helpful" guy who told me that as the case involves an on-going homicide investigation, that the information is not available for public release. Period. I did press a little, and asked if all of the reports were complete, etc., (ok, so it's worth a try! LOL), and he basically cut me off and told me that he could release no information, blah blah blah. He did ask me at the end if I was calling from the media. I said no. I did wonder afterwards if I had in fact been a media source if I would heard anything differently from him.. Who know.

No big surprise, I know. But, never hurts to ask!

Just FYI, a link to the ME office:

http://www.ocme.unc.edu/index.shtml

[JerseyGirl]

I did wonder afterwards if I had in fact been a media source if I would heard anything differently from him.So disguise your voice, and call over there in an hour or so, pretending to be media! LOL! :)

ETA: You're wonderful, SES. :)

[SewingDeb]

SewingDeb, thank you for that link. It seems logical that that same backlog could create a delay in determining suspects as well, wouldn't it?

For sure. They need to get some help in there. Murderers could be long gone before the results get back.

[ewwwinteresting]

For sure. They need to get some help in there. Murderers could be long gone before the results get back.
NCBanker: Any luck with info from your relative? If you give me their name and number, I'll call :) :crazy: Exactly how long does it take, I wonder, for the test results to come back to establish TOD and other pertinent information?

[JerseyGirl]

Kevin J. Mahoney-Murder Cases Autopsy (http://www.relentlessdefense.com/autopsy.html)

Determining the Time of Death

The time of death can, with variable accuracy, be estimated by determining:
1. the temperature of the body and the rate of cooling;
2. the degree of postmortem lividity (hypostasis);
3. the degree of rigor mortis;
4. putrefaction;
5. insect activity; and,
6. analyzing stomach contents...

The normal temperature of a living person is 98.6°. During first hour following death, the body temperature will drop 2° to 3° F. Thereafter, the body temperature will fall 1° to 1.5° per hour, for up to 18 hours...

Rigor Mortis is the stiffening of the muscles caused by chemical changes occurring in the body following death; Every muscle in the body undergoes rigor mortis. Stiffening begins within two to five hours after death. The entire body will be rigid within 12 to 18 hours of death. Thereafter, rigor mortis begins to dissipate and, within another 18 hours, the rigor mortis will disappear and the body will, again, resume a relaxed state. Rigor mortis should not be confused with cadaver spasms, which may cause stiffening of the body immediately following death...
__________________________________________________ ________________

So I'm thinking that if EMT's find a victim, and the body seems stiff but the temperature is near "normal" of 98.6, they can assume that the victim has recently passed away. If the stiffness were due to rigor mortis, the temperature would probably be somewhere between 3 degrees cooler (usually 95.6) and 9 degrees cooler (usually 89.6). Of course, "normal" body temperature varies from person to person and certain conditions can make cooling occur more slowly or quickly. But when we combine a stiff body whose temperature is near the average normal in normal circumstances (room temperature, appropriate clothing for the temperature, etc.), we can assume that we are not witnessing rigor mortis, and that the victim died less than two hours prior. When we combine other factors, such as how fluid or tacky blood might be, it seems that TOD can be pinpointed pretty closely in certain instances.

[golfmom]

JerseyGirl, what I find equally interesting from that link you provided is the following:

"Hypostasis is the gravitational pooling of blood into the dependent areas of the body. The distributional pooling of the blood is determined by the position of the body following death. Once the blood has pooled, blood clots form preventing the blood from re-pooling elsewhere if the body is moved. Therefore, lividity or discoloration caused by the pooled blood may reveal whether a body has been moved following hypostasis. Because the rate of lividity or hypostasis varies from body to body, it not considered, by most medical examiners, as an accurate methodology for calculating the time of death."

Sounds like there wasn't ANY pooling that occured if they can place the TOD so close to the 911 call.

[golfmom]

I found a little bit more information on what occurs to a person around the time of death.

Rigor mortis is also something you should know about. The body is limp until about 5-6 hours after death, then a hardness begins to set in around the jaw area in front of the ear (temporal mandibular joint area). It then spreads throughout the body for a period of time, and then the body goes limp again. The following chart illustrates:

stiffness in jaw -- 6 hours after death

stiffness in upper torso -- 12 hours after death

stiffness in whole body -- 18 hours after death

limpness returns to body -- 36 hours after death

[blaize]

I found a little bit more information on what occurs to a person around the time of death.

Rigor mortis is also something you should know about. The body is limp until about 5-6 hours after death, then a hardness begins to set in around the jaw area in front of the ear (temporal mandibular joint area). It then spreads throughout the body for a period of time, and then the body goes limp again. The following chart illustrates:

stiffness in jaw -- 6 hours after death

stiffness in upper torso -- 12 hours after death

stiffness in whole body -- 18 hours after death

limpness returns to body -- 36 hours after death
Hello GM,

your information on Rigor Mortis is backed up on many medical and forensic sites from what I can see and it does go some way to help establish an educated guesstimate of Time Of Death by the coroner or forensic investigators.




What are the changes that take place in the human body
after death which account for the description rigor mortis?

15th July 1998

Rigor mortis is Latin for "stiffness of death".
It is used medically to describe the stiffness of skeletal muscles
that appears soon after death, usually within the first 4 hours.


The face tends to stiffen before the hands and feet,
and maximal rigor develops in 12 to 48 hours depending
on the environmental temperature and other factors
(Krompecher et al, 1983).


For a study of the different rates of onset of rigor mortis
in different muscles, see Kobayashi et al (1996).

Rigor mortis sets in as muscle cells run out of the energy substance
called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Even when a person is clinically dead,
some cells within their tissues continue to survive for a while.
After the circulation of blood ceases, surviving muscle cells
resort to anaerobic glycolysis but eventually they become unable
to make any more ATP. You will probably recall that in
healthy muscle cells ATP is involved in unlocking the cross bridges
at the end of the power-stroke and energising them ready for
the next contraction. Calcium ions also leak into the compromised
muscle cells, moving regulatory proteins away from the
molecular cross-bridges between the myofilaments.
The myofilaments then become locked in position
as a result of these changes, and the skeletal muscles
no longer ‘give’ or stretch when parts of the body are moved.

Rigor mortis wears off as the tissues begin to decompose -
proteolytic enzymes in the lysosomes of the muscle cells escape
and begin to dissolve the myofilaments.

References

Kobayashi, M., Takatori, T., Iwadate, K., and Nakajima, M.
(1996) Reconsideration of the sequence of rigor mortis
through postmortem changes in adenosine nucleotides
and lactic acid in different rat muscles.
Forensic Science International, 82, 243-253.

Krompecher, T., Beregerioux, C., Brandt-Casadevall, C.,
and Gujer, H.R. (1983)
Experimental evaluation of rigor mortis:
VI effect of various causes of death
on the evolution of rigor mortis.
Forensic Science International, 22, 1-9.




Also from the same page:

Rigor mortis tends to affect the smallest muscles first,
and then spread throughout the larger muscles.
Typically, rigor is first apparent in the small muscles of the eyelids,
then the lower jaw and neck, followed by the limbs.


You can read a lot more information on the page that these was taken from at HERE (http://www.nurseminerva.co.uk/dying.htm)


blaize

[golfmom]

Blaize,

The links and information you provided are incredible. I think that the TOD in this case can be fixed so accurately because professionals were on the scene immediately. Taking into account, all the physical changes that would occur or didn't occur by the time help arrived puts this case in a unique position of being able to so closely name the TOD.

I'm sure Raven has an excuse laid out neatly for the TOD, but I suggest that those close to him research themselves rather than relying on a convicted FELON's (NOT misdemeanor LOL) word.

[blaize]

Blaize,

The links and information you provided are incredible. I think that the TOD in this case can be fixed so accurately because professionals were on the scene immediately. Taking into account, all the physical changes that would occur or didn't occur by the time help arrived puts this case in a unique position of being able to so closely name the TOD.

I'm sure Raven has an excuse laid out neatly for the TOD, but I suggest that those close to him research themselves rather than relying on a convicted FELON's (NOT misdemeanor LOL) word.
This is such a sad case GM, further compounded by the fog of suspicion that will not dissipate from around Raven Abaroa because of his silence and inactivity regarding the investigation.

It must be heart wrenching for family members on both sides to realise that a loved one might have had some direct involvement in this tragedy, a conclusion that would be almost impossible to contemplate but unfortunately keeps rearing it's ugly head. Heartbreak all around.

blaize

[ewwwinteresting]

In the autopsy report, it lists the body's condition at the time of the autopsy....where is the description of the body at the time of death? Isn't there an ME that is called to the scene and if so, where is that report? There has to be a report by someone regarding the body when they found it! Her body wasn't removed from the residence until the next day (as seen on the media reports) so who examined the body throughout the night and where is that report?

Was the jaw locked at the time paramedics arrived? Oh wait, couldn't be, because Janet wasn't left alone for 6 hours...so, exactly what was her body like at the TOD?

[golfmom]

Was the jaw locked at the time paramedics arrived? Oh wait, couldn't be, because Janet wasn't left alone for 6 hours...so, exactly what was her body like at the TOD?

Well, if Raven made a claim that it was locked, then it must have meant that she died around 5:00 p.m. Oh wait, that can't be because the home teachers were at the home after that. Hmmmmm :waitasec: You don't think he'd have lied about that do you?

[JerseyGirl]

I would hope (and suspect) that Raven is bright enough to have not made a claim of rigor mortis or her jaw being stiff when he found her, (because if he is that dense then I don't know why he still hasn't been arrested after all of this time). Since we see that the earliest stage of rigor mortis begins between 4 and 6 hours after death, that would have put Janet's death at somewhere between 4:30 and 6:30 P.M. During that window of time, Raven was still at the house so that claim wouldn't clear him either. If anything, I would think a claim like that would be clear evidence of an out-and-out lie. And as we all know - people don't tend to lie unless they've got something to hide. If Raven did make a statement of that sort, I would hope that LE would be notified ASAP.

Since it appears that the paramedics tried to save her, I would assume that rigor mortis was not apparent. If it was, there is NO WAY that the ME report would place TOD at 10:55 P.M. when first responders saw her shortly after 11:00 P.M. I agree, gm - since LE got the chance to see Janet so shortly after her death, TOD is easier to pin down than if they hadn't arrived at the scene until hours later.

I don't know what Raven might have claimed but I choose to put my faith in the medical examiner as I'm sure LE has and a jury will. The ME is clearly much more qualified to determine TOD than Raven.

[golfmom]

I don't know what Raven might have claimed but I choose to put my faith in the medical examiner as I'm sure LE has and a jury will. The ME is clearly much more qualified to determine TOD than Raven.

Do you really think the ME is more qualified to determine TOD than a part-time bike shop boy? :angel:

[JerseyGirl]

Do you really think the ME is more qualified to determine TOD than a part-time bike shop boy? :angel:Color me naive! :rolleyes:

[Moxie]

Do you really think the ME is more qualified to determine TOD than a part-time bike shop boy? :angel:Not in Raven's world. In Raven's world, he is always right, and is either being framed or the continual victim of incompetent people.

So... in Raven's world, a college dropout would know much, much more then a licensed Medical Examiner.

[Jenifred]

:laugh: Not in Raven's world. In Raven's world, he is always right, and is either being framed or the continual victim of incompetent people.

So... in Raven's world, a college dropout would know much, much more then a licensed Medical Examiner.Especially if he's getting his information from....umm the internet or CSI.

[Moxie]

:laugh: Especially if he's getting his information from....umm the internet or CSI.
or his own, brillant, incredible brain!

[Jenifred]

or his own, brillant, incredible brain!
You mean the one that never finished college? Or the one that's now working as a part-timer in a BIKE SHOP?

[ewwwinteresting]

It would be interesting to hear how raven described the body when he found her. We know he said she was on her knees....how does someone die on their knees. There is no way a body can hold itself up with no blood in it, can it? I don't think raven would claim her jaw was locked because he stated to LE who arrived on scene that his wife was upstairs "hurt"...if he thought her jaw was locked, he would know she was dead!

So, him stating she was on her knees makes me think she either was just killed after raven got home or if he claims her jaw was locked, she was killed before raven left....either way, raven, it's not looking good!

[JerseyGirl]

Good observations, EI. It's amazing how conflicted his stories are considering the fact that he hardly says anything, huh? Can you imagine what might come out if he'd give a statement here and there?

My thought is this ... if there was some statement from Raven about any part of Janet's body being stiff when he found her then her body should have been at least cool to the touch because she would have been gone for a minimum of four hours at that point. If her body was cool to the touch, he would have known that she had already passed (and like you said - then why state that she's upstairs hurt?), and the ME would not have been able to list to TOD as 10:55 P.M.

[ewwwinteresting]

Good observations, EI. It's amazing how conflicted his stories are considering the fact that he hardly says anything, huh? Can you imagine what might come out if he'd give a statement here and there?

My thought is this ... if there was some statement from Raven about any part of Janet's body being stiff when he found her then her body should have been at least cool to the touch because she would have been gone for a minimum of four hours at that point. If her body was cool to the touch, he would have known that she had already passed (and like you said - then why state that she's upstairs hurt?), and the ME would not have been able to list to TOD as 10:55 P.M.
Exactly! That autopsy report isn't making raven look innocent in the least little bit....I wonder how much the report that gave the information to arrive at the TOD compares to any of raven's statments.

Here's the question of the month...why in the hell haven't they arrested raven yet?

[golfmom]

Here's the question of the month...why in the hell haven't they arrested raven yet?

North Carolina has strict sentencing guidelines setting minimum and maximum penalties for all charges, and which removes much of a judge's discretion in sentencing. This shifts the responsibility of obtaining appropriate sentences to the prosecutors who must do so by placing appropriate charges and negotiating appropriate pleas.

[radar]

Ladies, lighten up. Is this info about the stiffness of the body hearsay or fact?What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

[golfmom]

Ladies, lighten up. Is this info about the stiffness of the body hearsay or fact?What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Radar, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion.

I wouldn't make a good juror on this particular case. I wouldn't be able to discount the numerous lies I've uncovered. I wouldnt be able to discount the stories people have shared with me.

Thankfully no one is asking me to take an oath, so I am free to believe he's guilty and will be proven guilty in a court of law and by a jury of his peers.

[JerseyGirl]

What happened to innocent until proven guilty?We're anxiously awaiting the chance to see him proven guilty. Unfortunately, LE hasn't arrested him according to our timetable so we'll have to wait a bit longer to see his guilt proven. I have no doubt that it will be.

[JerseyGirl]

North Carolina has strict sentencing guidelines setting minimum and maximum penalties for all charges, and which removes much of a judge's discretion in sentencing. This shifts the responsibility of obtaining appropriate sentences to the prosecutors who must do so by placing appropriate charges and negotiating appropriate pleas.VERY interesting information, gm. So it stands to reason that the DA better have as much evidence as possible before going to trial if s/he's looking for a 1st degree conviction and appropriate penalty. Storm into court too quickly, and you might not be able to convince a jury of 1st degree, and then the judge is pretty much stuck to sentence according to those guidelines.

[ewwwinteresting]

Radar, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion.

I wouldn't make a good juror on this particular case. I wouldn't be able to discount the numerous lies I've uncovered. I wouldnt be able to discount the stories people have shared with me.

Thankfully no one is asking me to take an oath, so I am free to believe he's guilty and will be proven guilty in a court of law and by a jury of his peers.
...since convicted felons can't serve on a jury....do you think his peers will consist of pudgy, balding, lying bike shop workers?

[Moxie]

...since convicted felons can't serve on a jury....do you think his peers will consist of pudgy, balding, lying bike shop workers?
If his defense attorney has his way at jury selection, yes.

[snapple]

Ladies, lighten up. Is this info about the stiffness of the body hearsay or fact?What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Whether this point is hearsay or fact, I would say TOD is fact, according to the autopsy report... and I would say raven at the crime scene at the TOD (according to his own words) is a fact. A women and a child were murdered...I see no reason to 'lighten up'. All you sleuthers are doing an incredible job in finding inconsistencies and new information.:clap: :clap:

[snapple]

In the autopsy report, it lists the body's condition at the time of the autopsy....where is the description of the body at the time of death? Isn't there an ME that is called to the scene and if so, where is that report? There has to be a report by someone regarding the body when they found it! Her body wasn't removed from the residence until the next day (as seen on the media reports) so who examined the body throughout the night and where is that report?

Was the jaw locked at the time paramedics arrived? Oh wait, couldn't be, because Janet wasn't left alone for 6 hours...so, exactly what was her body like at the TOD?
I haven't seen that report released, but I would imagine when the ME arrived at the scene, estimated the TOD like, 5 minutes ago...looked up, saw the murderer, and stated "no forensic required"....maybe thats why there seems to be no forensic evidence forth coming....there was no need since, hello...raven was there AT the TOD!!!

[terminatrixator]

...since convicted felons can't serve on a jury....do you think his peers will consist of pudgy, balding, lying bike shop workers?
Okay, so now this time I almost peed myself lol.

[ewwwinteresting]

Hoppy,

I am having a hard time reconciling the TOD in the autopsy report. I've gone around and around in my head with this....please in your "skeptical" thinking, explain to me your opinion on this. Autopsy report indicates injury about 10:50 am and TOD about 10:55 pm. raven indicated he was home from the soccer game around 10:30 ish. What do you make of this information?

[Justgimmethetruth]

Wait a minute!! Injury was 12 hours before time of death?? That's an error, isn't it? The homeschool people were there in between. Do you mean 10:50 PM?

:confused:

[LTUlegal]

Wait a minute!! Injury was 12 hours before time of death?? That's an error, isn't it? The homeschool people were there in between. Do you mean 10:50 PM?

:confused:
I think eww made a typo & meant to type "PM" ;)

[ewwwinteresting]

Uhhh....duh:doh: :doh: :doh: Thanks for catchin that JGMTT.

[ewwwinteresting]

Autopsy Report:

The purpose of an autopsy report is to find out cause of death. The ME examines the body and states what he/she thinks caused the death. The ME didn't examine Janet's body until the 28th.

Sooooo........who states TOD? The ME that is called out to the scene, correct? Where is that report? What would that report be called?

[JerseyGirl]

Lividity is the effect of gravity on blood. You'll note that after death, all the loose blood in the body runs down to the lowest point of gravity. If the dead person is on their back, you'll notice these blueish-purple stains on their back. Lividity begins after only 3 hours, and the blood becomes dried after only 12 hours, so lividity is something to look for quick. It tells you if the body has been moved or transported when there are lividity marks in unusual places instead of the lowest point of gravity where you find the body. You can distinguish lividity from a bruise by pressing down on the skin area. Since with lividity, the blood is still in the blood vessels, when you press down on the skin, the skin changes color and turns white (or whatever skin color the person normally has). Bruises, by definition, are broken blood vessels, so when you press down on the skin area for them, you won't notice any color change; the skin area will just turn another shade of blueish-green.

[JerseyGirl]

... look at the stomach contents. Anything eaten in the last 2 hours is undigested; food spends 6 hours in the small intestine and 12 hours in the large intestine.