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Those tasked with investigating death scenes come from a variety of backgrounds and varying levels of experience. Whether a homicide detective, crime scene investigator, medico-legal death investigator, coroner or medical examiner, Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide, Second Edition provides the investigator best-practice techniques and procedures for almost any death scene imaginable, including for deaths occurring even under the most unusual of circumstances.





This Second Edition is fully updated to include new coverage on shallow graves, human remains at crime scenes, poisonings, expanded coverage of projectile weapons, videography, touch DNA, death notifications, and a newly added chapter dedicated to sexual deaths. In addition, the book serves as an on-scene ready reference which includes instructions on procedure including the initial notification of a death, processing the scene and body, the investigator's role at autopsy, and analyzing the scene indicators to place evidence into context.



Topics discussed include:











Initial response and scene evaluation
Death scene management including documentation, sketching, photography, videography, observations, and search procedures
A special death investigation matrix that walks the investigator though a decision tree to help in ambiguous deaths
Contains discussion of all manners of death, including accident, suicide, natural and homicide
Coverage of recovery of human remains from open field, aquatic, and buried sites including estimating the time of death.
Wound dynamics and mechanisms of injury that covers asphyxiation, sharp and blunt force trauma, chopping injuries; handgun, rifle, and shotgun wounds, electrical injuries, and more








The bulleted format and spiral binding allows for easy use and reference in the field with sections that are self-contained and cross-referenced for quick searches. With its thorough and detailed approach, Death Scene Investigation, Second Edition will be a must-have addition to any crime scene and death investigator's tool kit.

Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide, Second Edition

Section 1: Death Scene Investigation





1. Death Scene Response





2. Natural Deaths





3. Accidental Deaths





4. Suicidal Deaths





5. Homicidal Deaths





Section 2: The Medicolegal Death Investigation





6. The Role of the Medicolegal Death Investigator





7. The Role of the Coroner





8. The Role of the Medical Examiner





9. Autopsy Protocol and the Investigator's Role





Section 3: Recovery of Human Remains





10. Searching for Human Remains





11. Surface Recovery of Human Remains





12. Recovery of Buried Human Remains





13. Aquatic Recovery of Human Remains





14. Post Mortem Changes





Section 4: Wound Dynamics and Mechanisms of Injury





15. Asphyxiation





16. Sharp Force Injuries





17. Blunt Force Injuries





18. Chopping Injuries





19. Firearm Injuries - Rifle and Pistol





20. Firearm Injuries - Shotgun





21. Explosive Injuries





22. Thermal Injuries





23. Electrical Injuries





24. Poisoning





25. Drug Related Deaths





Section 5: Special Death Investigations





26. Infant Death





27. Child Deaths





28. Child Sexual Abduction and Murder





29. Sexual Activities Resulting in Death





30. Rape and Sexual Assault Resulting in Death





31. Multiple Victim Death Scenes





Section 6: Death Scene Management, Tasks and Responsibilities





32. Death Scene Management





33. Death Scene Sketching





34. Death Scene Photography





35. Death Scene Videography





36. Death Scene Notes and Observation





Section 7: Death Scene Evidence Processing





37. Documenting and Processing Bloodstain Patterns at the Scene





38. Documenting and Processing the Shooting Scene





39. Documenting and Processing the Post Blast Scene





40. Entomological Evidence





41. Biological Evidence





42. Trace Evidence





43. Friction Ridge Evidence





44. Impression Evidence





Section 8: Death Investigation Checklist





Appendix A: Bloodborne Pathogens





Appendix B: Bloodstain Pattern Decision Matrix





Appendix C: Druggust Fold