Criminal Investigation: Death Investigation

Death Investigations

• Death scenes can be classified into three categories: homicide, suicide, and accident/natural causes
• During an investigation, it is essential to identify the type of death scene and approach it accordingly
• If there is any doubt, treat the scene as a homicide and process accordingly

Investigative Questions

• Are there signs of a struggle?
  • Overturned furniture
  • Broken items
• Are there indications that the deceased attempted to defend themselves?
  • Defense wounds (hands, arms)
• Are there indications that the deceased killed themselves?
  • Suicide note

Types of Death Scenes

• Homicide:
  • Murder/manslaughter
  • Self-defense
  • Accidental killing
• Suicide:
  • Intentional killing of oneself
• Accident/Natural Causes:
  • Disease
  • Medical problems
  • Accidents (e.g., fire, auto accident, drug overdose)

Problems in Death Investigations

• Removal of the body from the scene:
  • Alters the scene
  • Potential loss of evidence
• Embalming:
  • Destroys evidentiary value of substances in the body
• Burial:
  • Must obtain exhumation order
  • Passage of time may destroy or reduce the value of body evidence

Patrol Officer's Responsibilities at a Homicide Scene

• Proceed safely and promptly
• Render assistance
• Effect the arrest
• Maintain the crime scene
• Inform/notify specialized units
• Note all conditions, events, and remarks
• Arrange for evidence collection
• Interview and interrogate
• Report the incident fully and accurately

Marking the Body at a Crime Scene

• Photography
• Sketching
• Markers or cones
• Silhouette chalking
• Responsibility for the body: Medical Examiner has total authority over body disposition

Homicide Investigation Questions

• What was the cause of death?
• What were the means that caused the death?
• Was the homicide excusable or justifiable?
• Who was responsible for causing the death?

Homicide Patterns

• Anger killing
• Triangle killing
• Revenge/jealousy killing
• Killing for profit
• Random killing
• Murder-suicide
• Sex and sadism

Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test

• Tests for the presence of gunshot residue on a suspect's hands
• Collects evidence samples using a 5% solution of nitric acid
• Tests for antimony and barium particles

Suicide Investigations

• Definition: The killing of oneself
• Types of injuries:
  • Wounds on the front of the body
  • Choice of methods (e.g., gun, knife, poison)
  • Combination of methods
  • Extent of wounds
• Difficulty of self-infliction
• Awkward positions
• Incapacitating sequence
• Presence of weapon
• Concealment of weapon
• Motive and intent

Importance of Protecting the Victim's Hands

• In suicide investigations, it is essential to protect the victim's hands to preserve evidence### Investigating Suicides

• The primary focus of the investigation should be on discovering any domestic, business, or financial troubles that may have contributed to the suicide.

• Marital harmony, pregnancy, and love are not significant factors in determining motives for suicide.

Historical Context

• Between 70,000 and 80,000 young people (ages 15-24) attempt suicide annually, with around 5,000 succeeding.
• Fewer than 30% of young suicides leave notes, and more girls attempt suicide, but more boys succeed.
• The increase in young suicides is attributed to an inability to communicate and feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Handling Suicide Notes

• The suicide note should be picked up with a pair of tongs and placed in a transparent envelope to avoid contact with fingers.
• The note should be photographed and transmitted to a laboratory or qualified agency, along with handwriting samples of the deceased, for comparison.
• Precautions should be taken to avoid contaminating the note with fingerprints.
• If the handwriting does not match the deceased, the note should be processed for fingerprints.

Accidental Deaths

• Fatal accidents that are not witnessed may involve injuries that suggest suicide.
• In cases where eyewitnesses are absent or unreliable, it is crucial to investigate thoroughly to avoid misclassification.

Types of Suicides

• Motor Vehicle Suicide: often hard to determine without a note or background information.
• Jump Suicide: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and building line.
• Overdose Suicide: mostly women and young girls, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and containers.
• Firearms Suicides: more common among men, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and gunshot residue.
• Carbon Monoxide Suicide: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and the vehicle.
• Poison Suicides: rare, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and skin tone.
• Incised (Cut) Wound Suicides: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and object used.
• Hanging Suicides: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, ropes, and security of premises.

Auto-Erotic Deaths

• Definition: deaths associated with solo sexual activity.
• May resemble a suicide, but often involves males, and family members may alter the scene out of shame or embarrassment.
• Methods include neck compression, airway obstruction, chest compression, and oxygen exclusion.
• Common evidence includes bondage, sexually stimulating paraphernalia, mirrors, and evidence of fantasy.

Procedure for Handling Suicide Notes

• The originating agency with jurisdictional control will maintain control and security of the note.
• Important handling procedures include:
  • Not handling the note with bare hands.
  • Not folding, spindling, or mutilating the note.
  • Examining the note for handwriting analysis, fingerprints, stains, and origination.
  • Treating the note as though it were a loaded weapon.
  • Using a cover sheet if mailed to prevent indented handwriting from being obliterated or added.