UNIT 5: CH'S 8 & 11: BLOOD AND DEATH
Blood and spatter patterns have been analyzed since the late 1800's. Blood is very useful in an investigation because of the wealth of information it contains. When stains are found at a crime scene, the first test is to determine whether the stain contains blood or not, then what kind of blood it is. Technology has greatly advanced the testing of blood. Investigators can now perform many tests in the field, at the crime scene. By studying spatter patterns, investigators can determine how the victim was injured/killed, as well as help narrow down the weapon used and characteristics of the suspect.
Death is a process, so it can be quite difficult to determine the exact time of death. Investigators may use livor mortis (blood pooling), rigor mortis (stiffness of the body), algor mortis (body temperature), insect presence, and other changes or contents within the body to help determine time of death. There are four ways a person can die: naturally, accidentally, suicide, and homicide. If a coroner or investigating authority cannot pinpoint one of these causes, they may call the death undetermined.
Death is a process, so it can be quite difficult to determine the exact time of death. Investigators may use livor mortis (blood pooling), rigor mortis (stiffness of the body), algor mortis (body temperature), insect presence, and other changes or contents within the body to help determine time of death. There are four ways a person can die: naturally, accidentally, suicide, and homicide. If a coroner or investigating authority cannot pinpoint one of these causes, they may call the death undetermined.