Bennett/Hess, Criminal Investigation, 8th edition Chapter 8

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Bennett/Hess, Criminal Investigation, 8th edition
Chapter 8

• Death Investigations

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The Violent Crime Apprehension Program (VICAP)
coordinates major violent-crime cases within the
United States such as serial killings and other
cases committed in multiple jurisdictions.
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It must be established whether a death was caused
by criminal action

• Natural
• Accidental
• Suicide
• Homicide (non-criminal or criminal)

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Homicide

• Criminal Homicide
• Murder (first, second, or third degree)
• Manslaughter (voluntary or involuntary)

• Non-criminal Homicide
• Excusable homicide
• Justifiable homicide

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Homicide
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Premeditation is the consideration or planning of
an act, no matter how briefly before committing
it. It is the element of first-degree murder
that sets it apart from all other classifications.
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Terms to know..

• Heat of passion---an act committed when the
  suspect suddenly becomes extremely emotional,
  thus precluding premeditation
• Criminal negligence---a dangerous act committed
  by an individual that any prudent person would
  see death as a possible result
• Equivocal death---facts that may be vague or
  purposely misleading as in a staged crime

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The most prominent evidence found at a homicide
scene includes a weapon, a body, blood, hairs,
and fibers.
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Homicide Victim Identification

• Immediate family members
• Relatives
• Acquaintances
• Personal effects

• Fingerprints
• DNA analysis
• Dental/skeletal remains
• Clothing/jewelry
• Missing-persons file

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Rigor Mortis

• A Latin term meaning stiffness of death
• Stiffening of the joints after death due to
  skeletal muscle contraction
• Depending on conditions, onset may be visible
  from 10 minutes to several hours
• Usually noticed in the smaller muscle masses
  first (hands, face, etc.)

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Postmortem Lividity (Livor mortis)

• Upon death, the blood no longer circulates and
  gravity draws blood to the bodys lowest level
• Begins within 30 minutes to three hours after
  death occurs
• Patterns indicate whether or not the body was
  moved after death

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Estimating the time of death.

• Body temperature
• Rigor mortis
• Postmortem lividity
• Eye appearance
• Stomach contents
• Stage of decomposition
• Variance in victims normal routine
• Insect growth and development

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The medical examination provides evidence related
to the cause and time of death and if drugs or
alcohol are present
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Gunshot wounds

• Handguns, rifles, shotguns
• Contact wounds may leave a muzzle impression on
  the skin and soot or powder fragments in the
  entrance area
• Close-range wounds will leave tattooing cause
  by discharged powder on the victims clothes/body

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Terms to know..

• Defense wounds---cuts on the hands, arms, and
  legs as a result of the victim attempting to ward
  off an attacker
• Hesitation wounds---superficial wounds often
  present on a suicide victim resulting from an
  attempt to build up the courage to make the fatal
  wound
• Asphyxiation---body tissues and brain receive
  insufficient oxygen to support red blood cells
  resulting in death (choking, drowning, hanging,
  strangulation)

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Autoerotic asphyxiation

• Accidental death caused by a solitary victim
  seeking to intensify sexual gratification by
  constricting oxygen and blood flow to the brain
  that results in unconsciousness, often by a rope
  or other ligature.

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Mass murderers Serial murderers

• Occurs when multiple victims are killed in a
  single incident by one or a few suspects. An
  example is a sniper who kills several innocent
  people from on top of a building.

• The killing of three or more people with a
  cooling off period between the killings. An
  example would be a killer who murders several
  people in a multi-state area in the course of a
  year.