Death Investigation

Summary
Cause and Mechanism of Death

Mechanical trauma (gunshot, stabbing)

Chemical trauma (overdose, poison)
Other

Death Investigation
Cause of death: disease or injury that
initiated the events that led to death
Mechanism of death: Physical abnormality
produced by cause of death that is
incompatible with life.

Death Investigation

Examples:

William Blake has set Siegfried

and Roys tiger on fire. Siegfried
stabs him in the aorta. The
ambulance gets into an accident
on the way to the hospital. Blake
dies.

Mechanism of death: loss of blood

Cause of death: stabbing

Death Investigation

Examples:
Man shot during robbery. Man stabilizes.
Develops pnemonia. Followed by kidney failure,
liver failure, heart failure, death. Had prior lung
and heart disease, and probably would have
survived if not for these diseases.

Mechanism of death: heart failure

Cause of death: gun shot

Death Investigation

Determining the manner of death:

Natural
Accidental

Homicidal
Suicidal

For example, a gunshot could be three of

the above choices.
Manner may be undetermined.

Death Investigation

Classification of Traumatic Deaths:

Mechanical
Thermal

Chemical
Electrical

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Mechanical

Sharp force (knife)

Blunt force (gunshot, baseball bat, etc.)

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death > Mechanical > Firearm Wound

Entrance vs. Exit wound

Typically, entrance wound is smaller than

exit wound.
Reason: nothing behind exit wound to
prevent explosive burst.

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death > Mechanical > Firearm Wound

Entrance vs. Exit wound

Exception is if exit wound is shored.

Tight fabrics or body against object
prevents the explosive outburst.
Shored exit wound looks like entrance
wound (which is always shored by body)

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Mechanical (blunt force non-firearms)

Most common are car accidents

For homicide (beatings) almost always
involves a blow to the head.

Mechanism of death: usually drowning in blood

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Mechanical (blunt force non-firearms)

Contusion: accumulated blood in tissues
outside the blood vessels (internal bleed)
Hematoma: large contusions (blood
tumor); goose egg on head

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Chemical Trauma

Overdoses: depressants (including

alcohol) slow communications. Can
cause coma.

Stimulants may cause seizures and

death, less common.

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Chemical Trauma

Carbon Monoxide: binds hemoglobin,

blocks oxygen. Kills by asphyxiation.

Other poisons interfere with a variety of

essential biological functions.

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Thermal Trauma
Hypothermia: excessive cold
Hyperthermia: excessive heat

Both hard to diagnose

Death from fire usually due to carbon

monoxide poisoning.

Death Investigation > Traumatic Death

Electrical Trauma

Heartbeat relies on electrical signals from

the brain.

Low voltage causes heart to quiver,

then stop.

Extremely high voltage causes heart to

contract, then start beating again.