13 Estimation of Time since Death
Introduction
The ‘time since death’, or post-mortem interval, is the time
that has elapsed between the death of an animal and the
discovery of the body. Establishment of this interval aids
investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death by
narrowing the ‘window of time’ during which the death
may have occurred. In so doing, specific people or events
may be excluded, or included, in the investigations that
follow.
In human forensic medicine, study of the post-mortem
interval has been one of the most popular topics of research.1
However, bedevilled as it is by the sheer variety of species
involved, estimation of the post-mortem interval is much
less developed in veterinary medicine. Indeed, there is a
marked paucity of published information. Some attempts
have been made with certain species of North American
deer and other wildlife.2–7 A more recent study that involved
recording of post-mortem rectal temperatures and macro-
scopic and microscopic changes in a limited number of
Beagles provides a practical approach to the development
of a standardised method for the estimation of the time
since death in dogs.8 However, this study was restricted to
specific environmental conditions (10.9–16.8ºC) and dogs
weighing between 8.5 and 15 kg.
The veterinarian may become involved in widely differ-
ing incidents, including out-of-season shooting of game
animals, poaching, death of livestock during transport, and
cases of neglect or deliberate injury of companion animals.
Additionally, estimation of the time since death may also
be important when two or more animals are found at a
single location. In such cases the veterinarian needs to
determine, if possible, whether the deaths occurred as a
result of a single event or as part of an ongoing, lengthier
process. Determination of the time of death may have rele-
vance to cases where the alleged offences are related to
statutory time limits, e.g. checking of traps within defined
periods, or disposal of carcasses.
The focus of an inquiry or intended prosecution will be
influenced by the estimate of the post-mortem interval. This
places a considerable responsibility on the veterinarian. If
the estimate is inaccurate to a major degree, then time will
be wasted on unproductive investigations and suspects may
be charged unjustly.
In most cases it is impossible to establish the precise time
of death. Consequently, the estimated time is best presented
as a range based on minimum and maximum times.
88
The current state of knowledge should allow the expe-
rienced pathologist, in the normal course of events, to esti-
mate the post-mortem period in blocks of time, such as less
than 24 hours, 1–3 days, 3–7 days, 7–21 days, weeks,
months or years. However, it is important that all parties
are aware of the limited information available and that the
Courts are not inadvertently persuaded that ‘time since
death’ estimates are based on a firm and substantial data
base.
Box 13.1
Methods for estimation of the post-mortem
interval
Temperature-based methods
Rigor mortis
Electrical stimulation
Eye changes
Decomposition
a) gross pathology
b) histopathology
Entomology
Environmental and associated evidence
Temperature-based methods
Countless crime novels and television murder dramas have
reinforced the popular misconception that a single simple
measurement of rectal temperature provides a reliable esti-
mate of the post-mortem interval. In reality, cooling of the
body is affected by many factors including insulation,
ambient temperature, movement of air and immersion in
water. Consequently, much investigation has been devoted
to the effects of these variables on the cooling curve of the
human cadaver. The results of this research have been
incorporated into nomograms that, when used in conjunc-
tion with accurate measurement of core body temperature,
provide reasonably tight maximum and minimum time
limits.9
Similar nomograms have yet to be developed for domes-
tic and free-living animals. As mentioned in the introduc-
tion to this chapter, some effort has been expended in
attempting to create guidelines for cooling rates in some
species of North American deer. Some of these methods are
solely temperature based, whereas others combine temper-