Death, Bugs, and Bones
Death is a process rather than an instantaneous event and this can lead to difficulty pinpointing the time and cause of death. It is the responsibility of the forensic examiner to determine cause, mechanism, and time of death. The examiner will look at the body and use clues such as lividity, rigor, and body temperature to help determine time of death. It may also be necessary to look at the life stages of the blowfly to help pinpoint time of death. Time is given as a range rather than an absolute.
|
Upon completion of the unit you should be able to:
- Discuss the definition of death
- Distinguish between four manners of death: natural, accidental, suicidal, and homicidal
- Distinguish between cause, manner, and mechanisms of death
- Explain the development of rigor, algor, and livor mortis following death
- Estimate the time of death
- Describe the stages of decomposition of a corpse
- Use evidence on stomach contents to estimate time of death
- Use insect evidence to estimate time of death
- Explain how environmental factors can affect the estimated time of death
Day 1: 9/20Death: Today we will discuss how death is defined, how to declare death, and how death can be classified. We will also discuss Livor, Rigor, and Algor Mortis as well as the stages of decomposition.
Death and Bugs PPT |
Day 2: 9/22Bugs: Today we will continue or discussion of death and look into how the life cycle of a blowfly will allow a forensic entomologist estimate a time of death range.
|
Day 3: 9/27Of Maggots and Murder: Using entomology data and simulated larvae you will determine the approximate time of death for three scenarios.
Of Maggots and Murder lab |
|
|
|
Day 4: 9/29Unreal Dreams, The Michael Morton Case: We will watch the Michael Morton documentary.
|
Day 5: 9/30Unreal Dreams, The Michael Morton Case: We will watch the Michael Morton documentary, followed by a class discussion.
|
Day 6: 10/4Critters on Cadavers: Working within your lab group, the group will complete critters on cadavers. The group will be responsible to determine the species of various third instar maggots and adult flies by comparing the spiracles to a chart. Using information gathered and provided in the lab, the group will use weather and temperature information to determine when the larvae colony was established on the body for three different scenarios. You will be completing parts 1 & 2.
Lab Critters on Cadavers |
|
|
|
Day 7: 10/6Continue Critters on Cadavers Lab
|
Day 8: 10/11Continue Critters on Cadavers Lab
|
Day 9: 10/13Finish and Submit Critters on Cadavers Lab
|
|
|
|
Day 10: 10/18Forensic Anthropology: Begin discussion on how bones are used to identify sex, race, age, height, and other potential clues about the dead.
Bones PPT |
Day 11: 10/20Quiz Death and bugs.
Begin Sherlock Bones Lab: Can you identify the sex, race, height, and age of the skeleton? |
Day 12: 10/25Continue Sherlock Bones.
|
|
|
|
Day 13: 10/27Finish and Submit Sherlock Bones
|
Day 14: 10/28Flex Day.
|
Day 15: 11/1Forensic Anthropology Quiz
Begin Next Unit |