Death Scene Investigation Procedural Guide
Features
- Presents a practical, concise field guide to the topic of death scene investigations
- Provides bulleted information for ease of access in a handy spiral-bound format
- Uses line drawings to demonstrate evidence rather difficult-to-discern photographs
- Contains discussion of all manners of death, including accident, suicide, and homicide
- Includes access to15 innovative worksheets for use at the scene
Summary
"Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide is the answer to a long recognized dilemma: how to have every death investigated by an experienced death investigator."
— Tom Bevel, author of Practical Crime Scene Analysis and Reconstruction and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction, Third Edition
Those tasked with investigating death scenes come from a variety of backgrounds and varying levels of experience. Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide gives the less experienced investigator the procedures for almost any death scene imaginable while providing the seasoned investigator a ready reference for deaths occurring even under the most unusual of circumstances. It details the precise steps that need to be taken when processing and analyzing a death scene to ensure vital evidence is not lost and "red flags" are not missed.
Using a bulleted format for quick and easy access, the book provides hands-on, concise instruction in a style friendly to a range of professionals. Topics discussed in this practical manual include:
- Initial response and scene evaluation. This section includes a death investigation decision tree to lead investigators to a preliminary cause of death. The section is broken down into natural, accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths. It also explores the role of the medical examiner and autopsy protocol.
- Recovery of human remains from open field, aquatic, and buried sites. This section also discusses estimating the time of death.
- Wound dynamics and mechanisms of injury. Manners of death include asphyxiation; sharp force, blunt force, and chopping injuries; handgun, rifle, and shotgun wounds; and explosive, thermal, and electrical injuries.
- Special death scene investigations. Discussions include child and infant death, sex-related death, and death scenes with multiple victims.
- Death scene management. This section covers documentation, sketching, photography and videography, special observations, and search procedures.
- Death scene evidence processing. Topics include bloodstain patterns, shooting scenes, and entomological, biological, trace, friction ridge, and impression evidence.
An appendix contains precautions for handling bloodborne pathogens and 15 innovative worksheets for field use are available for download. Death scene responders who master the techniques in this volume will expedite solving the circumstances of the death and the closing of the case.
Michael S. Maloney was interviewed in Volume 13 of Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.Table of Contents
Death Scene Investigation
Initial Response
Scene Evaluation, Analysis, Strategy, and Direction
Natural Deaths
Accidental Deaths
Suicidal Deaths
Homicidal Deaths
The Role of Medical Examiner
Autopsy Protocol and Investigator’s Role
Recovery of Remains
Searching for Human Remains
Surface Recovery of Human Remains
Recovery of Buried Human Remains
Aquatic Recovery of Human Remains
Estimating Postmortem Interval
Wound Dynamics and Mechanisms of Injury
Asphyxiation
Sharp Force Injuries
Blunt Force Injuries
Chopping Injuries
Firearms: Handgun and Rifle Wounds
Firearms: Shotgun Wounds
Explosive Injuries
Thermal Injuries
Electrical Injuries
Special Death Scene Investigations
Infant Deaths
Child and Infant Deaths: Physical Abuse and Neglect
Child Deaths: Sexual Abduction and Murder
Sexual Activities Resulting in Death
Sexual Assaults Resulting in Death
Death Scenes with Multiple Victims
Death Scene Management, Tasks, and Responsibilities
Death Scene Management
Death Scene Sketching
Death Scene Photography and Videography
Death Scene Notes and Observations
Death Scene Search Procedures
Death Scene Evidence Processing
Documenting and Processing Bloodstain Patterns
Documenting Shooting Scenes
Recovery of Firearm Evidence from Scene
Entomological Evidence
Biological Evidence
Trace Evidence at the Scene
Friction Ridge Evidence at the Scene
Impression Evidence
Appendix
Universal Precautions for Blood Borne Pathogens
Death Scene Notes
Death Scene Notes: Supplemental
Biological Evidence Notes
Friction Ridge Evidence
Impression Evidence Notes
Trace Evidence Notes
Death Scene Entry Log
Photographic Log
Photographic Head Slate
Immersion Burn Worksheet
SUID Scene Worksheet
Firearms Documentation Worksheet
Post Blast Worksheet
Druggist Fold
Post Mortem Indicators Worksheet
Author Bio(s)
Michael S. Maloney is a partner with Bevel, Gardner & Associates. He holds a Master of Forensic Science degree from the George Washington University and he completed a Fellowship in Forensic Medicine from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. For 16 years, he served as a Special Agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and spent his last ten years as a Senior Forensic Consultant. Prior to his retirement after 25 years of federal service, he was the Senior Instructor for Death Investigations and Sex Crimes in the Forensic and Investigative Skills Branch of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center with the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Maloney has undergone extensive training and is considered a subject matter expert in a variety of forensic disciplines including death/crime scene reconstruction, death/crime scene processing, wound dynamics/evidence of injury, bloodstain pattern analysis, and crime scene reconstruction.
Editorial Reviews
Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide is the answer to a long recognized dilemma, how to have every death investigated by an experienced death investigator. Using his considerable experience in death investigations and forensics, Mr. Maloney has created a procedural guide that gives everyone from the medical examiner’s investigator, coroner, crime scene investigator or detective an on scene guide for processing the death scene. This field guide will assist in understanding the story the scene tells as well as develop investigative direction. The Death Investigation Decision Tree is an innovative, easy to use tool to ensure that the scene investigation is focused, directed and complete while prompting the investigator for the "red flags" that are present but sometimes overlooked. This should be the first tool used on the scene after familiarization with the scene and basic facts. Easy to follow chapters and complete bulleted procedures presented in a manner that minimize the need to flip back and forth through the guide. The spiral bound format is designed to fit in a cargo pocket for easy access and transport to the scene. Unlike textbooks this guide stands out as it is specifically designed for use in the field. The medical examiner, coroner, and homicide detective should not overlook this guide as well; it is a handy reference for proper procedures to employ in a wide variety of death scenes.
—Tom Bevel, President of Bevel, Gardner & Associates, Inc.
" … an excellent text on practical death scene investigation … gives us very useful practical information on the latest techniques in an easily digestible manner. I am going to use this book in all my future crime scene investigations."
—Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
" … Mr. Maloney's book stands out as the most thorough book available that is also quickly and easily referred to at a scene. … I highlighted at least 30 tips and techniques that I had never heard of or that answered questions to scene challenges that I had been unable to find solutions to prior to reading his book. The book also includes numerous crime scene worksheets that exceeded drafts that I had previously developed in an attempt to simplify note taking at a scene. … if closely followed at a death scene even by an inexperienced investigator, you can be assured that the investigation will be conducted in a competent and professional manner. For more experienced investigators, the book will be an excellent refresher/update and I am certain that you will learn a few new things, too."
—Gregory J. Lennon, Detective Lieutenant; Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts
Downloads Updates
| Resource | OS Platform | Updated | Description | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K12052downloads.zip | Cross Platform | March 06, 2012 | Additional materials |
