2nd Edition
Death Scene Investigation Procedural Guide, Second Edition
Those tasked with investigating death scenes come from a variety of backgrounds and varying levels of experience. Whether a homicide detective, crime scene investigator, medico-legal death investigator, coroner or medical examiner, Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide, Second Edition provides the investigator best-practice techniques and procedures for almost any death scene imaginable, including for deaths occurring even under the most unusual of circumstances.
This Second Edition is fully updated to include new coverage on shallow graves, human remains at crime scenes, poisonings, expanded coverage of projectile weapons, videography, touch DNA, death notifications, and a newly added chapter dedicated to sexual deaths. In addition, the book serves as an on-scene ready reference which includes instructions on procedure including the initial notification of a death, processing the scene and body, the investigator's role at autopsy, and analyzing the scene indicators to place evidence into context.
Topics discussed include:
- Initial response and scene evaluation
- Death scene management including documentation, sketching, photography, videography, observations, and search procedures
- A special death investigation matrix that walks the investigator though a decision tree to help in ambiguous deaths
- Contains discussion of all manners of death, including accident, suicide, natural and homicide
- Coverage of recovery of human remains from open field, aquatic, and buried sites including estimating the time of death.
- Wound dynamics and mechanisms of injury that covers asphyxiation, sharp and blunt force trauma, chopping injuries; handgun, rifle, and shotgun wounds, electrical injuries, and more
The bulleted format and spiral binding allows for easy use and reference in the field with sections that are self-contained and cross-referenced for quick searches. With its thorough and detailed approach, Death Scene Investigation, Second Edition will be a must-have addition to any crime scene and death investigator’s tool kit.
Section 1: Death Scene Investigation
1. Death Scene Response
2. Natural Deaths
3. Accidental Deaths
4. Suicidal Deaths
5. Homicidal Deaths
Section 2: The Medicolegal Death Investigation
6. The Role of the Medicolegal Death Investigator
7. The Role of the Coroner
8. The Role of the Medical Examiner
9. Autopsy Protocol and the Investigator’s Role
Section 3: Recovery of Human Remains
10. Searching for Human Remains
11. Surface Recovery of Human Remains
12. Recovery of Buried Human Remains
13. Aquatic Recovery of Human Remains
14. Post Mortem Changes
Section 4: Wound Dynamics and Mechanisms of Injury
15. Asphyxiation
16. Sharp Force Injuries
17. Blunt Force Injuries
18. Chopping Injuries
19. Firearm Injuries – Rifle and Pistol
20. Firearm Injuries – Shotgun
21. Explosive Injuries
22. Thermal Injuries
23. Electrical Injuries
24. Poisoning
25. Drug Related Deaths
Section 5: Special Death Investigations
26. Infant Death
27. Child Deaths
28. Child Sexual Abduction and Murder
29. Sexual Activities Resulting in Death
30. Rape and Sexual Assault Resulting in Death
31. Multiple Victim Death Scenes
Section 6: Death Scene Management, Tasks and Responsibilities
32. Death Scene Management
33. Death Scene Sketching
34. Death Scene Photography
35. Death Scene Videography
36. Death Scene Notes and Observation
Section 7: Death Scene Evidence Processing
37. Documenting and Processing Bloodstain Patterns at the Scene
38. Documenting and Processing the Shooting Scene
39. Documenting and Processing the Post Blast Scene
40. Entomological Evidence
41. Biological Evidence
42. Trace Evidence
43. Friction Ridge Evidence
44. Impression Evidence
Section 8: Death Investigation Checklist
Appendix A: Bloodborne Pathogens
Appendix B: Bloodstain Pattern Decision Matrix
Appendix C: Druggust Fold
Biography
Michael Maloney is an Independent Forensic Consultant, Trainer and Author. He holds a Master of Forensic Science Degree from George Washington University with a Fellowship in Forensic Medicine the Office of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. He has 20 years experience as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Senior Instructor-Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for Death Investigations and Sex Crimes. He is the author of Death Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide and Crime Scene Investigation: Procedural Guide from CRC Press.
