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 – Rifleand 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 Abductionand Murder 29. Sexual Activities Resulting in Death 30. Rapeand 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

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.