NCJ Number
48061
Journal
Archiv fuer kriminologie Volume: 161 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (MARCH-APRIL 1978) Pages: 89-94
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TIME OF DEATH OF A CORPSE SUBJECTED TO VARYING EXTERNAL CONDITIONS IS INVESTIGATED ON THE BASIS OF ONE CASE.
Abstract
EVIDENCE REPORTED IN NUMEROUS STUDIES SUGGESTS THAT EVEN WHEN THE BODY TEMPERATURE OF A CORPSE IS MEASURED CONTINUOUSLY AT THE SITE OF DISCOVERY AND THE DEGREE OF RIGOR MORTIS IS ESTIMATED WITH SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED INSTRUMENTS, VARIATION IN SUCH FACTORS AS TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, CLOTHING ON THE BODY AND BODY MANIPULATION MAKE DETERMINATION OF THE EXACT TIME OF DEATH VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE. AN AUTOPSY AND EXPERIMENT ON THE BODY OF A YOUNG WOMAN 24 HOURS AFTER DEATH HAS PRODUCED USEFUL RESULTS. THE YOUNG WOMAN DIED OF STRANGULATION, THEN WAS KEPT FOR 8 HOURS IN AN AUTOMOBILE TRUNK, PLACED UNCLOTHED FOR 3 HOURS IN THE MAIN RIVER, AND KEPT FOR 10 HOURS BEFORE DISSECTION; THE TEMPERATURE OF SURROUNDINGS VARIED FROM ABOUT 20 TO ABOUT 35 DEGREES C. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED NO SIGNS OF EXTERNAL DETERIORATION BUT THE INTERNAL DISINTEGRATION OF ORGANS WAS MARKED, A CONDITION OBSERVABLE IF DEATH HAD OCCURRED 24 HOURS EARLIER, RATHER THAN 2 OR 3 DAYS EARLIER. THE REASONS FOR THIS CONDITION ARE THAT THE BODY TEMPERATURE DROPPED SLOWLY, MEASURING 33 DEGREES 11 HOURS AFTER DEATH, AND THAT THE CHEMICALS AND MICROORGANISMS OF THE RIVER WATER ENTERED THE INTERIOR OF THE BODY THROUGH THE AIR PASSAGES. ONE TABLE AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)