DETERMINING TIME OF DEATH

Deanna Graver
BODY TEMPERATURE
 Normal core body temperature is 36.2% to 37.6%
 Core body temperature is measured by the rectum or through an
abdominal stab.
 When measuring body temperature, a forensic scientist needs to take
in environmental factors as these will affect the cooling of the body.
 The initial temperature plateau lasts between 30 and 60 minutes,
with the body being at 37˚c.
 A sigmoid curve helps to determine the body temperature by hours.
RIGOR MORTIS
 When a person’s dies, their muscles totally relax then stiffen.
 Joints become fixed and remain in the position the body was at time
of death.
 However, rigor mortis passes and muscles are again relaxed.
 Stages of Rigor mortis:
 Muscles become starved of oxygen and reactions stop.
 Respiration in cells become anaerobic and produce lactic acid.
 Ph in cells fall, reducing enzymes and anaerobic respiration
 ATP is no longer produced and as a result bonds between the muscle
proteins become fixed.
 Proteins can no longer move over one another to shorten the muscles
therefore muscles and joints become fixed.
RIGOR MORTIS CONTINUED …
 Rigor mortis will be complete six to nine hours after death.
 Environmental temperatures can affect rigor mortis. The hotter the
temperature the faster and quicker rigor mortis will occur.

Temperature of body Stiffness of body Approximate time

since death
Warm Not Stiff Not dead more than 3
hours
Warm Stiff Dead 3-8 hours
Cold Stiff Dead 8-36 hours
Cold Not Stiff Dead more than 36-
48 hours
DECOMPOSITION
 Autolysis