SPECIALIZED CRIME

INVESTIGATION
WITH LEGAL MEDICINE

LESSON SEVEN: HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES

Criminal Investigation of homicide is a discovery process. The investigator seeks to discover and
document such facts as type of death, identity of the deceased, cause of death and motivation and identity of
the perpetrator. In order to resolve these fundamental questions, the investigation will focus on the cadaver,
crime scene and post mortem examination.
The cadaver is often of prime importance as an investigative factor. The victim’s body can reveal much
through examination of wounds and other types of tracing clues that may be present.

Establishing the Facts of Death

The first essential step of the homicide investigation is to establish that the victim is, indeed, dead. Police
officers do not have the legal authority to pronounce death, only physicians/medical doctor can establish the
fact of death. For this reason, the police officer should never assume death unless the condition of the victim’s
body demonstrates death in a totally obvious manner.

A. Death – death is defined as the absence of life in a living matter.

B. Kinds of Death
1. Somatic Death – Clinical Death
It is a complete, continuous, persistent cessation of respiration, circulation and almost all brain functions of
an organism. It is usually pronounced by a physician or other members of the family.
2. Molecular Death- Cellular Death
It is the cessation of life of the individual cells in the whole body, which occurs one at a time after somatic
death.
3. Apparent Death – State of Suspended Animation
It is the state of temporary cessation of vital activities of the body or vital processes were depressed to the
minimum compatible with life. This condition is not actually death although classified under the kinds of death,
because the person or organism is still alive although it seems that there are no signs of life.
C. Signs of Death
1. Cessation of respiration
2. Cessation of Heart Beating and Circulation
3. Cooling of the body
4. Insensibility of the body and loss of power to remove
5. Changes in the eyes
6. Changes in the skin

Identifying the Cadaver

Establishing the identity of the victim is important, it will provide tracing clues to the motive and identity of the
perpetrator, with the identity known, the investigator can focus attention on the victim’s background and
establish a possible motive through such information. Victims encountered in indoor scenes will normally
have identifying data on the body, or such data will be available throughout the crime scene. In outdoor scenes,
such evidence is normally not as readily available, since the victim is removed from the personal environment
and also outdoor scene may not be discovered for long period of time; thus evidence may be destroyed by
elements of nature or will be lost. If there are no identifying papers on the victim’s person, fingerprint should
be used as means of identification. If fingerprint identification is unsuccessful, the investigator must rely on
other methods to establish identity.
Dental structures are highly resistant to destruction, and are frequently useful when the other portions of the
body are totally decomposed (Forensic Odontology). The skeletal remains of the victim may also help to
determine identity, as well as yield other types of information. If bone fractures are noted, they may be used
to identify the deceased, but if only corresponding medical records can be located. The widths of the pelvic
bones are excellent indicators of the victim’s sex; Determination of the victims age maybe more difficult, in
that the victims past the age of eighteen years have generally achieved their maximum skeletal growth.
However, general age determination can be established via dental structure.

A. Points Taken into Consideration when Finding Human Dead Body Elsewhere:
1. Place where the body was found
2. Date and time when found
3. Cause of death
4. Time when death occurred
5. Approximate age

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6. Possible occupation
7. Complete description of the body

B. Points to be Considered in Identifying a Person

1. Face
2. Eyes
3. Nose
4. Head
5. Condition of hair
6. Mouth
7. Body built
8. Height
9. Weight
10. Complexion
11. Hands and feet
12. Teeth
13. Clothing
14. Ornamental
15. Personal belongings
16. Identification from spouse, parents, relatives and friends
17. Files from the police and other law enforcement agencies
18. Occupational mark
19. Race
20. Tattoo marks
21. Deformities
22. Birth marks
23. Physical defects leaving permanent results such as amputation and improper union of the fractured bones
24. Moles
25. Scars
26. Tribal marks
27. Sexual organ
28. Blood grouping

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Determination of Time of Death (Death Estimates)
A determination of the time of death should be attempted in all homicide investigations. This fact is
significant because of its investigative importance in corroborating or disputing alibis, or in establishing the
victim’s movements prior to death. Determining death is not an exact science.

POST-MORTEM CHANGES

1. POST-MORTEM LIVIDITY (Livor Mortis)– Discoloration of the body after death; setting of blood in the
dependent portions of the body following death).
It is a reddish purple to purple coloration in dependent areas of the body due to accumulation of blood in the
small vessels of the dependent areas secondary to gravity. This pooling of blood begins immediately after
death and becomes fixed in approximately 8-12 hours. The investigator can press on the skin in the dependent
regions and if the skin blanches, death has probably occurred less than 12 hours. This becomes fixed after a
while and can tell if the body has been moved. This is not a reliable indicator of time of death. This is a better
indicator of whether the body has been moved since death.

The Color of Lividity may Indicate the Cause of Death:

1. Carbon monoxide poisoning/ cyanide – cherry red to pinkish color
2. Asphyxia – dark lividity
3. Phosphorous poisoning – dark brown

TYPES OF LIVIDITY
1. Hypostatic – Blood is still in fluid form inside blood vessel; change as position of the body changes. Blood
remains fluid in the blood vessel for 6- 8 hours.

2. Diffusion– Coagulated inside blood vessel; Change in position will not change its location.

Importance of Post-Mortem Lividity

1. It is a sign of death
2. It enables the investigator to estimate the time of death
3. It determines the position of the body after death

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4. It may indicate the cause and manner of death

Characteristics of Post-Mortem Lividity

1. It occurs in the most extensive areas of the most dependent portion of the body.
2. It involves the superficial layer of the skin, lungs, intestines, kidneys, and brain.
3. Color is uniform in the tissues.
4. It is not elevated from the skin, lungs, intestines, kidneys and brain.
5. There is no injury to the tissues.
6. The color may appear and disappear in the tissues by shifting the position of the body in the earlier stages
of death.

2. POST MORTEM RIGIDITY (Rigor Mortis)

Stiffening of the body which occurs 2-6 hours after death and is characterized by hardening of the muscles;
the chemical reaction that causes rigidity in the muscle groups or stiffening of the body after death due to the
disappearance of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) from the muscle.
- Rigor mortis disappears with decomposition.
- Cold and/or freezing will delay the onset of rigor mortis as well as prolong its presence
- Involves all muscles the same time at the same rate.It appears first in the smallermuscles such as
the jaw and then gradually spread to upper and lower extremities.
- Instantaneous rigidity can also be found following ingestion of cyanide and strychnine poison.
Rigor Mortis has duration of 24 to 48 hours in the Philippines and other tropical countries and 36 to
48 hours during summer in the same.

3. ALGOR MORTIS(Cooling of the body)

The body cools following death at approximately 1.5 degrees F per hour, under normal conditions and
assuming the body’s temperature at death is 98.6 degrees F (37 degrees C).

Factors Affecting AlgorMortis:

1. Illness
2. Clothes
3. Obesity
4. Room temperature

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4. ONSET AND STAGE OF DECOMPOSITION
Decomposition is the action of bacteria on the dead body. The onset of decomposition is 1 to 2 days after
death and then finally the dead body becomes skeletal remains in months considering the factors that
influence the rate of putrefaction.

5. LIFE CYCLE OF FLIES

The eggs of ova laid by the flies on the dead body will hatch to form maggots within 24 hours. The
maggots will feed vigorously on the damaged dead body, then transform into pupal stage and finally into adult
flies within a few days.

6. CHANGES IN THE BLOOD

The blood remains fluid in the body after death after 6-8 hours. After which it gradually clotted or
coagulated in a slow process until 12 hours wherein the lividity is already fully developed.

7. CHANGES IN STOMACH
It usually takes three to four hours for the stomach to empty its contents after meals.

Examination of the Cadaver at the Crime Scene

External post mortem appearances are very informative. The areas of the body showing lividity indicate
the position after death. Wounds and their appearance are particularly significant as they often assist in
reconstructing the circumstances of a crime, the nature of the murder weapon and the manner of its use.
Defense wounds are the result of a person’s instinctive reaction of self-protection. It may be found on
the hand in the effort of the victim to grasp the wounding instrument or by raising the hand to protect the vital
parts of the body. Absence of defense wound does not eliminate the possibility that the victim made some
form of defense.

Common External Injuries Sustained by the Victim from Homicidal Attack

a. Contusion – an injury in the substance of the skin, discoloration of the surface due to extravasation of
blood. This is due to the application of a blunt instrument.
Hematoma – this is the extravasation of blood in the newly formed cavity.
Abrasion – an open wound characterized by the removal of the epithelial layer of the skin brought about by
the friction against hard, rough object.

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Incised wound – produced by forcible contact on the body by sharp edge instrument.
Stab wound – produced by the forcible application and penetration of a sharp instrument.
Punctured wound – penetration of a sharp pointed weapon
Lacerated wound – tearing of the skin due to forcible contact of a blunt instrument.

Evidence to Show the Fatal Effects of the Wound

1. Amount of hemorrhage
2. Size of the injury sustained
3. Organs and parts of the body involved
4. Mechanical effects on vital organs

Gunshot Wounds
All gunshot wounds result from the entry of a projectile into the body, and the frequent presence of
undispersed explosive gases. The relative size and appearance of the wound will be affected by the distance
from which the weapon was discharged. Generally, the closer the discharged to the skin, the greater the
damage. This damage is due to explosive gases which precede the projectile at close range. In some
investigations involving firearms, a determination of whether the death was a homicidal, suicide or accidental
is difficult. In making such determination, the distance of the discharge is of great importance. Majority of
suicidal and accidental gunshot cases, arm’s length discharges are involved. Accordingly, if the wound
indicates discharge beyond the victim’s length, homicide is indicated.
The location of the wound may also serve to rule out suicide. If the wound is located in an area of the
body that is relatively inaccessible to the victim, homicide is indicated. It is also unusual for a suicide wound
to be inflicted in an area other than the head of chest. However,there have been a number of suicide cases
involving wounds in extremities. The presence or absence of a “suicide note” is a poor indicator of suicide or
homicide.

Two Types of Wounds:

1. entrance wound (POE)
2. exit wound (POX)

Determination whether the wound is suicidal, homicidal, or accidental

A. Evidence to prove that gunshot wound is suicidal:

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1. The fire is usually in contact or near contact, as shown by the presence of burning, singeing and tattooing
of the area around the gunshot wound.
2. The presence of usually but one gunshot wound. In most cases, after a shot, especially at the head, the
victim can no longer voluntarily act to inflict another shot.
3. Portions of the body involved are those accessible to the hand of the victim utilized in committing suicide,
he will not think of the difficult way of ending his life unless he has the intention of deceiving the investigators.
4. History of despondency, family problem which may cause him to commit suicide.
B. Evidence to show that the wound is accidental:
Usually there is but one shot.
There is no special area of the body involved
Testimony of the witnesses

C. Evidence to show that the wound is homicidal:

The site or sites of the wound of entrance has no point of election.
The fire is made when the victim is usually some distance away from the assailant
Signs of struggle/ defense wound maybe present in the victim.
There maybe disturbance of the surrounding on the account of the previous struggle.
Wounding firearm is usually not found at the scene of the crime
Testimony of the witnesses

DEATH BY HANGING AND STRANGULATION

Determination whether hanging is suicidal, homicidal, or accidental

1. Hanging – is a state of injury or death of the body whereby the ligature tightened around the neck by the
suspension of the body.

A. Suicidal Hanging – in death by hanging, it is usually suicidal unless proven otherwise. Some evidence to
prove are the following:
1. Accessible materials used for ligature like rope, rolled beddings, or wires.
2. Identification of the fibers from the rope in the hands of the victim.

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3. Evidence of movement of the rope on the beam or anchorage from upward and downward as the body
has been suspended.
B. Homicidal Hanging
1. Presence of defense wound in the body of the victim.
2. Presence of blood stains and other injuries to the body of the victim.
3. Presence of signs of struggle in the clothing, furniture, beddings, and others.
4. Nature of the window, curtains, and doors.
C. Accidental hanging is not common.

2. Strangulation
Strangulation by ligature is usually homicidal and is done by tying the ligature around the neck and the
two ends pulled in the opposite direction in such a manner that tightens the ligature. Ligature used may be
rope, chain, wires, vines, rolled clothing.
SUICIDES

Ways of Committing Suicide

1. By cut-throat
2. By puncturing the left breast
3. By gunshot
4. By hanging
5. By drowning
6. By poisoning

ACCIDENTAL DEATH
Is death which occurs beyond the sway of ones will and although it comes about through some act of will, lies
beyond the bounds of human forceable consequences.
How Accidental Deaths Occur
1. Examination of the body revealed marked tearing of the wearing apparel, burns of different degrees on
the skin surface, wounds of almost any description and almost the whole body is affected by the injury.
2. History of a thunderstorm that took place in the area.
3. Evidence of the effects of lighting are found in the vicinity, like damages to house, tress, etc.
4. Metallic articles are fused or magnetized.

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5. Absence of wound or other injuries indicating suicidal or homicidal death.
6. Fusion of glass materials in the neighborhood on account of extreme heat.

ELECTROCUTION
Accidental Electrocution
1. Presence of high voltage wire at the scene of death.
2. Body surface injuries as probably site of entrance and exit of electric current.
3. Death develops suddenly as victim not able to get away from the place of electrocution.
4. Absence of evidence to show suicidal or homicidal.

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