General:

• Every crime scene is three dimensional. Always look in every direction including up.
• Take detailed notes.
• Never assume cause of death.

Stages of Death:

1. Rigor Mortis: Muscular Stiffening following death.
   • If body is warm, but not stiff- not dead more than a couple of hours.
   • If body is warm and stiff- dead between a couple hours and half of day.
   • If body is cold and stiff- dead between a half day and two days
   • If body is cold, but not stiff- dead more than two days.

   *Side note: A cadaver’s hair at times appears longer because of the stiffening of the tiny muscles surrounding each hair follicle. The same phenomenon can produce a set of head to toe goose bumps that has nothing to do with what the victim saw at the moment of death.
    

2. Lividity: The gradual deoxygenating and gravitational settling of blood that begins as soon as lungs and heart cease their motions.
    
3. Putrification: Brings an end to both rigor and lividity by turning muscle to mush and hiding lividity beneath a darker broader stain.
   • The first outward sign appears as a subtle flush of green over the right lower abdomen usually some 24 to 48 hours after death.
   • Accompanying the emerald bloom is bloat.