Water-Related Death Investigation: Practical Methods and Forensic Applications

Table of Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 14
Acknowledgments......Page 18
About the Authors......Page 20
Drowning: A Diagnosis of Exclusion......Page 22
Drowning Statistics......Page 25
Respiratory (Pulmonary) Physiology......Page 26
Physiological Effects of Drowning......Page 28
The Process of Drowning......Page 33
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Drowning......Page 34
Drowning Tests......Page 35
Cold-Water-Related Deaths......Page 36
Position of Body in Water after Drowning......Page 37
Waterborne Illness......Page 38
Importance of a Good Scene Investigation......Page 39
The Role of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Medicolegal Death Investigation......Page 40
Reporting a Death to the Coroner or Medical Examiner: General Information and Requirements......Page 42
References......Page 44
Securing the Scene......Page 48
Documenting the Scene......Page 49
Search for Evidence......Page 51
Underwater Search Techniques......Page 53
Evidence Recovery......Page 66
Current or Tidal Action......Page 71
Infant Deaths......Page 72
Bodies in Submerged Vehicles......Page 73
Bucket Drowning......Page 77
Scuba Fatalities......Page 78
Suicidal Drowning......Page 85
Pool Drowning......Page 87
Hotel, School, and Recreation Center Pools......Page 88
Bathtub and Hot Tub Drowning......Page 91
Moving Water Drowning......Page 95
Erotic Drowning......Page 97
Drowning of the Elderly......Page 100
Boating and Personal Watercraft (PWC) Accidents......Page 101
Environmental Considerations......Page 118
References......Page 128
Postmortem Wandering......Page 130
General Body Assessment......Page 131
Ocular Changes......Page 132
Rigor Mortis (Rigidity)......Page 137
Livor Mortis (Lividity)......Page 139
Algor Mortis......Page 141
Physical Wounding of the Body......Page 142
Anthropophagy......Page 144
Maggots......Page 145
Decomposition......Page 146
Fingerprinting the Deceased in Water-Related Deaths......Page 149
References......Page 152
Decedent Information......Page 154
Witness Interviewing......Page 157
Suspect Interviewing......Page 160
Determining Accuracy of Statements Obtained at Scene......Page 161
Indicators of Deception......Page 162
Physical Gestures......Page 166
Why People Lie and How They Attempt to Conceal It......Page 167
Child Witnesses......Page 168
Interviews of Rescue and Recovery Personnel......Page 169
References......Page 170
Chain of Evidence and Exhibits......Page 172
Eyewitness Testimony vs. Circumstantial Evidence......Page 174
Child Witnesses......Page 175
Expert Witnesses......Page 176
Testifying in Court: Credibility, Appearance, and Demeanor......Page 177
Criminal vs. Civil Proceedings......Page 178
Case Studies......Page 179
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed against Rafting Company......Page 181
References......Page 183
6. Medicolegal Investigation of Deaths: Initial Processing......Page 184
References......Page 191
Introduction......Page 192
External Examination: General Information......Page 194
Description of External Findings......Page 200
Injuries......Page 204
Blunt Force Injury......Page 206
Sharp Force Injury......Page 215
Firearm Injury......Page 219
Thermal Injury......Page 222
Internal Examination......Page 227
Reporting......Page 233
Cause of Death, Manner of Death, and the Death Certificate......Page 237
Application of Medicine and Pathology to Law: The Forensic Pathologist as an Expert Witness......Page 239
References......Page 241
Asphyxia: General Information......Page 242
Suffocation......Page 243
Strangulation......Page 245
Gas-Related or Chemical Asphyxia......Page 252
Water-Related Deaths Due to Atmospheric Pressure Changes......Page 256
References......Page 257
Introduction......Page 258
Water-Related Deaths: Initial Processing......Page 259
External Examination......Page 260
Internal Examination......Page 266
Microscopic Findings......Page 273
Infant/Fetal Toilet Deaths......Page 279
References......Page 281
Introduction......Page 284
Ethanol......Page 286
Psychiatric Medications......Page 291
Illicit Drugs and Medications......Page 293
Carbon Monoxide......Page 297
References......Page 298
Homicidal Water-Related Deaths......Page 300
Suicidal Water-Related Deaths......Page 305
Accidental Water-Related Deaths......Page 308
Natural Water-Related Deaths......Page 315
Undetermined Water-Related Deaths......Page 322
References......Page 324
Appendix A......Page 326
Appendix B: Body Drop Rate Chart......Page 330
Appendix C: Checklists and Supplements......Page 332
Appendix D: Sample Autopsy Report......Page 342
Appendix E: You Make the Call......Page 348