U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs

1 Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 810 Seventh Street Washington, DC 20531. Eric H. Holder, Jr. Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson Assistant Attorney General John H. Laub Director, National Institute of Justice This and other publications and products of the National Institute of Justice can be found at: National Institute of Justice Office of Justice Programs Innovation Partnerships Safer Neighborhoods JUNE 2011. Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator Technical Update Original Guide Developed and Approved by the National Medicolegal Review Panel Executive Director Steven C. Clark, Occupational Research and Assessment, Inc.

2 Big Rapids, Michigan Associate Professor Ferris State University November 1999. Technical Update Developed and Approved by the Technical Update Review Committee March 2010. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs The original project was supported under grant number 96 MU CS 0005 by the National Institute of Justice , Office of Justice Programs , Department of Justice , and by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The technical update was supported under grant number 2007 MU BX . K008 by the National Institute of Justice , Office of Justice Programs , Department of Justice . This document is not intended to create, does not create, and may not be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any matter civil or criminal.

3 Opinions or points of view expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Department of Justice . NCJ 234457. DEATH INVESTIGATION. Original Guide: National Medicolegal Review Panel The National Medicolegal American Medical Review Panel (NMRP) Association represents a multidisci- Mary Case, plinary group of content area Chief Medical Examiner experts, each represent- St. Louis, St. Charles, ing members of his or her Jefferson, and Franklin respective organization. Each Counties, Missouri organization has a role . St. Louis University School be it active involvement or of Medicine, College of oversight in conducting American Pathologists death investigations and in Jeffrey M.

4 Jentzen, implementing these Medical Examiner guidelines. Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States Conference International Association of Mayors of Chiefs of Police The Honorable Scott L. King Chief Thomas J. O'Loughlin (Chairman, NMRP) Wellesley, Massachusetts Mayor International Association Gary, Indiana of coroners and Medical American Academy of Examiners Forensic Sciences Halbert E. Fillinger, Jr., Joseph H. Davis, Coroner Retired Director, Dade Montgomery county , county Medical Examiner Pennsylvania Department National Association of Miami, Florida Counties American Bar Association Douglas A. Mack, , Bruce H. Hanley, Esq. Partner, Hanley & Dejoras, Chief Medical Examiner and Public Health Director Minneapolis, Minnesota Kent county , Michigan iii RESEARCH REPORT / JUNE 2011.

5 National Association of National Sheriffs'. Medical Examiners Association Richard C. Harruff, , Donald L. Mauro Commanding Officer, Associate Medical Examiner Homicide Bureau Seattle/King county Depart- Los angeles county Sheriff's ment of Public Health Department Seattle, Washington Los angeles , California National Conference of Colorado coroners '. State Legislatures Association Representative Jeanne Elaine R. Meisner M. Adkins Logan county Coroner Colorado State Legislature Sterling, Colorado House Judiciary Committee South Dakota Funeral Denver, Colorado Directors' Association National Governors' George H. Kuhler Association Elected Coroner Richard T.

6 Callery, , Beadle county , South Dakota Chief Medical Examiner Wilmington, Delaware iv DEATH INVESTIGATION. Technical Update: Review Committee American Academy of International Association Forensic Sciences of coroners and Medical Julie A. Howe, Examiners Medicolegal Death Investigator O'dell Owens, , St. Louis University, Division President of Forensic Pathology Cincinnati State Technical St. Louis, Missouri and Community College Cincinnati, Ohio American Board of Medico- legal Death Investigators National Association of Roberta Geiselhart, Medical Examiners Supervisor of Investigations Jeff Jentzen, Hennepin county Medical Director of Autopsy and Examiner's Office Forensic Services Minneapolis, Minnesota University of Michigan International Association of Ann Arbor, Michigan Chiefs of Police National Sheriffs'.

7 Major Rustin Price Association Commander, Criminal Sergeant Michael Price Investigation Division DuPage county Sheriff's Baltimore county Police Office Department Wheaton, Illinois Towson, Maryland v DEATH INVESTIGATION. Acknowledgments NIJ wishes to thank the and county Coroner's Office , original Technical Working Denver, Colorado, whose Group for Death Investigation combined commitment to (TWGDI). This 144-member the field of death investiga- reviewer network gave of tion is a tribute to the quality their time to review guide- of this document. In addition, line content, providing the the offices that employ each researcher feedback from member of the group share a national perspective.

8 In this endeavor. Through Additional thanks to the their support, each mem- TWGDI executive board: Mr. ber was given the flexibility Paul Davison, Kent county they needed to support the Office , Grand Rapids, project. Michigan; Mr. Bill Donovan, Jefferson Parish Coroner's NIJ also wishes to thank its Office , Harvey, Louisiana; technical advisors: John E. Mr. Cullen Ellingburgh, Smialek, , Chief Medical Forensic Science Center, Examiner, State of Maryland;. Orange county , California; Randy L. Hanzlick, , Ms. Roberta Geiselhart, , Centers for Disease Control Hennepin county Of- and Prevention (CDC) and fice, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Emory University School of Dr.

9 Elizabeth Kinnison, Office Medicine; Ms. Mary Fran of the Chief , Norfolk, Ernst, Director of Medico- Virginia; Mr. Vernon McCarty, legal Education, St. Louis Washoe county Coroner, University Medical School;. Reno, Nevada; Mr. Joseph and Ms. Mary Lou Kearns, Morgan, Fulton county Coroner, Kane county , Il- Office , Atlanta, Georgia; Mr. linois. Each made significant Randy Moshos, Office , contributions to the project's New York, New York; Mr. inception, eventual funding, Steve Nunez, Office of the and timely completion. Their Medical Investigator, Albu- dedication to the science of querque, New Mexico; Ms. death investigation and to the Rose Marie Psara, , St.

10 Members of the investiga- Louis county Office , tive community is apparent St. Louis, Missouri; and Mr. throughout this document. Michael Stewart, Denver City vii RESEARCH REPORT / JUNE 2011. The former Director of NIJ, of Joseph H. Davis, , the Honorable Jeremy Travis; Medical Examiner Emeritus, the Director of NIJ's Office Dade county , Florida, and of Science and Technology, Mr. Donald Murray, National Mr. David G. Boyd; and NIJ's Association of Counties, for Forensic Science Program their unrelenting efforts to Manager, Richard M. Rau, get this job done and improve , each share responsi- their profession, every scene, bility for the success of this every time.