Bennett/Hess, Criminal
Investigation, 8th edition
Chapter 8
Death Investigations
Bennett/Hess, Criminal Investigation, 8e
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The Violent Crime Apprehension
Program (VICAP) coordinates major
violent-crime cases within the United
States such as serial killings and other
cases committed in multiple
jurisdictions.
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It must be established whether a death
was caused by criminal action
Natural
 Accidental
 Suicide
Homicide (non-criminal or criminal)
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Homicide
Criminal Homicide
Non-criminal Homicide

Murder (first, second,
or third degree)

Excusable homicide

Manslaughter
(voluntary or
involuntary)

Justifiable homicide
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Homicide
609.185
Murder in the First Degree
60609.19
Murder in the Second Degree
609.195
Murder in the Third Degree
609.20
Manslaughter in the First Degree
609.205
Manslaughter in the Second Degree
609.21
Criminal Vehicular Homicide and Injury
609.215
Suicide
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Premeditation is the consideration or
planning of an act, no matter how briefly
before committing it. It is the element of
first-degree murder that sets it apart from
all other classifications.
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Terms to know…..
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Heat of passion---an act committed when the
suspect suddenly becomes extremely
emotional, thus precluding premeditation
Criminal negligence---a dangerous act
committed by an individual that any prudent
person would see death as a possible result
Equivocal death---facts that may be vague or
purposely misleading as in a staged crime
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The most prominent evidence found at
a homicide scene includes a weapon, a
body, blood, hairs, and fibers.
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Homicide Victim Identification



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Immediate family
members

Fingerprints

DNA analysis

Dental/skeletal remains

Clothing/jewelry

Missing-persons file
Relatives
Acquaintances
Personal effects
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Rigor Mortis


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
A Latin term meaning “stiffness of death”
Stiffening of the joints after death due to
skeletal muscle contraction
Depending on conditions, onset may be
visible from 10 minutes to several hours
Usually noticed in the smaller muscle masses
first (hands, face, etc.)
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Postmortem Lividity (Livor mortis)
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

Upon death, the blood no longer circulates
and gravity draws blood to the body’s lowest
level
Begins within 30 minutes to three hours after
death occurs
Patterns indicate whether or not the body was
moved after death
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Estimating the time of death….
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Body temperature
Rigor mortis
Postmortem lividity
Eye appearance
Stomach contents
Stage of decomposition
Variance in victim’s normal routine
Insect growth and development
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The medical examination provides
evidence related to the cause and time
of death and if drugs or alcohol are
present
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Gunshot wounds


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Handguns, rifles, shotguns
Contact wounds may leave a muzzle
impression on the skin and soot or powder
fragments in the entrance area
Close-range wounds will leave ‘tattooing’
cause by discharged powder on the victim’s
clothes/body
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Terms to know…..
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Defense wounds---cuts on the hands, arms, and legs
as a result of the victim attempting to ward off an
attacker
Hesitation wounds---superficial wounds often
present on a suicide victim resulting from an attempt
to build up the courage to make the fatal wound
Asphyxiation---body tissues and brain receive
insufficient oxygen to support red blood cells
resulting in death (choking, drowning, hanging,
strangulation)
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Autoerotic asphyxiation
Accidental death caused by a solitary victim
seeking to intensify sexual gratification by
constricting oxygen and blood flow to the brain
that results in unconsciousness, often by a
rope or other ligature.
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Mass murderers Serial murderers
Occurs when multiple
victims are killed in a
single incident by one
or a few suspects. An
example is a sniper
who kills several
innocent people from
on top of a building.
The killing of three or
more people with a
‘cooling off’ period
between the killings.
An example would be
a killer who murders
several people in a
multi-state area in the
course of a year.
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