Determine time of death based on the information
Determine time of death based on the information
As the lead crime scene investigator, you are requested to assist the medical examiner with estimating the time of death of a deceased White male. The victim’s home was a two story single family dwelling with a back deck spanning the length of the house located at 2525 Frost Avenue.
The body of Felix Smith was found at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2012 by Christy Moore, a neighbor of the victim. She claimed she came over to ask the victim to assist her with her car that would not start. She entered through the unlocked front door when the victim did not answer the door bell. Moore said that she had eaten Chinese food and watched Dexter with the victim the night before, and the victim was still alive when Moore left the house at 11:00 p.m.
The victim was lying face up at the bottom of the back deck steps. He appears to have suffered injuries to the back of the head and neck. The body temperature of the victim at 7:00 a.m. was approximately 32.6°C. His eyes were open and covered with a cloudy film. The victim had purple discoloration on his chest and thighs consistent with lividity.
Two empty boxes of Chinese food were found on the dining room table from King Wok along with a receipt saying that it was sent out for delivery Thursday, June 11, at 6:00 p.m. There was no evidence of forced entry, but the front door to the home was left unlocked.
The male victim is approximately 177 cm tall and weighs 67 kg. The cause of death appears to be blunt force trauma to the back of the skull and a broken neck. Both of these injuries are consistent with a fall down stairs. There was Chinese food located in the victim’s stomach, but none had entered the small intestine.
Questions
Discuss all methods possible to determine time of death based on the information provided.
What evidence assisted you with the time of death?
Do you believe Ms. Moore’s account that the victim was alive at 11:00 p.m.?
Was the body moved after death?
Do you think that the victim’s death was an accident or a murder?
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