Basic Death Investigation
Three/Four Day Course Syllabus and Outline
 

Syllabus:

 
I. Course Title:  Basic Death Investigation

II. Course Description

This course is designed for both uniform and investigative law enforcement personnel who have responsibility for the investigation of deaths.  It involves the process of analyzing all aspects of a death case so as to arrive at the true course and manner of death (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural and unknown.)  The importance of scene analysis, physical and psychological evidence, autopsy, etc. is emphasized.  Motivation, both physiological and psychological are discussed along with criminal investigative analysis, and investigative psychology.

III. Target Population

This course is designed for both patrol and investigative personnel who have had limited exposure to the various aspects of death investigation.

IV. Course Objectives

  1. To teach the necessary elements of preparing a medical and psychological history of decedent through physicians, records, and contact with associates (psychological autopsy.)
  2. To identify various forms of suicide and to become familiar with the deception and problems involved in such incidents.
  3. To be familiar with the many forms of accidental deaths and investigative points involved.
  4. To learn to recognize discrepancies between what witnesses tell you, and what the body at the scene tells you.
  5. To be familiar with the avenues available in the identification of bodies that are decomposed, burned, mutilated or recovered from water.
  6. Develop an understanding in the factors involved in arriving at an estimation of the time of death.
  7. To recognize the elements involved in wounds inflicted by sharp force injury.
  8. Analyze thermal injuries and physiological changes during the burning process.
  9. Increase knowledge of gunshot wounds, internal and external damage, powder residues, size, shape, entry/exit and the deceptive nature of these wounds.
  10. Recognition of autoerotic deaths and their bizarre circumstances.
  11. To provide an overview of criminal investigative analysis to better understand the murderer psychologically by the signs and evidence at the scene.
  12. To furnish interview techniques and strategies for the different types of mental illness.

V. Resource Materials

Practical Homicide Investigations:
Tactics, Procedures and Forensic Techniques
by Vernon J. Gebreth

Medicolegal Investigation of Death:
by W. Spitz, M.D. and R. Fisher, M.D.

Pathology of Homicide:
by Lester Adelson, M.D.

Autoerotic Fatalities:
by Robert R. Hazelwood, Park Elliot Dietz, and Ann Wolbert Burgess

Crime Classification Manual:
by John E. Douglas, Ann W. Burgess, Allen G. Burgess and Robert K. Ressler

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:  (DSM-IV)

Stedmans Medical Dictionary:  24th Edition

Handouts

A death investigation manual covering time of death, recognition of death, identification of bodies, psychological autopsy, equivocal death analysis, gunshots, asphyxia, autoerotic deaths, burnings, drownings, sharp force injury, criminal investigative analysis, and investigative psychology will be furnished.

 

Outline:

 
I. Death Investigation Introduction
  • Wound Identification
  • Identification of Bodies
  • Gunshots
  • Asphyxia
  • Sharp Force Injury
  • Death Time Clock
  • Equivocal Death Analysis
  • Drownings
  • Burnings
  • Psychological Autopsy
II. Introduction to Criminal Investigative Analysis
 
  • Victimology
  • Body Position
  • Wound Analysis
  • Sexual Assault
III. Investigative Psychology
  • Disorganized Scenes
  • Organized Scenes
IV. O.J. Simpson Case
  • Bundy Street Scene
  • Rockingham Street Scene
  • Civil Case
An additional two days can be added to include:
  • Evidence Collection
  • Preservation
  • Laboratory Analysis
  • Mock Scenes