Death Investigation
In suspicious death investigation, the dead body and the articles at the scene of
crime are very important, if the investigator missed anything, it lead the
investigation towards wrong direction.
Death is divided in to the following categories -
Natural death - Death that occurred at home or in hospital under care of
medical practitioner due to any acute or chronic disease is a natural death.
These deaths occurred under non-suspicious circumstances.
Violent death -
Its includes
i) Homicides - Unlawful or willful killing of one human being by another human being.
ii) Suicides - Taking of one's own life.
iii) Accident - Sudden and unexpected action by external cause that leads to
physical damage and death.
Suspicious death - when death is not determined by reasonable certainty and
it require further investigation (forensic and medical ) to rule out the nature of death.
Scene of crime observation -
First things to observe is that the scene of crime is indoor or outdoor. Both crime
scene need different protection, preservation and weather conditions effect the outdoor scene of crime.
In suspicious death whether the crime scene is primary or secondary, it must be carefully observed.
Treated all suspicious cases as homicide until it proved to be an accidental or suicide case.
Under water the decomposition of dead body is slow and when the dead body lying close to a heater, decomposition is usually fast.
The case of gunshot wound on the head need more information to decide weather it's a case of homicide, suicide or accident. Same in the case of suicide.
How to observe the dead body in a suspicious death investigation -
If the investigator found bloody froth on or inside the mouth or in nose it indicates asphyxia death due to suffocation, strangulation or drowning.
Observe the condition of cloths of the dead body, its gives clue about struggle, accident signs before death.
Presence of bloodstains record carefully around the dead body.
Observe the position and condition of belongings and articles around body such as shoes, bag, diary etc.
Preserve the footprints, shoe prints, Tyre marks etc. around the body.
The presence of dust, soil, grease, mud, hair, fibers on the body provide the exact place of death.
The basic steps for protecting, searching, preservation, sketching, photographing are not discussed here as they are already discussed in previous blogs.
Some basic points should be observed in death investigation.
Face deformation of dead body indicate the homicide case.
Manipulation of crime scene, absence of weapon used in offence and multiple injuries and wounds indicate the homicide case.
In homicide cases there always be a motive like monetary gains, revenge, land dispute, sexual interest, enmity and rivalry.
A women didn't commit suicide in a nude (seldom).
In most cases of suicide victim usually opens his clothing when attacking any part of body.
Always observed that the victim is right or left handed.
There are very less chances that a victim shoot himself in the eye.
In suicide cases the sign of violence, struggle or deformity are absent. Surrounding objects are found undisturbed except suicidal burning in which disturbance found due to life saving activities.
No bleeding was found from nostrils,ears or mouth in a suicidal hanging.
Suicide note may be or may not be found.
Weapon used in a suicide case mostly found in hand or near to the body.
In deaths due to falling an average point is that falling from a height of 100 feet will approximately cover a distance of 14 feet from the base.
In accidental deaths injuries are multiple and always be uni-directional.
In death investigation the investigation officer, forensic expert and medico legal expert jointly decide the nature of death.
MR. DEEPAK PAWAR has been working as Finger Print Expert / Police Officer in Finger Print Bureau , Delhi Police at New Delhi since 2001 . He is the senior most Finger Print Expert , attending / visited several scene of crime and solved many crime cases .He has passed M.Sc (Chemistry) and he is the Member of International Association of Identification . He is the Member of Delhi Police welfare association . He is supervising the Forensic , New Delhi District , Mobile Crime Team . He is one of the Expert in the Special Investigation Team held for investigation of important cases . He has been giving fingerprint proficient training to Delhi Police personnel's . He has been Presented / giving lectures on topics related to forensic science . He is also making examination paper of Finger Print proficient course . He is awarded with Police Medal by MHA and Delhi Police.