Time of Death, Decomposition and Identification: An Atlas

Preface TIME OF DEATH (POSTMORTEM INTERVAL) AND DECOMPOSITION Time of Death Introduction Rigor Mortis Livor Mortis Body Cooling (Algor Mortis) Scene Investigation Chemical Analyses Gastric Microscopic Analyses Decomposition Adipocere Mummification Anthropophagia IDENTIFICATION Positive Identification Visual Identification Fingerprints Dental Radiographs (X-rays) DNA "Fingerprinting" Presumptive Identification Physical Features Clothing and Other Personal Property Circumstances Surrounding Death Skeletal Remains REFERENCES Case Examples Case 1 - Differential Decomposition Discussion Case 2 - Time of Death Case 3 - Gastric