Conducting death and homicide investigations

Training Goals and Objectives

The goal of the training program is to acquaint the novice investigator with all facets of death investigation, including the esoteric terminology that is unique to homicide cases.

Attendees will become familiar with the indicators of suspicious death and learn just how equivocal the death scene can be. They will also become confident in assessing the crime scene and determining what type of action should be taken through the prioritization of viable leads.

The course is designed to enable the investigator to immediately interpret what he or she sees, the moment they walk onto the crime scene, and to derive from that knowledge an analytical approach to the investigation. All areas of the investigative process crucial to the successful conclusion of the case will be examined and discussed thoroughly. 

Actual real-life examples will help the investigator become acquainted with forensic concepts not familiar to the beginner, such as lividity, rigor mortis, Algor mortis, decomposition, ante mortem and postmortem trauma, etc. There is a heavy emphasis on wound recognition, modes of death, and what to look for at the autopsy.

Training Audience and Format

This course is intended for detectives newly-assigned to homicide duties, experienced death investigators seeking alternate perspectives, or detectives and uniform personnel desirous of entering the field of death investigations. Crime scene technicians, medical examiner/coroner investigators, supervisors, military investigators, criminal analysts, and prosecuting attorneys would also benefit from the training.

The course is designed in 3 day sessions. Instruction is provided through the use of a PowerPoint presentation that makes liberal use of authentic crime  scene photographs. This insures that the topics discussed are portrayed as realistically as possible. Numerous handouts and video tapes are used as instructional aids. 

Daily content and course schedule:

Day One:

• Manner of Death (Natural, Accidental, Suicide & Homicide)
• Equivocal Death
• Infant Death (SIDS & Child Abuse)
• Death by Poisoning
• Asphyxiation / Suffocation / Drowning
• Electrocutions / Lightning Strikes
• Fire Death
• Comprehensive Examination of Suicide
• Autoerotic Death

Day Two:

• Types of Homicide (Murder, Manslaughter, Excusable, Justifiable, etc.)
• The Homicide Crime Scene (Mincey vs. Arizona, DNA, Blood Spatter, etc.)
• Establishing the Time of Death (Algor Mortis, Livor Mortis & Rigor Mortis)
• Identifying the Victim
• Notifying the Next of Kin
• The Autopsy
• Modes of Death (Blunt Force Trauma, Stabbing, Gunshot Wounds, etc.)
• Dealing With the Media

Day Three:

• Decomposition (Autolysis , Putrefaction, Adiopocere & Mummification)
• Skeletal Remains
• In-depth Examination of Gunshot Wounds (Contact, Intermediate & Distant)
• Stabbing / Cutting / Chopping Wounds
• Strangulation / Asphyxiation (Petechia & Hyoid damage)
• Pattern Injuries
• Defensive Wounds
• The Area Canvass
• Courtroom Presentation
• Case Studies

Students should be forewarned that the content of this course contains numerous death scene photographs that are highly graphic and intense. Due to the sensitive nature of this material, attendance is restricted to sworn law enforcement personnel, or those directly involved in the criminal justice system.