Death Investigation;A Handbook for Police Officers

This handbook will be a practical and useful resource for police death investigators. It defines the role of the police death investigator, and it contains the various aspects of death as well as the many causes of death. The book is broken down into two distinct sections - one for in-depth reading and the other as a quick reference section for review. Specific topics that are covered are establishing time of death by postmortem changes after death, drowning, gunshot wounds, cutting and stabbing wounds, asphyxia, lightning and traffic crash-related deaths. Also included in the handbook are sections on crime scenes and the use of such evidence as bloodspatter and fly larvae. Additionally, the book provides information about the use of hypnosis and psychics in major case investigations. A comprehensive glossary is also included. The numerous case studies and crime scene photographs included in the book are actual cases and serve to illustrate an example or reason for the methods described in the text. The guiding theme of this handbook is that teamwork in the investigation of various aspects and causes of death is essential if viable and effective solutions are to take place.