How do you estimate time of death?

Answer 1

Tempature-The temperature of a body can be used to estimate time of death during the first 24 hours. Core temperature falls gradually with time since death, and depends on body mass, fat distribution and ambient temperature. If the body is discovered before the body temperature has come into equilibrium with the ambient temperature, forensic scientists can estimate the time of death by measuring core temperature of the body. Rigor Mortis- The presence of rigor mortis also assists forensic scientists in determining the time of death. The body muscles will normally be in a relaxed state for the first three hours after death, stiffening between 3 hours and 36 hours, and then becoming relaxed again. However, there is considerable uncertainty in estimates derived from rigor mortis, because the time of onset is highly dependent on the amount of work the muscles had done immediately before death. Insects-The presence of insects in a corpse is a critical clue towards estimating the time of death for bodies dead for longer periods of time. Because flies rapidly discover a body and their development times are predictable under particular environmental conditions, the time of death can be calculated by counting back the days from the state of development of insects living on the corpse.

Answer 2

There are many ways to come to an answer on time of death (only accurate when done by a professional).

Look at the stomach for signs of digestion -most meals leave the stomach and enter the large intestine within three or four hours.

The body's temperature, or algor mortis can be determined by inserting a special thermometer into the chest cavity. Once death occurs, your body is no longer able to maintain it's temperature. The bosy cools at a rate of one to one and a half degrees per hour until it meets the temperature of the surroundings. Other factors can influence the accuracy of this test, such as it being a very cold where the body is found.

Discoloration, or livor mortis is the purplish discoloring of the body's lower extremities. This process starts about two hours after death and is complete at approximately ten hours.

The degree of rigor mortis is another factor. The body enters rigor mortis within fifteen minutes after death. The body will continue to stiffen for up to fifteen hours.

The degree of decomposition or decay. The longer a person has been dead, the more decayed it is. You can also look at insect activity, types and stages

Answer 3

You do it by how old the thing is.

ANSWER:

During the autopsy, several methods are used to help determine time of death. Among them are: checking the stomach for signs of digestion. Most meals leave the stomach and enter the large intestine within three or four hours. This method is not entirely accurate for determining time of death though, as many things can have a factor in food digestion such as exercise after eating. Another method is determining the body's temperature by inserting a special thermometer into the chest cavity. When you are alive, your body maintains its temperature of 98.6 degrees. Once you have died, your body is no longer able to do that. The body cools at a rate of one to one and a half degrees per hour until you meet the temperature of your surroundings. Again, several factors can influence the accuracy of this test, such as it being very cold in the place of death, causing the body to cool much quicker. Medical examiners employ various other methods to help decide a time of death, but none are completely accurate.

Answer 4

There are lots of different methods. Stiffness and temperature, as well as the pooling of blood in the body, can be used to see around how long a person has been dead. Another method is examining insects and their life cycles; flies and other insects lay eggs when they find the bodies, and the growth and temperature can give a clue as to how long the bodies have been dead, when compared to the growth of the insects.

Answer 5

They use many factors, such as - the temperature of the body, the conditions the body was found in, the time of year etc.

The doctors compare the heart beat, pulsation rate, body temperature of the patient with that of the previous few months and come to a conclusion which may not be 100% accurate.