Water-Related Death Investigation: Practical Methods and Forensic Applications

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1 Introduction
	Drowning: A Diagnosis of Exclusion
	Drowning Statistics and Epidemiology
	The Drowning Process
		Respiratory (Pulmonary) Physiology
		Pathophysiological Effects of Drowning
		The Process of Drowning
		Freshwater vs. Saltwater Drowning
		“Dry Drowning”
		Drowning Tests
		Cold-Water-Related Deaths
		Warm-Water-Related Deaths
		Position of Body in Water after Drowning
		Waterborne Illness
	Importance of a Good Scene Investigation
	The Role of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Medicolegal Death Investigation
		Reporting a Death to the Coroner or Medical Examiner: General Information and Requirements
	References
Chapter 2 Investigative Duties on Scene
	Securing the Scene
	Determining Scene Boundaries
	Documenting the Scene
	Search for Evidence
	Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones)
		Body Search Missions
		Body Search Operations Checklist
		Challenges of Drone Use for Body Searches
		Coordinating with Ground Teams
		Loc 8 Image Scanning Software
		Thermal Imaging
		Thermal Imaging Limitations
		Thermal Imaging for Drones
		Body Decomposition Heat Signatures
		Decomposing Vegetation Heat Signatures
		Mapping Missions for SAR
		Thermal Vision Cameras for Drones
		Drone Models
			DJI Inspire Quadcopter
			DJI Matrice 200 Quadcopter
			Parrot Bebop Pro Thermal Quadcopter
			DJI Mavic Air
		Grid Searches
		Drone Laws
		Underwater Drones
	Underwater Search Techniques
		Search Patterns for Divers
		Diver-Held Sonar
		Side-Scan Sonar
		Kongsberg Sonar
		K-9-Aided Searches
		Evidence Recovery
			Types of Evidence
			Latent Prints from Submerged Evidence
			Handgun Evidence
			Tape
			Weapon Recovery
			Dive Team Equipment
	Significance of the Absence or Presence of Clothing or Other Coverings on the Body
		Body Composition
		Water Temperature
		Current or Tidal Action
		Type of Clothing
		Manner of Water Entry
		Retardation of Decomposition
		Preservation of Evidence
		Infant Deaths
		Aid in Recovery or Identification
	Investigative Characteristics of Selected Scenes
		Bodies in Submerged Vehicles
		Bucket Drowning
		Scuba Fatalities
			Dive Buddy Interview
			Recovery Diver Interview
			Location and Recovery of the Diver
			Equipment Preservation and Evaluation
			Air Quality Standards for Scuba Tanks
			Sampling Scuba Cylinder Air
			Autopsy
			Formulating Conclusions
			Common Factors of Scuba Fatalities
			Scuba Fatality Reports
		Suicidal Drowning
		Pool Drowning
		Hotel, School, and Recreation Center Pools
			Lighting
			Noise
			Surface Ripple
			False Sense of Security
			Unusual Hours of Operation
			High Concentration of Swimmers
			Interview of Lifeguard (If One Was on Duty)
			Investigative Techniques
		Bathtub and Hot Tub Drowning
		Moving Water Drowning
			Current Speed
			Body Drop Rates
		Homicidal Drowning
		Erotic Drowning
		Drowning of the Elderly
		Boating and Personal Watercraft (PWC) Accidents
			Determining the Location of the Crash
			Light and Lamp Examination
			Inspection of PFDs
			Cold Water Immersion
			Alcohol
			Drug Use, to Include Illegal/Illicit Drugs and Prescription Drugs for Sedation, Anxiety, Sleep, Pain, etc.
			Causes of Injury to PWC Operators
			Vessel Examination
			Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Boating
		Mammalian Dive Reflex/Cold Water Near Drowning
			Environmental Considerations
			Natural Hydraulics
	References
Chapter 3 On-Scene Body Assessment
	Introduction
	Postmortem Wandering
	General Body Assessment
	Ocular Changes
	Foam Column/Foam Cone
	Rigor Mortis (Rigidity)
	Livor Mortis (Lividity)
	Lividity vs. Bruising (Contusion)
	Algor Mortis
	Physical Wounding of the Body
	Anthropophagy
	Maggots
	Decomposition
	Fingerprinting the Deceased in Water-Related Deaths
		Fingerprinting Decomposed Human Remains
			Live Scan
			Casting Mediums
	References
Chapter 4 Case Investigation: Obtaining Decedent, Witness, Suspect, and First Responder Information
	Parabon Snapshot
		Types of Analysis Provided
		How It Works
		Genetic Genealogy
		Stages of Snapshot Reconstruction (See Figure 4.2)
		Benefits of Snapshot Facial Reconstruction
		Case Study: Brittani Marcell Assault
		Carbon-14 Dating to Determine Age and Year of Death
	Decedent Information
		Witness Interviewing
		Suspect Interviewing
		Second Interview
	Determining Accuracy of Statements Obtained at Scene
		Indicators of Deception
			Unfinished Business
			“I Can’t”
			The Hypothetically Structured Phrase
			Hard Question
			Objection
			Nonreflective Denial of Knowledge
			Maintenance of Dignity
			The Interrogatory Evasive Response
			Projection
			No Proof
			Accusatory
			The Answer Is …
			Rambling Dissertation
			The Answer Does Not Equal the Question
			Denial of Presence
			Speech Errors
	Nonverbal Communication
		Physical Gestures
	Why People Lie and How They Attempt to Conceal It
	Child Witnesses
	Interviews of Rescue and Recovery Personnel
		Case Investigation Assistance
			CODIS-Combined DNA Index System
			VIDOCQ Society
	References
Chapter 5 Pretrial Preparation for the Field Investigator
	Incident Report
	Chain of Evidence and Exhibits
	Pretrial Interviews
	Eyewitness Testimony vs. Circumstantial Evidence
	Child Witnesses
	Expert Witnesses
	Video and Audio Recordings
	Testifying in Court: Credibility, Appearance, and Demeanor
	Criminal vs. Civil Proceedings
		Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed against Rafting Company
	References
Chapter 6 Medicolegal Investigation of Deaths: Initial Processing
	References
Chapter 7 The Medicolegal Autopsy
	Introduction
	External Examination: General Information
		Description of External Findings
		Injuries
		Blunt Force Injury
		Sharp Force Injury
		Firearm Injury
		Thermal Injury
		Internal Examination
		Reporting
		Cause of Death, Manner of Death, and the Death Certificate
	Application of Medicine and Pathology to Law: The Forensic Pathologist as an Expert Witness
	References
Chapter 8 Asphyxia
	Asphyxia: General Information
		Suffocation
		Strangulation
		Gas-Related or Chemical Asphyxia
		Water-Related Deaths due to Atmospheric Pressure Changes
	References
Chapter 9 The Forensic Pathological Aspects of Deaths Due to Drowning and Bodies Recovered from Fluid Environments
	Introduction
	Water-Related Deaths: Initial Processing
	The Autopsy and the Diagnosis of Drowning and Other Water-Related Injury
		External Examination
		Internal Examination
		Infant/Fetal Toilet Deaths
	References
Chapter 10 The Forensic Toxicological Aspects of Deaths Due to Drowning and Bodies Recovered from Fluid Environments
	Introduction
	Ethanol
	Psychiatric Medications
	Illicit Drugs and Medications
	Carbon Monoxide
	References
Chapter 11 Water-Related Deaths by Manner
	Homicidal Water-Related Deaths
	Suicidal Water-Related Deaths
	Accidental Water-Related Deaths
	Natural Water-Related Deaths
	Undetermined Water-Related Deaths
	References
Chapter 12 Personnel Training
	Water-Proofing the Patrol Officer
		Introduction
		Legal Issue
		Steps to a Safe Encounter
			Awareness
			Prevention
			Recovery (Self-Rescue)
			In-water Self-Defense
			Self-Defense
			Rescue of Others
			Rescue from Others
	Diver Training
		Introduction
		Preparing for a Dive Deployment
		Search Preparation
		Rescue Training
		Evidence and Body Recovery
	Drown-Proofing Divers
		Bed Sheets
		Port Hole
		Devil’s Triangle
		Panic and Stress
		Equipment Exchange
		Deep Donning of Gear
		Mask and Regulator Rip Off
		AGA/Full Face Mask Rip Off
		Dropping Weights
		Underwater Puzzle and Pipe Assembly
		Cross-training
	References
Appendix A
Appendix B: Body Drop Rate Chart
Appendix C: Checklists and Supplements
Appendix D: Sample Autopsy Report
Appendix E: You Make the Call
Appendix F
Index