Deck 9: Death Investigations

Question 1

A man locked his child in the car on a hot day with the windows rolled up while he went shopping.When he returned two hours later,he found that the child had died.With which crime will he most probably be charged?

A)First-degree murder
B)Voluntary manslaughter
C)Second-degree murder
D)Involuntary manslaughter

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The cooling of the body after death is a fairly constant process and can be used to establish the time of death.This cooling process is known as:

A)algor mortis.
B)rigor mortis.
C)autolysis.
D)lividity.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following is true regarding a gunshot entrance wound?

A)It will usually be a neat,clean hole.
B)A large amount of bleeding will typically be observed.
C)There will not be any smudging.
D)It will have a ragged appearance.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Under law,categories of homicide are generally divided into two classifications,murder and:

A)Spree-killing
B)Feticide
C)Manslaughter
D)Death

Question 5

A murder conducted in the heat of passion is said to be considered:

A)Voluntary
B)Involuntary
C)Selective
D)Prejudicial

Question 6

The very first item of concern for the first responding officer is to:

A)Determine if the victim is dead or alive
B)Take field notes
C)Write a police report
D)Contact an investigator

Question 7

Officer Simmons notices that a murder victim's wounds indicate severe bleeding,but she also detects very little blood near the body.Which of the following is her best conclusion based on these facts?

A)The wound was caused by a very thin,sharp knife.
B)The perpetrator cleaned the body to remove evidence.
C)The victim died very quickly,thus reducing blood flow.
D)The body was moved from the place of death.

Question 8

The biochemical changes in the body after death that produce a stiffening of the muscles is known as:

A)algor mortis.
B)rigor mortis.
C)autolysis.
D)postmortem lividity.

Question 9

After the preliminary duties have been performed at a homicide scene,the responding officer must immediately:

A)protect the crime scene.
B)seize any evidence readily visible.
C)begin the interview of possible suspects after reading Miranda Warnings.
D)None of the above.

Question 10

Tiny pinpoint hemorrhages resulting from the discharge of unburned powder being deposited into the skin that cannot be wiped off are called:

A)smudging.
B)spotting.
C)tattooing.
D)pinning.

Question 11

Which category of death is associated with wounds from handguns and shotguns,cutting and stabbing wounds,blunt-force injuries,and extraordinary modes of death such as poisoning and death by asphyxia?

A)Natural death
B)Suicide
C)Accidental death
D)Murder

Question 12

Which of the following is the best indicator of the process of lividity in a deceased person?

A)A purplish color forms on the skin.
B)A milky substances forms in the eyes.
C)The body temperature cools rapidly.
D)The body becomes extremely stiff.

Question 13

Which of the following is true regarding gunshot exit wounds?

A)Tattooing
B)Small amount of blood
C)Smudging ring
D)Ragged appearance

Question 14

Which of the following is the most accurate statistic regarding wrongful deaths in the United States?

A)Around one-third of murder victims are females,and two-thirds are males.
B)Ninety percent of all murders are committed with firearms.
C)An estimated 85 percent of people murdered knew their assailant.
D)Half of all female victims in recent years were killed by husbands or boyfriends.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is NOT true about smudging with regard to gunshot wounds?

A)It is a ring that results from gunpowder being deposited around the wound.
B)It cannot be wiped off.
C)It indicates that the victim was close to the assailant.
D)It indicates that the firearm was not actually touching the victim's skin.

Question 16

Upon arriving at a potential murder scene,which is the patrol officer's greatest priority?

A)Finding out if the perpetrator is still nearby
B)Determining if the victim is dead or needs aid
C)Detaining witnesses and writing down their names
D)Safeguarding the crime scene from deterioration

Question 17

Which aspect of homicide investigations is most prone to error?

A)Preserving the crime scene
B)Determining the cause of death
C)Apprehending the perpetrator
D)Locating reliable witnesses

Question 18

As a result of gravity,when the blood stops circulating it begins to settle to the lowest portion of the body.This pooling of blood is permanent and is useful in determining a change of position of the body after death.This process is known as:

A)algor mortis.
B)rigor mortis.
C)autolysis.
D)postmortem lividity.

Question 19

After death a chemical breakdown begins,resulting in the softening and liquefaction of the body tissue.This process is useful in determining time of death and is known as:

A)algor mortis.
B)rigor mortis.
C)autolysis.
D)lividity.

Question 20

There are several stages which the body goes through after falling victim to death.The first recognized stage of decomposition is considered to be:

A)Putrefaction stage
B)Fresh stage
C)Butyric fermentation stage
D)Dry decay stage

Question 21

Shotgun wadding can tell an investigator both the gauge used and the type of shot used.

Question 22

Of the estimated 15,500 people murdered each year in the U.S. ,approximately 85% knew their assailant.

Question 23

Rigor mortis usually sets in about nine hours after death occurs.

Question 24

After death the body begins to cool though the process of _____ _____ that is considered to be one of the more reliable indicators of time of death.

Question 25

A persons clothing does not have an effect during the decomposition process.

Question 26

Entrance gunshot wounds are generally larger than exit gunshot wounds.

Question 27

In death investigations,the eyes are considered the most sensitive part of the body.

Question 28

After the body goes through the bloating stage,it begins the purple putrefaction stage.

Question 29

_____indicates that the firearm was close to,but not actually touching,the victim's skin.

Question 30

Bodies found in water generally decompose about twice as quickly as do those found in air.

Question 31

Evidence of soot is present with contact wounds.

Question 32

Entrance gunshot wounds are generally _____ than exit gunshot wounds.

Question 33

Shotgun ______ can tell an investigator both the gauge used and the type of shot used.

Question 34

Complete notes are critical during the early stages of the homicide crime-scene investigation.

Question 35

Biochemical changes in the body after death produce stiffening of the muscles known as _____ _____,which is useful in determining the time of death.

Question 36

When the blood stops circulating it begins to settle to the lowest portion of the body,a process known as algor mortis.

Question 37

A person's body temperature is normally 98.6 degree Fahrenheit.

Question 38

Body temperature can also be raised by the victim's excessive body fat or heavy clothing.

Question 39

In all homicide situations,the first officer on the scene has several principle concerns.However,the responding officer does not have to determine if the victim is dead or alive-that is for the investigator or medical examiner to determine.

Question 40

Smudging indicates that the firearm was close to,but not actually touching,the victim's skin.

Question 41

The second stage of the decomposition process where marbelization of the skin begins is considered the ________ stage.

Question 42

Stage 3 of the decomposition process which occurs 10-20 days after death is considered the _______ ________stage.

Question 43

Matching
Locate the correct matches from Column 1 to Column 2

Question 44

You have been called to homicide scene where a body has been found.It is your duty to determine the cause of death and determine how long the person has been missing from their home.Upon arrival,you notice that there are a great number of insects on and around the body.You also notice the body is dark green and there is a foul odor emanating directly from the body.Given these clues determine what stage of composition the body is in and discuss how you came to your conclusion.

Question 45

Stage 1 of the body decomposition state is considered the _____ stage.

Question 46

________ notes are critical during the early stages of the homicide crime scene investigation.

Question 47

You have been called to a homicide scene where a body has been found.It is your job to determine the cause of death and determine what stage of decomposition the body is in.When you arrive at the scene,you notice the body appears to be in the mummification process and there are two neat,clean holes with blackish-gray rings around their edges on the body.What is your determination?

Question 48

Define the following terms that describe murder and manslaughter.

Question 49

List and describe the 5 stages of decomposition.

Question 50

Identify and define the four general modes of death categories.