A body is discovered in near Albuquerque, New Mexico (a hot, dry area), with no evidence that it was ever buried. The flesh is sagging and less than half of the skeleton is visible. The bones that are visible have a greasy look and feel; however, the left foot is fully skeletonized, with a little desiccated soft tissue on its dry bone. A cotton skirt shows a small amount of deterioration while nylon stockings located near the body are in good condition. The approximate time since death based on

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sagging flesh and greasy look and feel of the visible bones suggest that the body has been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time, ruling out choices A and B. The fully skeletonized left foot with only a little desiccated tissue also suggest that some time has passed since death. The small amount of deterioration on the cotton skirt suggests a relatively short time of exposure, but the good condition of the nearby nylon stockings could indicate that the body has been in a dry environment for a longer period of time. Therefore, the best choice is C, 2.5 to 4 months.

A Body Is Discovered in near Albuquerque, New Mexico (A