Susquehanna Township High School

Forensic Science Class

Death Scene Investigation 2007

Death Scene Data Sheet, Thursday, May 24 , 2007

Weather: sunny and very hot, thunder storm earlier in the afternoon

Ambient Air Temperature	88 ^OF
Body Surface Temperature	126 ^OF
Under Body Temperature	108^OF
Soil Temperature (4 cm depth)	98.8^OF
Maggot Mass Temperature	118.5^OF

Observations:

The deer corpse has under gone significant changes since yesterday. It is no longer bloated. It purged all the gas and liquid contents . It has moved into active decay and black putrefaction. Photography by Manny J and with little help from Kody N.

The corpse has moved into the black putrefaction stage of decomposition, the corpse is no longer purging and the bloat is gone.

A dark stain is observed on the ground outlining the corpse. This was caused by the purging liquids and gases of putrefaction.

A large amount of insect activity is occurring UNDER the body, probably due to the high ambient temperatures.

Investigators move the corpse in order to collect beetles from underneath.

Go to Day 6 of the investigation

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