Susquehanna Township High School

Forensic Science Class

Death Scene Investigation 2006

Death Scene Data Sheet Wednesday May 10, 2006

Ambient Air Temperature	88.1 ^OF
Body Surface Temperature	126.0 ^OF
Under Body Temperature	72.6^OF
Soil Temperature (4 cm depth)	95.7 ^OF
Maggot Mass Temperature	No maggot mass at this time

Observations:

The Death Scene Investigation continued today with observations made by the Forensic Science Class period 9. Marvin Y. was our Crime Scene Photographer. The body was covered in what looked like a black powder, which upon closer observation, turned out to be fly eggs. When the body was flipped over, numerous clumps of eggs where located under the body. It seems that 2 different species of flies have left there eggs in different locations on the deer corpse.

The body has moved into the bloat stage of decomposition. The odor near the deer along with the distended abdomen are good indicators of this transition. The eyes were gone and rigor mortis is starting to be released . It was surprising not to find any larvae on the corpse. But with the large number of eggs we found today, they should be in full swing by tomorrow.

The gapping wound on the hind quarter is receiving the most attention from the blow flies.

An investigator checks the status of the rigor mortis in the limbs of the corpse.

Most of the investigators kept a safe distance from the death scene.

Other investigators were willing to get into the thick of things to collect insect evidence.

Beetles were quickly collected from under the corpse.

Temperatures will be collected from the scene on a daily basis. Since the deer has entered the bloat stage of decomposition, a strong order is evident at the scene.

Female blow flies searching out the prime ovipositions for their eggs.

Crime Scene Photos by Marvin Y. Great Job Marvin !

Go to Day 3 of the Investigation

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