Susquehanna Township High School

Forensic Science Class

Death Scene Investigation 2006

Death Scene Data Sheet Friday May 12, 2006

Weather: sunny, warm and clear skies

Ambient Air Temperature	84 ^OF
Body Surface Temperature	88.7 ^OF
Under Body Temperature	72.8^OF
Soil Temperature (4 cm depth)	64.9^OF
Maggot Mass Temperature	93.5^OF

Observations:

The Death Scene Investigation began today with observations made by the Forensic Science Class period 6/7. Colin B. and Casey H. were our Crime Scene Photographers. The investigation was joined once again by Wildlife Conservation Officer Mike Doherty from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. W.C.O. Doherty gave the class a lesson in Forensic Entomology. The corpse now has a colony of Blow Fly larvae or "Maggots" demonstrating the life cycle of the blow fly. There are 2 maggot masses on the body. Due to their size, W.C.O. Doherty estimated that the larvae were still in their 1st instar (molt stage) . The larvae have have to feed and grow on the corpse in order to move into the next two stages or instars.

Many of the Green-Bottle Blow Flies have returned with the warmer weather conditions.

A maggot mass is visible on the belly of the corpse.

Investigators prepare to measure temperatures at the scene.

Under corpse temperatures are getting harder to collect with the odors coming from the corpse in the "bloat" stage of decomposition.

Thermometers are placed into the center of the maggot mass to determine the temperature.

Adult Blow Flies are netted for identification purposes.

The Blow Fly larvae are sampled from the maggot mass. Age of the larvae can be determined by the typical size of each species of blow life.

Maggots are necrophages, which means that they fed on the dead.

Ants are joining the beetles in creating a mini-ecosystem around the corpse.

Crime Scene Photos by Colin B. , thanks Colin for getting up close, we know it wasn't easy for you!

Go to Day 5 of the Investigation

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