Pathology of Death

I

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part A: Critical Thinking Exercise - Manners of Death and Causes of Fire.

In an earlier assignment, the four manners of death were discussed; natural, accident, suicide, and homicide. In fire investigation, the cause of a fire is either intentional (arson) or unintentional (accidental). This exercise will help you consider possible outcomes when manners of death are considered with causes of fire. For each of the manners of death, provide one plausible scenario which satisfies the cause of the fire and the manner of death for either an accidental fire or arson fire. The first manner of death example (natural death) is already given. For the rest, be creative.

Manner of Death	Accidental Fire	Arson Fire
Natural Death	Example: Person dies of a heart attack while cooking dinner. After his death, the food on the stove catches fire. The fire spreads from the kitchen to the roof, accidentally burning the house.
Accidental Death
Suicidal Death
Homicidal Death

2

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part B: Injury by Fire: Identification of Burned Human Remains

Note: For Assignment #2, you must use different images for each section.

On the Internet, find one readable and clear image of a thermal-related death that shows the victim's entire body. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death, entire body here.

Reference:

Based on your image, describe the value of visual identification. Does your image suggest visual identification is possible?

Based on the image, what scientific avenues are possible for identification?

Consider the value of the teeth, the value of the ears, and the color of the hair for identification. Does your image give clues as to how the victim may have appeared in life?

3

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

On the Internet, find another readable and clear image of a thermal death victim displaying the pugilist's attitude or boxer's stance. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death/pugilist attitude here.

Reference:

Based on your image, what do you think caused this position?

Is a fingerprint examination for identification possible? Explain your answers.

4

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

On the Internet, find another readable and clear image of a thermal death victim with an identifiable scar, tattoo, or other unique identifier. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death with identifier here.

Reference:

Based on your image, explain this unique identifier (scar, tattoo, other). How does this identifier serve to identify the fire victim?

Why did the identifier remain despite the heat or flame? Explain your answers.

5

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part C: Critical Thinking Exercise: Manners of Death and Asphyxia.

In the earlier assignment, the four manners of death were discussed; natural, accident, suicide, and homicide. In asphyxia deaths, the four categories are compression of the neck, obstruction of the airway, compression of the chest, and exclusion of oxygen. This exercise will help you consider possible outcomes when manners of death are considered with categories types of asphyxia. Complete the table below by giving a plausible scenario that satisfies two of the types of asphyxia listed below with the manner of death. In the accidental death manner, an example has already been provided (obstruction of the airway) and the choking was not intentional (accidental death). Be creative.

Note: Natural Death Category is improbable for any type of asphyxia.

	Types of Asphyxia
Manner of Death	Compression of the Neck	Obstruction of Airway	Compression of Chest	Exclusion of Oxygen
Natural Death	Improbable	Improbable	Improbable	Improbable
Accidental Death		Example: A person is eating food and when she laughs at a joke, she gets food in stuck in her airway/lungs and dies due to obstruction of the airway.
Suicidal Death
Homicidal Death

6

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

7

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part D: Drowning Death and Decomposition

On the Internet, find a readable and clear image of a drowning victim in the Bloated-Stage of Decomposition. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below, and, after citation, answer the following questions.

Pathology of Death

I

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part A: Critical Thinking Exercise - Manners of Death and Causes of Fire.

In an earlier assignment, the four manners of death were discussed; natural, accident, suicide, and homicide. In fire investigation, the cause of a fire is either intentional (arson) or unintentional (accidental). This exercise will help you consider possible outcomes when manners of death are considered with causes of fire. For each of the manners of death, provide one plausible scenario which satisfies the cause of the fire and the manner of death for either an accidental fire or arson fire. The first manner of death example (natural death) is already given. For the rest, be creative.

Manner of Death	Accidental Fire	Arson Fire
Natural Death	Example: Person dies of a heart attack while cooking dinner. After his death, the food on the stove catches fire. The fire spreads from the kitchen to the roof, accidentally burning the house.
Accidental Death
Suicidal Death
Homicidal Death

2

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part B: Injury by Fire: Identification of Burned Human Remains

Note: For Assignment #2, you must use different images for each section.

On the Internet, find one readable and clear image of a thermal-related death that shows the victim's entire body. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death, entire body here.

Reference:

Based on your image, describe the value of visual identification. Does your image suggest visual identification is possible?

Based on the image, what scientific avenues are possible for identification?

Consider the value of the teeth, the value of the ears, and the color of the hair for identification. Does your image give clues as to how the victim may have appeared in life?

3

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

On the Internet, find another readable and clear image of a thermal death victim displaying the pugilist's attitude or boxer's stance. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death/pugilist attitude here.

Reference:

Based on your image, what do you think caused this position?

Is a fingerprint examination for identification possible? Explain your answers.

4

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

On the Internet, find another readable and clear image of a thermal death victim with an identifiable scar, tattoo, or other unique identifier. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below; then, after adding the reference, answer the following questions.

Paste image of thermal death with identifier here.

Reference:

Based on your image, explain this unique identifier (scar, tattoo, other). How does this identifier serve to identify the fire victim?

Why did the identifier remain despite the heat or flame? Explain your answers.

5

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part C: Critical Thinking Exercise: Manners of Death and Asphyxia.

In the earlier assignment, the four manners of death were discussed; natural, accident, suicide, and homicide. In asphyxia deaths, the four categories are compression of the neck, obstruction of the airway, compression of the chest, and exclusion of oxygen. This exercise will help you consider possible outcomes when manners of death are considered with categories types of asphyxia. Complete the table below by giving a plausible scenario that satisfies two of the types of asphyxia listed below with the manner of death. In the accidental death manner, an example has already been provided (obstruction of the airway) and the choking was not intentional (accidental death). Be creative.

Note: Natural Death Category is improbable for any type of asphyxia.

	Types of Asphyxia
Manner of Death	Compression of the Neck	Obstruction of Airway	Compression of Chest	Exclusion of Oxygen
Natural Death	Improbable	Improbable	Improbable	Improbable
Accidental Death		Example: A person is eating food and when she laughs at a joke, she gets food in stuck in her airway/lungs and dies due to obstruction of the airway.
Suicidal Death
Homicidal Death

6

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

7

FRN 4303-19A, Pathology of Death Workbook

Part D: Drowning Death and Decomposition

On the Internet, find a readable and clear image of a drowning victim in the Bloated-Stage of Decomposition. Once a clear image is found, paste the image below, and, after citation, answer the following questions.

Paste image of bloated stage drowning victim here.

Reference:

Based on your image, estimate the time of death?

If clothed, does the clothing give clues to identification or manner of death? Explain.