145k views
2 votes
a naked male corpse was found at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. The air temperature was already 26.7 degrees Celsius. The body exhibited some stiffness in the face and eyelids and had a body temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius. Livor mortis was not evident. Approximately how long ago did the man die? CSI

2 Answers

2 votes

Final answer:

The time of death for the man is estimated to be a few hours before his body was found at 8 a.m., possibly within a 2-6 hour timeframe based on the observed onset of rigor mortis and the body temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius, as the body cools post-mortem. Further forensic evidence would be needed for a more precise determination.

Step-by-step explanation:

Estimating the time of death for the na ked male corpse found at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, can be approached by considering several forensic factors including body temperature (the post-mortem interval), rigor mortis, and livor mortis. The body temperature noted was 34.4 degrees Celsius, which is lower than the average normal body temperature of 37.0 degrees Celsius.

In general, after death, the body temperature falls by about 1-1.5 degrees Celsius per hour under normal conditions. However, the exact rate can be influenced by factors such as environmental temperature, the deceased's clothing, and body composition. Given that some stiffness was observed in the face and eyelids, we can infer the onset of rigor mortis, which typically begins within 2-6 hours post-mortem and is fully developed by approximately 12 hours. The absence of livor mortis suggests that the body may have been discovered fairly soon after death.

Combining these observations with known scientific data about normal body temperature ranges allows us to hypothesize that the man's death occurred a few hours before his body was found, potentially within a range of 2-6 hours prior to discovery given the onset of rigor mortis. However, this estimation can vary based on environmental conditions and the individual's specific circumstances at the time of death. It is important to note that while these methods can provide an estimate, they are not exact and should be corroborated with additional forensic evidence for a more accurate determination.

User Adam Spence
by
6.5k points
5 votes
With some missing context, I can partially answer this question. It was sometime recent, seeing that the body was still trying to function as if it was alive(blood is still flowing), The internal body temperature was 93ºF, 5º Lower than the regular temperature of 98º

I hope this helps, I am not entirely sure what the answer is but I was able to give you some background and biological evidence
User Rodney Howard
by
7.2k points