Question

Determine the approximate time of death using evidence from algor mortis. Show your work. Approximately how long has the victim been dead if his body temperature was 91.6 degrees F. {average body temp. - 98.6}

Answer 1

To determine the approximate time of death using evidence from algor mortis, we need to understand the concept of algor mortis and how it relates to body temperature. Algor mortis is the process of the body cooling down after death, and it can provide an estimate of the time elapsed since death.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the approximate time of death using evidence from algor mortis, we need to understand the concept of algor mortis and how it relates to body temperature. Algor mortis is the process of the body cooling down after death, and it can provide an estimate of the time elapsed since death.

The rate at which the body cools down depends on several factors, including the ambient temperature and the initial body temperature. On average, the body temperature decreases by about 1.5°F per hour.

In this case, the victim's body temperature is 91.6°F, which is 6.6°F below the average body temperature of 98.6°F. To estimate the time of death, we can divide the temperature difference by the cooling rate:

(6.6°F / 1.5°F per hour) ≈ 4.4 hours.

Therefore, based on algor mortis, the approximate time of death for the victim is around 4.4 hours.