Helpful Definitions
Definitions for case entry options
Case Type:
In the field: Case is entered at the time of the death investigation
Retrospective: Case is entered from a retrospective death report file
Longitudinal: Case is entered from outdoor/human decomposition research facility
Test: For new users who want to get familiar with the survey before submitting real cases
Date of Discovery: The date the body was discovered. May be different from the date of death.
For longitudinal cases only (human decomposition/outdoor research facilities): this is the date of observation
Date of Death: Select an exact, approximate, or range of dates given the case information, then enter the date(s) on the calendar. This is NOT necessarily the date when pronounced dead
Date Last Known Alive: If this information is available, select an exact or approximate date using the calendar. You also have the option of entering text to report this information, such as "2 days prior", "3 weeks prior", etc.
Location of discovery: Use the map provided to drop a pin or enter an address of the discovery location. This data is only used to gather historical weather data from the nearest station
(If you are not allowed to disclose the exact location of the body, please enter a nearby location close to the scene or local office responding)
Sex:
F: Female
M: Male
Unknown
Another sex (optional drop-down text box to enter additional information)
Body Size Estimation: Based on best assessment, classify body size as:
Emaciated: extreme lack of body fat; extremely thin; lack of muscle tone
Moderate: average or typical presence of body fat
Obese: presence of extreme body fat; extremely overweight
Presence of clothing:
Fully Clothed: upper and lower body (including limbs) covered; unclothed body wrapped in blankets or fabric sheets
Partially Clothed: either upper body, lower body, or abdominal area covered
Unclothed
Unknown
Deposition Site Type: Description of context where body was discovered
Indoor structure: discovered inside of a building
(drop-down options to enter indoor temperature and airflow directed towards the body)
Ground surface: discovered outdoors on the ground surface
Shallow burial (less than 1 meter)
Deep burial (more than 1 meter)
Water: discovered in a body of water (ocean, lake, river, creek, full bathtub, etc.)
Vehicle: discovered inside of a car/truck, etc.
Hanging: discovered indoors or outdoors hanging
Other: optional drop-down text box to enter details)
Characteristics of Decomposition Select all that apply
Fresh- Livor Mortis Absent: Shortly after death. Skin may be tight and grey in color. There is not yet pooling of the blood in the body
Livor Mortis Unfixed: Gravitational settling of blood in the body causing dull pink to dark purple patches to appear on skin. If pressure is applied, skin can turn white or “blanch”. When pressure is removed, blood will return to pooled location. Lips may be pale and eyes may have a sunken appearance
Livor Mortis Fixed: Blood coagulates causing dull pink to dark purple discoloration of the skin. At this point, coagulation prevents blanching when pressure is applied. Lips may be pale and eyes may have a sunken appearance
Fresh-Rigor Mortis Absent: Muscle stiffening has not yet set in
Rigor Mortis Partial: Muscle stiffening has accrued in the small muscles of the face and jaw
Rigor Mortis Full: Complete muscle stiffening
Body intact but rigor mortis has passed: Muscle stiffening has dissipated
Corneal clouding: The cornea of the eyes are opaque/cloudy
Drying of fingertips, lips, and/or nose: Lips, nose, and fingertips are significantly dry and shriveled, may be brownish in color
Greening of the abdomen: Green discoloration of abdominal skin, starting in right lower quadrant
Skin Slippage/ Bullae: Sloughing of the skin from the body in any location; for hands, skin may entirely slough off, resulting in "degloving". Formation of bullae may be visible as blisters
Skin discoloration: Any discoloration due to postmortem/decomposition changes; not to be confused with the coloration due to livor mortis. Presents as green and blue to black discoloration on the skin
Marbling: Darkening of the blood vessels. Presents as greenish-black veined streaks under the skin
Bloat: Swelling of the abdomen, trunk, limbs, face due to gaseous by-products of microorganisms. Tongue may protrude
Purging: Decomposition fluids exit through natural orifices (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc.) accompanied by foul odor. Potential black discoloration. Tongue may protrude
Decomp Fluid Surrounding Body: General decomposition fluids on and around the body (excludes moisture from surrounding environment; not synonymous with purge)
Abdominal Caving: The caving in of the abdominal area after bloat has occurred
Liquified Organs: Internal organs and muscles are no longer intact structures and have transformed into a wet, viscous substance (not synonymous with decomposition fluids surrounding the body)
Desiccation/Mummification: Widespread preservation of skin or tissue that lacks moisture and is extremely dried out
Exposed Bone with Moist Tissue: Moist tissue and bone exposure as the result of the decomposition process (excludes moisture from surrounding environmental context—e.g., body found in water or precipitation)
Exposed Bone with Desiccated Tissue: Dry tissue is present and bone can be seen
Bone with Grease: Exposed bone may appear yellowed, glistening, and sticky. Tissue may be present
Adipocere (Saponification): "Grave Wax." The grayish-white substance formed from subcutaneous body fat. Observed on or around the body and may be paste-like, hardened, or crumbly
Mold: The presence of fungal growth, or mold, is visible on any aspect of the body (can present as a range of colors including white, black, green, etc.)
Dry Bone: Moisture is not present on surface of bone. Desiccated tissue and tendons may remain
Weathered Bone: Flaking or roughening of bone surface as the result of exposure to the environment/elements
Burned: Evidence of postmortem burning on the body
Embalmed: Artificially preserved through postmortem chemical injection into the body. Mostly encountered in exhumation cases
Other Decomp: You have the option of entering any other characteristics of decomposition not included above
Insect Characteristics Select all that apply
Fly Eggs: Small white or yellow specks often seen around eyes, nose, mouth, genitals, or wounds
Larva: Maggots in any stage of development - often resembles grains of rice
Pupae: Hard or hollow black pellets located around the body in soil or other surrounding material
Adult Flies: Common fly often with iridescent or dark grey bodies observed in close proximity or on the body
Beetles: Any type of beetle observed on the body
Ants: Any type of ant observed on the body. Small, red marks may be observed on the skin of the body, especially if fire ants are present
Other Insect Activity: Insect or insect activity present that are not classified above
Vertebrate Characteristics Select all that apply
Rodent Activity: Parallel striations are observed on the cortical bone or trabecular bone is removed
Carnivore Activity: (dogs, foxes, bears, raccoons, etc.) Commonly associated with puncture marks and/or crushing, particularly on the long bones ends. Also, disarticulation of the limbs may be observed
Vultures: Evidence of vulture activity which may be associated with rapid skeletonization, fractures inside the eye orbits, and/or rib fractures
Other Scavenger Activity: Modification of remains by other animals not described above
Estimating PMI
This allows you to determine the calendar date or range corresponding to an accumulated degree day (ADD) or total body score (TBS) determined from published/currently available methods based on the mean daily temperature of the nearest weather station.
The geoFOR application automatically compiles information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to locate the nearest weather station and calculate the mean daily temperature until it reaches the accumulated degree days entered, thus providing you with an estimated PMI and corresponding calendar date. The calendar date is based only on temperature data and not on the information entered about the case (to read more about how this project strives to improve upon current methods, click here).
If TBS (Megyesi et al., 2005) is selected, the application uses a modified formula by Smith et al. (2023): ADD=10^(0.00155*TBS*TBS+1.81) * 10±2.00*0.201.
GeoFOR aims to provide you with PMI estimates in a simpler and faster format. You will soon receive an email with the requested results.
References:
Megyesi, M. S., S. P. Nawrocki, et al. (2005). "Using accumulated degree-days to estimate the postmortem interval from decomposed human remains." Journal of Forensic Sciences 50(3):
618-626.
Smith, D. H., Ehrett, C., Weisensee, K., & Tica, C. (2023). Commentary on: Megyesi MS, Nawrocki SP, Haskell NH. Using accumulated degree‐days to estimate the postmortem interval from decomposed human remains. J Forensic Sci. 2005; 50 (3): 618–26. doi: 10.1520/JFS2004017