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

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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

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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.

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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) 

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Sex: 

F: Female

M: Male

Unknown 

Another sex (optional drop-down text box to enter additional information)

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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

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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)​​​

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Characteristics of Decomposition Select all that apply

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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​

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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

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Rigor Mortis Partial: Muscle stiffening has accrued in the small muscles of the face and jaw

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Rigor Mortis Full: Complete muscle stiffening

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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 

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Greening of the abdomen: Green discoloration of abdominal skin, starting in right lower quadrant 

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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

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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

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Marbling: Darkening of the blood vessels. Presents as greenish-black veined streaks under the skin

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Bloat: Swelling of the abdomen, trunk, limbs, face due to gaseous by-products of microorganisms. Tongue may protrude

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Purging: Decomposition fluids exit through natural orifices (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, etc.) accompanied by foul odor. Potential black discoloration. Tongue may protrude

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Decomp Fluid Surrounding Body: General decomposition fluids on and around the body (excludes moisture from surrounding environment; not synonymous with purge)

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Abdominal Caving: The caving in of the abdominal area after bloat has occurred​

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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)

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Desiccation/Mummification: Widespread preservation of skin or tissue that lacks moisture and is extremely dried out

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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)

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Exposed Bone with Desiccated Tissue: Dry tissue is present and bone can be seen

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Bone with Grease: Exposed bone may appear yellowed, glistening, and sticky. Tissue may be present

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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.)

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Dry Bone: Moisture is not present on surface of bone. Desiccated tissue and tendons may remain

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Weathered Bone: Flaking or roughening of bone surface as the result of exposure to the environment/elements

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Burned: Evidence of postmortem burning on the body 

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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 

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Insect Characteristics Select all that apply

Fly Eggs: Small white or yellow specks often seen around eyes, nose, mouth, genitals, or wounds

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Larva: Maggots in any stage of development - often resembles grains of rice

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Pupae: Hard or hollow black pellets located around the body in soil or other surrounding material

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Adult Flies: Common fly often with iridescent or dark grey bodies observed in close proximity or on the body

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Beetles: Any type of beetle observed on the body

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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

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Other Insect Activity: Insect or insect activity present that are not classified above

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Vertebrate Characteristics Select all that apply

Rodent Activity: Parallel striations are observed on the cortical bone or trabecular bone is removed

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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

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Vultures: Evidence of vulture activity which may be associated with rapid skeletonization, fractures inside the eye orbits, and/or rib fractures

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Other Scavenger Activity: Modification of remains by other animals not described above

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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).

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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. 

 

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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

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