Texas Tech University - PHYSICS 1BAct 11-1 CALCULATING TIME OF DEATH USING RIGOR MORTIS

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Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations Activity Handout

Chapter 11

ACTIVITY 11-1 CALCULATING TIME OF DEATH USING RIGOR MORTIS Directions: Work in pairs to answer the following questions. Show your work on a separate sheet of paper as needed. Refer to your notes for additional information.

Part A Estimate the approximate time of death for the following situations. Explain each of your answers: 1. A body was found with no evidence of rigor.

The person has just died or has been dead for 36-48 hours 2. A body was found exhibiting rigor throughout the entire body.

The person has been dead for about half a day. It takes 12 hours for rigor to compute throughout the body.

3. A body was found exhibiting rigor in the chest, arms, face, and neck.

The body has been dead for about 6-8 hours because rigor mortis takes 12 hours to compute so it must be before 12 hours but over 6.

4. A body was discovered with rigor present in the legs, but no rigor in the upper torso.

The body has been dead for 15-36 hours because at the stage rigor mortis begins o end so some parts of the body may be stiffer than others.

5. A body was discovered with most muscles relaxed, except for the face.

Rigor mortis has just started so they’ve been dead for about 2-6 hours 6. A body was discovered in the weight room of a gym. A man had been doing “arm curls” with heavy weights. The only place rigor was present was in his arms.

He’d applied more pressure and had speed up the process on that specific area

Part B Estimate the time of death based on the following information: 7. A frail, elderly woman’s body was found in her apartment on a hot summer’s evening. Her body exhibited advanced rigor in all places except her face and neck.

She has been dead for about 15-16 hours, rigor is beginning to stop. She may have been dead for less time because of the heat.

8. A body was discovered in the woods. The man had been missing for two days. The average temperature the past 48 hours was 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When the body was discovered, it was at peak rigor.

He has been dead for about 12 hours or more because of the cold temperature

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations Activity Handout

Chapter 11

9. An obese man was discovered in his air-conditioned hotel room sitting in a chair in front of the television. The air conditioner was set for 65 degrees Fahrenheit. When the coroner arrived, the man’s body exhibited rigor in his upper body only.

He was probably dead for more than 12 hours. Rigor mortis takes longer the bigger you are and the colder the temp.

10. After a run, a young woman was attacked and killed. The perpetrator hid the body in the trunk of a car and fled. When the woman’s body was discovered, rigor was noticed in her thighs only.

Because she had just finished running 11. The victim’s body is not rigid. How long has she been dead? Explain your answer.

They just died. Rigor mortis doesn’t start until 2-6 hours after death.

12. The body is completely stiff. How long has he been dead? Explain your answer.

They’ve been dead for about 12 hours. It takes 12 hours for rigor mortis to complete through the whole body.

13. The victim was found in a snow bank alongside a road. His body is rigid. How long has he been dead?

Explain your answer, remembering the cold temperature.

Probably more than 12 hours because cold temperatures slow down rigor mortis.

14. The body of the runner was found in the park one early, hot summer morning. Her body shows rigor in her face, neck, arms, and torso. How long has she been dead? Explain your answer.

She’s been dead for about 6-8 hours or less. Hot temps speed up the decaying process/ rigor mortis.