MY LAST SEVERAL COLUMNS HAVE FOCUSED IN DETAIL, ON HOW TO DOCUMENT A DEATH SCENE USING A CHECKLIST. THIS WRITTEN TESTAMENT OF THE SCENE: WHAT YOU OBSERVED, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE, AND WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, CAN IMPACT THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE CASE.

A checklist is important because it not only gives you a mechanism for your report of the scene, but also serves as a way to ensure that you are thorough in your observations. You are documenting not only what you see but also whatyou don’t see; both of which are important when you get to court.

Think of everything you write in your checklist as a potential piece of a puzzle. Your job at the crime scene is to find as many pieces as you can; beginning to form a picture of what happened – what the puzzle looks like. You will, undoubtedly, find evidence that is not a part of the puzzle. You ma ynot know what fits and what doesn’t, so document it all. It may be too late later on. In this column, I will discuss the documentation of wounds, weapons,drugs, and medications as well as identifying the deceased and the notification of the family; documenting trace evidence; processing the scene; and wrapping up the scene.

While observing the body, note whether there are any apparent wounds. Note the type of wound: gunshot, stab, blunt force, beating, or defensive wounds. Are there wounds that you can’t determine? Describe the wounds as they appear to you. In general, I don’t measure wounds. This is something best done by the medical examiner and his or her team. Are there any marks, tattoos, or scars on the body? Describe them. Do any of the wounds or marks appear to be defensive? Your description of wounds, marks, and tattoos should include their precise locations on the body. All of these markings should be photographed, as well. You can use a body diagramsheet to note the location of these. Note that this is a visual inspection. Donot remove clothing to examine the body.

Next you want to check for any weapons. Note the type of weapon (or possible weapon) and anything that identifies it, including model number, brand, serial number, length of knife blade, and so on. Look for shell casings and spent rounds and document what you found and where you found it. Check for blood on the weapon. Use photographs as a second way to document what you see. Look around the scene and collect anything you can, being careful to maintain the integrity of the evidence. Today, more and more evidence is useful and can be analyzed and compared.

The presence of any illegal or legal drugs may play a role in what occurred. Use your checklist to describe any drugs found at the scene as well as their location and any identifying information such as a prescription number, pharmacy, and date. The mixture of more than one medication (legal or not) can cause behavior changes that help explain what happened or can even be fatal. Is there any evidence of illegal drugs? The death could be the result of a drug deal gone wrong. Look for drug paraphernalia. Describe it and photograph it.

Look for signs of sexual deviate practice or sexual battery. Are there any sex toys present? DNA evidence can be particularly useful in sexually based crimes. Remember that your initial investigation may be the only opportunity you have to collect certain evidence so be as thorough as possible. Look at the whole picture – even though you may not be sure what’s related to that puzzle you’re trying to work out – and gather what you can, before it is lost forever.