If a body is found in a vehicle, document as much as possible about the location. Remember that jurisdiction is sometimes questioned, so make sure you accurately record where the vehicle is found. Note the address and specifically whether it is in a parking lot, roadway, field, driveway, or other. What is the surface condition on which the vehicle is parked? Note whether it is asphalt, concrete, gravel, dirt, or grass. Record the distance to the nearest residence or business. Who lives there or owns the building? You may be able to determine whether the victim went off the road. Record the name of the nearest road and its distance from the scene. Again, use observation or a tool such as GPS.

Next you want to carefully document as much as possible about the vehicle. Record information specific to that vehicle including tag number, VIN, odometer and trip meter readings, labels from a service station, and personal details of the registered owner (name, address, phone, lien holder). Describe the vehicle. How many doors? If it’s a pickup truck, what type of bed does it have? Record the make, model, and year as well as the color and any distinctive markings.

Concentrate next on accurately describing the condition of the vehicle. Are the doors and windows open or closed? Locked or unlocked? Broken? Describe any damage to the vehicle. Is there any evidence of a crash? Does the car have a manual or automatic transmission? Is it in gear?

What is on and running? Are the keys in the ignition? Is the engine running? Answers to these questions may be puzzle pieces and help you determine whether this death was suicide, accidental, or other.

Note whether or not the radio is turned on. Document the station to which it is tuned. If the owner is a country western fan and the station is hard rock, you may have a critical clue.

Your record of the time of day and the state of the lights can help determine the time of death. Document which lights are on: headlights, parking lights, turn signal, or dome lights. Many new cars are equipped with running lights and automatic shut offs, so this can be misleading.

Record the condition of the battery and tires. Perhaps they are even missing! Note the reading on the gas gauge. Check out the ashtray. If there are cigarette butts, record the brand.

The entire vehicle will be inventoried for its contents. Note on your checklist that this was done and by whom. Do the same of a diagram of the vehicle.

Be specific as to the location of the body. Is it in the front seat, back seat, driver’s side, passenger side, floor, trunk, etc? It may be outside the vehicle. Include in your documentation the position of the body (sitting, lying, on back, face down, right side, left side). Note whether or not a diagram was made of the position of the body and its location relative to the vehicle.

From: Mastering the Puzzle by Dick Warrington