Question

george is a newly hired forensic investigator out for his first real case today. there was a report of a body along a hiking trail that a jogger called in. when george and his partner arrive, they notice that the bod is covered in bugs. they collect the insects and transport them back to the entomology lab. the lab report states that there were 2nd instar blowfly larvae present. how long was the person dead?

a body was found at 8:30pm on january 12. the temperature of the body when found was 86°. what was the approximate time of death?

a body was found at 12:22am on april 19. the temperature of the body when found was 94°. what was the approximate time of death?

a body was found at 2:30pm on september 27. the temperature of the body when found was 74°. what was the approximate time of death?

Explanation:

1. For the case of 2nd instar blow - fly larvae:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Recall insect development timeline
• Blow - fly larvae go through instars as they develop. The 2nd instar stage of blow - fly larvae typically occurs about 2 - 3 days after the eggs are laid, and eggs are usually laid soon after death in a suitable environment.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 2 - 3 days.

1. For the body found at 8:30 pm on January 12 with body temperature 86°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Use the formula for estimating time of death from body temperature
• The average body temperature of a living person is 98.6°F. The rate of cooling of a body (algor mortis) is approximately 1.5°F per hour in a normal environment. First, find the temperature difference: $\Delta T=98.6 - 86=12.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate the time since death
• Then, divide the temperature difference by the rate of cooling: $t=\frac{12.6}{1.5}=8.4$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 8.4 hours before 8:30 pm on January 12, which is around 12:18 pm on January 12.

1. For the body found at 12:22 am on April 19 with body temperature 94°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Calculate temperature difference
• $\Delta T = 98.6-94 = 4.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate time since death
• $t=\frac{4.6}{1.5}\approx3.07$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 3.07 hours before 12:22 am on April 19, which is around 9:18 pm on April 18.

1. For the body found at 2:30 pm on September 27 with body temperature 74°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Find temperature difference
• $\Delta T=98.6 - 74=24.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate time since death
• $t=\frac{24.6}{1.5}=16.4$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 16.4 hours before 2:30 pm on September 27, which is around 10:06 am on September 27.

Answer:

1. For the case of 2nd instar blow - fly larvae:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Recall insect development timeline
• Blow - fly larvae go through instars as they develop. The 2nd instar stage of blow - fly larvae typically occurs about 2 - 3 days after the eggs are laid, and eggs are usually laid soon after death in a suitable environment.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 2 - 3 days.

1. For the body found at 8:30 pm on January 12 with body temperature 86°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Use the formula for estimating time of death from body temperature
• The average body temperature of a living person is 98.6°F. The rate of cooling of a body (algor mortis) is approximately 1.5°F per hour in a normal environment. First, find the temperature difference: $\Delta T=98.6 - 86=12.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate the time since death
• Then, divide the temperature difference by the rate of cooling: $t=\frac{12.6}{1.5}=8.4$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 8.4 hours before 8:30 pm on January 12, which is around 12:18 pm on January 12.

1. For the body found at 12:22 am on April 19 with body temperature 94°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Calculate temperature difference
• $\Delta T = 98.6-94 = 4.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate time since death
• $t=\frac{4.6}{1.5}\approx3.07$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 3.07 hours before 12:22 am on April 19, which is around 9:18 pm on April 18.

1. For the body found at 2:30 pm on September 27 with body temperature 74°F:

• # Explanation:
• ## Step1: Find temperature difference
• $\Delta T=98.6 - 74=24.6$°F.
• ## Step2: Calculate time since death
• $t=\frac{24.6}{1.5}=16.4$ hours.
• # Answer:
• Approximately 16.4 hours before 2:30 pm on September 27, which is around 10:06 am on September 27.