Crime Scene
SUICIDE BY HANGING
Consider taking the following notes:
Case number
Date/Time
Address/Location
Initial case details
Victim/Suspect info
Assigned Officer/Detective
Consider the following:
What is the appropriate PPE for this scene?
Did someone start a crime scene log?
Is the scene secure and safe?
Is evidence located on the exterior/interior of the scene?
Is consent or a search warrant needed?
Overall/mid-range/close-up photographs of the scene
Intersection/street location information
Overall/mid-range/close up photographs of items of evidentiary value to include:
Ligature
Items ligature is attached to
Step stools, ladders, chairs that assisted the individual in reaching the ligature
Suicide notes
Prescribed medications
Other end of life documentation displayed (wills, power of attorneys, insurance policies, etc)
Overall/mid-range/close-up photographs of the victim to include:
Overall of whole body (front and back)
Mid-ranges (front and back) of upper body, abdomen, lower body
Close-ups of:
Head (front and both profiles if possible)
Arms/hands
Legs/feet
Clothing/jewelry
Tattoos/marks/scars with and without scale
Injuries with and without scale
Mark items of evidentiary value within the scene.
Re-take overall/mid-range/close-up photographs of scene, items of evidentiary value and the body with photo markers in place.
Collect swabs of any apparent body fluids within the scene.
Collect measurements to document the location of the body within the scene.
Collect additional measurements to include (if applicable):
Top knot to ligature knot
Top knot to base of neck
Top knot to ground
Ligature knot to base of neck
Ligature knot to ground
Base of neck to ground
Feet to ground (if still hanging)
Collect items of evidentiary value from with the scene.
Process areas of interest within the scene using the appropriate latent print processing techniques.
Conduct a secondary walk through of the scene to ensure that all evidence was documented and collected and everything of evidentiary value was appropriately processed.
REFERENCES
Dutelle, Aric (2020). An Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Fish, Jacqueline et al (2014). Crime Scene Investigation. Routledge.
Fisher, Barry & Fisher, David (2012). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. CRC Press.
Gardner, Ross & Krouskup, Donna (2018). Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Third Edition. CRC Press.
Garrison, Dean (2003). Practical Shooting Scene Investigation. Universal Publishers.
Haag, Michael & Haag, Lucien (2020). Shooting Incident Reconstruction. Academic Press.
Hueske, Edward (2006). Practical Analysis and Reconstruction of Shooting Incidents. CRC Press.
Maloney, Michael & Housman, Donald (2014). Crime Scene Investigation Procedural Guide. CRC Press.
Ramirez, Christine & Parish-Fisher, Casie (2011). Crime Scene Processing and Investigation. CRC Press.
Standard Guide for Crime Scene Photography. OSAC Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis Subcommittee (2020, June). Retrieved August 15, 2021 from OSAC Site.