Equivocal Death Analysis & Psychological Autopsy Flashcards
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What term describes a death investigation where physical evidence alone is insufficient to determine the manner of death and behavioral analysis is required?
Answer: Equivocal death
An equivocal death is one where the manner of death cannot be determined solely from physical evidence, requiring behavioral and circumstantial analysis by a profiler.
A psychological autopsy is primarily used to:
Answer: Reconstruct the victim's mental state and life circumstances prior to death
A psychological autopsy reconstructs the victim's psychological state, relationships, and pre-death circumstances to assist in determining the manner of death.
The NASH classification system categorizes manners of death as:
Answer: Natural, Accidental, Suicidal, Homicidal
NASH is an acronym for Natural, Accidental, Suicide, Homicide — the four primary manner-of-death classifications used in forensic investigation.
Which professional holds the legal authority to officially certify the manner of death on a death certificate?
Answer: Medical examiner or coroner
The medical examiner or coroner is the legally authorized official who certifies the manner of death on the official death certificate.
In a suspected suicide by gunshot wound to the head, which finding would be MOST consistent with self-infliction?
Answer: Contact or near-contact range wound with soot and stippling
Self-inflicted gunshot wounds typically show contact or near-contact characteristics because the victim places the weapon directly against or very close to their own body.
When a death scene is deliberately altered to make a homicide appear to be a suicide or accident, this is classified as:
Answer: Crime scene staging
Crime scene staging involves intentionally altering the scene after death to mislead investigators about the true manner and circumstances of death.
Which element is typically NOT included in a psychological autopsy conducted by a criminal profiler?
Answer: Physical post-mortem examination of the victim's remains
Physical post-mortem examination is performed by the medical examiner; the psychological autopsy is a behavioral reconstruction and does not involve hands-on examination of the body.