Types of Death
Stages of Decomposition
Pale as a Ghost
Be Still, my Heart
Cold Dead Hands
100

This death results from the intentional taking of ones own life

Suicidal  

100

In this stage you would only find bones

Dry Remains

100
Latin for "after death".

Post Mortem

100

Latin for "death stiffness"

Rigor Mortis

100

Latin word for the loss of temperature after death.

Algor Mortis

200

This death is the result of one human killing another.

Homicidal 

200

This stage is when blowflys are attracted, and the body goes through rigor mortis.

Fresh

200

Latin for "color of death"

Livor Mortis

200

This part of the body is the last to stiffen after death.

Legs

200

This refers to the temperature of the surrounding environment at a crime scene.

Ambient Temperature

300

This death results from normal biological processes, such as old age, or disease.

Natural

300

In this stage gases build up internally, organs are decomposing, and there is leaking of fluids from cavities.

Bloat

300

Lividity slows down in these types of temperatures

Cold

300

The body is the most rigid after this duration of time.

12 hours

300
Body heat is lost more slowly in these types of environments.
Warm Environments
400

This death is the result of an unintentional loss of life.

Accidental 

400

This stage is when most soft tissue is gone, some hair or cartilage might remain.

Advanced Decay

400

Lividity becomes permanent after this amount of time passes.

8 hours

400

Rigor mortis disappears after this duration of time.

24-36 hours.

400

The body temperature decreases at this rate after 1 hour following death.

1.4 F

500

This type of death could be supported by 2 or more MOD, and there is not enough evidence to support one over the other 

Undetermined

500

This stage sees the most reduction in body mass.

Active Decay

500

Lividity occurs when this happens to a body.

Blood pools towards the side that the body is lying on.

500

If only the head and neck exhibit rigor mortis, it means that the body has been dead for this duration of time.

2 hours

500

After the first 12 hours of death, the body temperature decreases by this rate.

0.7 F

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