Try Your Hand At A Forensic Pathology Case Study

Forensic Pathology is a forensic science that deals with examining a corpse to determine the cause of death. These cases range from high-profile sensational murders that spawn books, movies and television specials to quiet deaths that are noticed little more than a candle flickering out in room full of lights. However, each death is a personal loss, be it a state senator or the girl next door.

To get a sense of how forensic pathology is applied along with the methodology used, see how you fare in determining the cause of death from the following real-life case.

The Case: The year is 1970. It is a December, an odd and chilly month for a body to be found naked in bed. Yet, there she is with her pocketbook lying beside her which still containing her credit cards, but is devoid of cash. A porch door is closed but unlocked. Identification shows she is an airline stewardess. What a tragic end for a beautiful 25 year old woman.

What are your first thoughts? A random attack, perhaps? The facts that there was an unlocked door and that she was found nude are suggestive. An intruder looking for cash? Maybe she was coming out of the shower and she startled him as he raider her wallet. Maybe she had a pre-existing medical condition. All these concerns must be investigated by a forensic pathology expert to find the cause of death.

An autopsy is an important part of this case. In this particular autopsy no signs of rape, strangulation or violence were found and no medical cause of sudden, natural death was determined. So this young lady was not attacked and murdered nor did she suddenly expire of natural causes.

Other methods used by forensic pathology investigators are microscopic slide and toxicology examinations. These tests can show drugs and alcohol in the body. Since foul play and natural causes have been ruled out, it is natural to assume that this stewardess perhaps died of alcohol poising or an overdose of drugs. But did she? No. In this case the slide and toxicology results came back negative.

No foul play, no natural causes and no drugs or alcohol in her system. What permanently grounded this flight attendant?

An investigator noted a container storing her tissue biopsies showed that these tissues had a red coloration that did not fade with time. This was not normal and prompted further tests. Lethal levels of carbon monoxide were found in the blood. A check of the victims home showed a gas heater in her bedroom that was not properly vented. The victim died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

How did you do? Did you guess the cause of death? This overly simplified exercise shows you that first impressions do not always lead to expected results and that many different processes and methods are available to the forensic pathology expert to help him or her determine the cause of death.

Forensic pathology is a very necessary and highly scientific field of study. Many killers that have tried to conceal their crimes have been brought to justice and many falsely accused or framed individuals have retained their freedom when the results of the pathology tests were revealed. Every story has an ending and when that ending involves a human life, forensic pathologists are there to close the final chapter with irrefutable evidence of how that persons story came to its end.