ABSTRACT
Natural deaths are often indicated through scene findings but not confirmed until the autopsy is complete. This poses a special challenge to the death scene investigator (DSI) to thoroughly document the scene and carefully look for red flags that might move the death toward a homicide, suicide, or accident. Individual circumstances may dictate a different order. This procedure should be used when the Death Scene Investigation Decision Tree indicates a preliminary investigative direction for natural death. Death scenes are often highly complex and require skilled care and methodical processing. Although a death may initially appear natural, the circumstances as ascertained through a thorough and complete investigation may indicate that the cause was an accident, suicide, or homicide. Detailed note-taking and photography should continue during processing of the body. In the case of homicide, the police investigator or detective should make the notification if there is an expectation of a spontaneous exclamation.
