ABSTRACT
Child abduction for the purpose of sexual assault is often followed by murder. This chapter focuses on the abduction scene, the site of the sexual assault, the scene of the murder, and the scene where the body was discovered. The expertise of a sexual assault response team (SART) at the scene of these deaths may be very valuable during the body process phase. It is best if prior contact, training, and coordination are accomplished between the death investigation unit and the SART, as their training has focused on living victims. If a park or other public area is suspected as the abduction site, others present during the suspected time frame may have video coverage that inadvertently shows the victim or perpetrator. A child death case may start as a missing child investigation. The investigator should check the residence, neighborhood, and surrounding areas for potential hiding spots.
