ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses death investigations that involve elements of sexual assault, rape, or torture. The death may be planned as a part of the act or not planned and accomplished in response to a particular set of circumstances. The chapter focuses on the scene processing and analysis phase of a sexual death investigation. The classification of the sexual assault and/or death based on suspect motivation and profile is best done during the conduct of the investigation rather than as an initial crime scene approach. In acquaintance rape, the victim is known to the perpetrator. If physical force is met with increased resistance, it may escalate to the death of the victim. The victim in a drug-facilitated rape may be an acquaintance or stranger. The investigator should inform the medical examiner of allegations, suspicions, or scene indications of vaginal or anal penetration, oral penetration, fondling, biting, and other physical injuries.
