ABSTRACT
Forensic science cases often involve a death, as the central concern for a homicide case or related to a larger scenario. Currently there is no single death investigation system in the United States, but there are common elements. The three forensic disciplines that are most frequently involved in death investigations are forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists, and forensic entomologists. These practitioners work in concert with crime scene analysts and other investigative personnel to determine the likely cause, manner, and mechanism of a death. Once this determination is made, it is up to the justice system to determine the next steps. In the next section, we will learn about forensic biology, which is related to and integrated with the topics we have discussed in this chapter.
