ABSTRACT
Investigation into the cause of death for any unidentified individual cannot begin until the identity of the victim is known. In the past, estimations and a lot of luck were needed to identify skeletal or badly decomposed remains. The new technology, called Parabon Snapshot, allows an investigator to obtain a photographic image of the deceased by using a sample of the victim’s Deoxyribonucleic acid. Upon initial contact with any witnesses, be sure to obtain proper identification as well as their address and telephone number. It is likely the investigator will need to conduct additional interviews to clarify information obtained during the course of the investigation. During all the interviews conducted in the investigation of a water-related death, the investigator must maintain belief in the possibility that this tragedy was more than just an accident. If at any given moment, information obtained heightens the investigator’s suspicion, any and all leads must be thoroughly investigated.
