Estimation of the Time Since Death remains the foremost authoritative book on scientifically calculating the estimated time of death postmortem. Building on the success of previous editions which covered both the early and later postmortem periods this edition includes a new chapter on DNA/RNA degradation and further new content on drug testing in hair, thus widening the scope of the material. Chapters have been improved, updated and expanded, and include new and additional images to enhance the text. A unique work of synthesis combining rigorous science with practical guidance, this update reinforces the book’s reputation as an invaluable resource – and also the standard – for the estimation of the time since death.
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Editor Biography
List of Contributors
1. General Remarks on Estimating the Time Since Death
Burkhard Madea and Claus Henssge
2. Historical Review on Early Work on Estimating the Time Since Death
Bernard Knight and Burkhard Madea
3. Supravitality in Tissues
Burkhard Madea
4. Rigor Mortis: Estimation of the Time Since Death by Evaluation of Cadaveric Rigidity
Thomas Krompecher
5. Post-mortem Lividity: Hypostasis and Timing of Death
Burkhard Madea and Bernard Knight
6. Post-mortem Body Cooling and Temperature-Based Methods
Claus Henssge, Michael Hubig, Michał Kaliszan, Gita Mall, Holger Muggenthaler, Stefan Potente, Guy Rutty
6.1. Basics and Application of the ‘Nomogram Method’ at the Scene
Claus Henssge
6.2. Finite Element Method in Temperature-Based Death Time Determination
Michael Hubig, Holger Muggenthaler, Gita Mall
6.3. The Prism Method
Stefan Potente
6.4. The Use of Temperatures Recorded from the External Auditory Canal
for the Estimation of the Post-mortem Intervalt
Guy Rutty
6.5. Eye Temperature and the Time Since Death
Michał Kaliszan
7. Autolysis, Putrefactive Changes and Post-mortem Chemistry
Elke Doberentz, Claus Henssge, Bernhard Knight, Burkhard Madea, Frank Musshoff, Angela Pittner, Stefan Pittner, Torleiv Ole Rognum, Brita Zilg
7. 1. Autolysis (Self-digestion)
Burkhard Madea
7.2a. Eye Changes After Death
Burkhard Madea and Claus Henssge
7.2b. Potassium Levels Combined with Age and Temperature
Brita Zilg
7.2c. Estimation of Time Since Death Based on Vitreous Humour Hypoxanthine and Temperature Measurement
Torleiv Ole Rognum
7. 3. Cerebrospinal Fluid Chemistry
Burkhard Madea and Claus Henssge
7. 4. Estimation of Duration of Immersion
Elke Doberentz and Burkhard Madea
7. 5. H3-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Frank Musshoff and Burkhard Madea
7. 6. Post-mortem Protein Degradation
Stefan Pittner and Angela Pittner
8. DNA/RNA Degradation and Time Since Death
Akihiko Kimura and Toshikazu Kondo
9. Gastric Contents and Time Since Death
Burkhard Madea, Bernard Knight, Elke Doberentz
10. Immunohistochemical Methods as an Aid in Estimating the Time Since Death
Burkhard Madea
11. Practical Casework
Claus Henssge, Burkhard Madea and Stefan Potente
11.1. Integration of Different Methods in Casework
Claus Henssge and Burkhard Madea
11.2. Conditional Probability in Death Time Estimation
Stefan Potente
12. Forensic Entomology
Saskia Reibe
13. Radiocarbon Dating: Basic Principles and Applications
Wilfried Rosendahl and Doris Döppes
14. Cross-Sectional Imaging and the Post-mortem Interval
Guy Rutty
15. Drug Testing in Hair for the Estimation of the Time Since Death
Christopher Wiedfeld and Frank Musshoff
Index
Biography
Professor Burkhard Madea is a world-renowned Forensic Pathologist and is the author of approx. 40 books and 700 papers. He earned his medical license in 1982, working as a Medical Doctor in the German Army from 1983-1984. He studied postgraduate Forensic Medicine at the University of Münster until continuing his Forensic studies at the University of Cologne 1985-1989. In 1991 he was appointed as Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Cologne, until 1996 where he was appointed as Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bonn. There he was also appointed as Head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine until his retirement in autumn, 2022.
