IN THIS LESSON

Housekeeping staff at a long-stay motel entered the motel room where they observed the decedent. Death was pronounced at the scene after law enforcement and EMS were contacted. The decedent was reclusive and motel staff and neighbors could not remember when they had last seen him. He had been living at the motel for at least a month, and he did not appear to be in good health. 

Observe the room and think what needs to be found to complete the investigation and formally identify the decedent. 

To move around the scene, use the arrow keys or WASD format. Press the indicated keys to highlight the relevant objects or findings and click on the them for a further description. More information is below.

  • People frequently die unwitnessed in their residences, be it more temporary settings such as a motel room or within a larger or more permanent residence. Even if the environment is small or with limited belongings, much information can be learned.

  • Medical conditions and the name of the prescriber, who also retain medical records

  • Paper receipts are often time stamped, which may provide another clue to time of death or at least the last known time al

  • Can contain identification, medical conditions, or next-of-kin information

  • Can contain identification, medical conditions, receipts with timestamps, or next-of-kin information

  • The liquid may just be green beverage, but this liquid also resembles some brands of antifreeze

  • The condition of the decedent can provide clues to the approximate time of death depending on multiple factors, such as room temperature. This man has green discoloration, vascular marbling, and marked staining of the bedding. He likely didn’t die within the last 24 hours, but excess heat or illness could speed up decomposition.

    See Decomposition

  • The staining remains only around the decedent so the body likely has not been disturbed since decomposition set in.

  • Blood stains could be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, or from trauma. It may also be important to find out who the blood belongs to.