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Autopsies

Just Autopsy Results and Crime Scene Reconstruction

November 2022

In episode one of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Kelly Ayers, an International Association for Identification Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst, to discuss how preliminary autopsy results can help investigators piece together a story of what happened at a crime scene. For crime scene investigators, preliminary autopsy results issued by forensic pathologist and medical examiners can be used in conjunction with other disciplines, such as bloodstain pattern analysis, to provide pivotal information about a case.

Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel

This event features a multi-disciplinary panel of experts including forensic pathologists, medical examiners, cardiologists, geneticists, genetic counselors, and cardiac geneticists. Additionally, five pre-recorded presentations are available to familiarize oneself with molecular autopsies and provide context for the live expert panel discussion.

Overview of Forensic Pathology

Human remains are treated as a separate and unique type of forensic evidence. An autopsy of the remains is conducted to establish the cause and manner of any death that is violent, unusual or untimely. A forensic pathologist completes a post-mortem examination and examine death scene findings. The medical history of an individual may also be reviewed to help determine if the death was natural...

Advancing Justice for the Missing and Unidentified Through Research - 2024 NIJ Research Conference

September 2024

Forensic science research is developing essential knowledge to fill in the holes in death investigations, creating new ways to identify challenging skeletal remains. These methods inform cause of death, time of death, and familial relationships to guide investigations, identify suspects, support prosecutions, and bring justice to families.