A computer program for the estimation of time of death

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biophysics
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• The Marshall and Hoare "Standard Cooling Curve" (1960s) is a foundational model for estimating postmortem intervals.
• This model relies on assumptions of constant ambient temperature and known initial body temperature.
• A key limitation is its formulation of temperature as a function of time, not the inverse, which is more practical for forensic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a computational solution for the Marshall and Hoare postmortem cooling equation.
• To address the practical challenge of estimating time of death when ambient temperature and initial body temperature are uncertain.
• To provide a tool for quantifying uncertainties in time of death estimations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a simple BASIC computer program to solve the Marshall and Hoare equation.
• The program calculates the duration of the cooling period based on a given body temperature.
• Facilitates easy comparison of multiple solutions to assess the impact of variable parameters.

Main Results:

• The program enables solving the Marshall and Hoare equation for time of death estimations.
• It allows for the input of varying ambient temperatures and initial body temperatures.
• Quantifies the uncertainty range in time of death estimations based on input parameter variability.

Conclusions:

• The developed computer program offers a practical application of the Marshall and Hoare equation for forensic science.
• It enhances the accuracy of time of death estimations by allowing quantification of uncertainties.
• This tool supports more robust forensic investigations by providing a method to handle variable postmortem conditions.