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Introduction As an investigator with the B&S Police Department, I was called to the scene of a homicide on the west side of the city. Upon arriving at the scene, I observed a female body with ligature marks on her neck, indicating that she was strangled to death. It appeared that a struggle had taken place at the scene, and there were several rips and tears in her clothing, as well as scratches and blood around the face. Additionally, a rope used as the murder weapon was still at the scene, and a well-defined boot print, approximately a size 12, was found near the body with a brand name imprint. In this paper, I will explain the evidence that was located at the crime scene. Evidence at the Crime Scene The evidence located at the crime scene included ligature marks on the victim's neck, indicating that she was strangled to death. The rope used as the murder weapon was still at the scene, suggesting that the killer did not attempt to dispose of the evidence. The presence of several rips and tears in the victim's clothing, as well as scratches and blood around the face, indicated that a struggle had taken place at the scene. This evidence suggested that the victim had fought back against her attacker. Furthermore, a well-defined boot print was found in the mud near the body. The boot print was approximately a size 12 and included a brand name imprint. This evidence suggested that the killer wore boots of this size and brand at the time of the crime. Additionally, the location of the boot print suggested that the killer was present at the scene when the murder took place. Collection of the Rope as Evidence The rope used as the murder weapon is a crucial piece of evidence in this case. To collect this evidence, it is crucial to follow proper evidence collection and preservation procedures. According to Sonmez and Varol (2017), the evidence collection phase is a critical step in the digital forensic process, and it involves identifying, collecting, and preserving potential evidence. In the case of the rope used as the murder weapon, the first step would be to ensure that the evidence is not contaminated or disturbed. The crime scene investigator would wear gloves to avoid contaminating the evidence and use scissors to cut the rope from both ends without disturbing any knot or damage made on the rope. After collecting the rope, it must be placed in a paper bag, not plastic, to prevent the growth of mold or fungi that can occur in a humid environment. Then the bag must be labeled with the date and time of collection, location of collection, case number, and the name of the investigator who collected it. The collected evidence must be stored and transported in a secure and controlled environment to avoid any damage or contamination. The rope used as the murder weapon is a crucial piece of evidence that must be collected, preserved, and transported correctly. The investigator must follow proper evidence collection and preservation procedures to avoid contamination or damage to the evidence. Following the guidelines provided by Sonmez and Varol (2017) on the evidence collection phase of the digital forensic process will ensure that the evidence collected will be admissible in court and will help identify and convict the perpetrator. Estimating Deceased’s Time of Death Determining the time of death is crucial in any homicide investigation. In this case, the investigator must establish a rough time of death of the female victim. Several factors can be used to

approximate the time of death, such as body temperature, rigor mortis, livor mortis, and other factors. In this paper, I will explain how I will determine a rough time of death at the scene, based on the available evidence. To determine the rough time of death, the investigator will first examine the body temperature. Madea (2016) explains that the body temperature can be used to determine the time of death, but it is only useful for the first few hours after death. The body loses heat at a rate of approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius per hour, and this rate can be influenced by several factors, such as clothing, the environment, and the victim's health status. Another factor to consider is rigor mortis, which is the stiffening of the muscles after death. Madea (2016) explains that rigor mortis can provide an estimate of the time of death, but it is also influenced by several factors, such as the victim's age, physical condition, and the environment. Rigor mortis typically begins 2-4 hours after death, and it can last for 36-48 hours. Livor mortis is also an important factor to consider. Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body, and it occurs after the heart stops pumping. Madea (2016) explains that livor mortis can provide an estimate of the time of death, but it is also influenced by several factors, such as the victim's position and the surface on which the body is resting. Livor mortis typically begins 1-2 hours after death, and it becomes fixed after 8-12 hours. Determoning the rough time of death is crucial in any homicide investigation. Body temperature, rigor mortis, and livor mortis are important factors that can be used to estimate the time of death. However, these factors are also influenced by several factors, and they can only provide a rough estimate. Therefore, the investigator should consider all the available evidence and consult with a forensic pathologist to determine the time of death as accurately as possible. Signs of Strangulation Strangulation is a form of asphyxia that occurs when pressure is applied to the neck, leading to the obstruction of the airway and blood vessels that supply oxygen to the brain (Girard, 2021). The following signs led me to believe that death was produced by strangulation: Ligature marks on the neck - The presence of ligature marks on the neck is a common sign of strangulation. Ligature marks are caused by the pressure of a cord, rope, or other material applied to the neck (Viero et al., 2019). Rips and tears in clothes - The presence of rips and tears in the victim's clothes suggest that there was a struggle between the victim and the perpetrator. In cases of strangulation, the victim may pull at the ligature around the neck in an attempt to free themselves, causing damage to their clothes (Girard, 2021). Scratches and blood around the face - Strangulation often involves a physical altercation between the victim and perpetrator. The perpetrator may hit or scratch the victim in an attempt to subdue them before applying pressure to the neck. Scratches and blood around the face are consistent with this scenario (Viero et al., 2019). The signs that led me to believe that death was produced by strangulation include ligature marks on the neck, rips and tears in clothes, and scratches and blood around the face. These signs are consistent with the common indicators of strangulation as described by forensic experts (Girard, 2021; Viero et al., 2019). Theory of What Might Have Happened

The homicide investigation requires an analysis of the available evidence to determine what might have happened at the crime scene. The present report will use the available information and the findings of the relevant literature to develop a theory of what happened at the crime scene. Based on the evidence collected from the crime scene, it is probable that the victim was murdered by someone who had physical contact with her. The presence of ligature marks on the victim's neck and the rope found at the crime scene suggest that she was strangled to death. Additionally, the presence of several rips and tears in her clothes and blood around her face, indicate that the victim was hit several times before being choked to death (Madea, 2016). The struggle marks at the scene also suggest that there was a physical altercation between the victim and her attacker before she was killed. It is, therefore, possible that the victim knew her attacker, and a possible motive could be a personal or emotional issue. Further, the well-defined boot print, approximately a size 12, found near the victim's body, provides important forensic evidence that can be used to identify the perpetrator. The brand name imprint on the boot print could help investigators narrow down the search to a specific suspect or group of suspects. The forensic analysis of the boot print should be conducted as soon as possible to preserve the evidence and prevent it from getting contaminated or destroyed (Sonmez & Varol, 2017). Insects and other arthropods can be used to determine the time of death of a victim. However, in this case, the presence of scratches and blood around the victim's face suggests that the attack was recent, and the body was discovered soon after the attack. This finding suggests that the insects and arthropods may not have had enough time to alter the crime scene or the victim's body (Viero et al., 2019). The homicide investigation suggests that the victim was murdered by someone who had physical contact with her. The forensic evidence collected from the crime scene, including the ligature marks on the victim's neck, the well-defined boot print, and the rips and tears in her clothes, provide important clues that can be used to identify and prosecute the perpetrator. The forensic analysis of the available evidence should be conducted thoroughly and efficiently to ensure that the perpetrator is brought to justice (Girard, 2021). Next Step after Leaving Crime Scene After leaving the crime scene, the next step for the investigator would be to carefully and thoroughly process the physical evidence found at the scene. This would include collecting and preserving the rope used as the murder weapon, as well as the boot print near the body. According to Sonmez and Varol (2017), evidence collection and preservation is crucial in the forensic process, and should be done in a systematic and careful manner to ensure that the evidence is not contaminated or damaged. In addition to collecting physical evidence, the investigator should also consider requesting an autopsy of the victim's body to determine the cause and time of death, as well as to look for any additional evidence or clues (Madea, 2016). It may also be helpful to consult with a forensic entomologist to determine the time of death based on insect activity on the body (Viero et al., 2019). Finally, the investigator should begin conducting interviews and gathering information from witnesses and potential suspects, in order to develop leads and narrow down the pool of potential suspects (Girard, 2021). Brief Description of the Suspect After analyzing the crime scene, a brief suspect profile can be created. The ligature marks on the victim's neck and the fact that she was choked to death suggest that the perpetrator may have had a

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motive to harm or kill the victim, and could potentially have a history of violence or anger issues (Girard, 2021). The rips and tears in the victim's clothing, along with the scratches and blood around her face, indicate that a struggle occurred before the victim was killed, which suggests that the perpetrator may be physically strong or have some level of fighting ability (Viero et al., 2019). The well-defined boot print near the body, which is approximately a size 12 and includes a brand name imprint, provides potential evidence to help identify the perpetrator (Girard, 2021). The perpetrator may have worn boots to the crime scene, which could indicate that they had planned the murder in advance and potentially took steps to avoid leaving behind evidence like fingerprints or DNA. Overall, the suspect profile suggests that the perpetrator may be a physically strong individual with a history of violence or anger issues. The potential evidence of the boot print may help identify the perpetrator, but further investigation is needed to confirm any leads and identify potential suspects (Sonmez & Varol, 2017). Significance of The Process of Securing the Crime Scene Securing a crime scene is a critical process in any investigation, as it is essential to preserve and protect evidence that may be crucial in identifying and apprehending suspects. According to Girard (2021), securing the crime scene involves "establishing and maintaining a perimeter, protecting evidence, controlling access, documenting and collecting evidence, and maintaining a chain of custody" (p. 59). These steps are crucial in preventing contamination, destruction, or alteration of the evidence that could lead to the failure of the investigation. Sonmez and Varol (2017) emphasize the importance of protecting evidence, especially in digital forensics, as it can easily be damaged or lost due to various factors such as power failure, electromagnetic interference, or tampering. The authors argue that securing the crime scene is essential in ensuring that digital evidence is not compromised or destroyed, as it is often fragile and can be easily altered. Furthermore, Viero et al. (2019) highlight the importance of securing the crime scene in preventing contamination by arthropods and other organisms that can alter the body and other physical evidence. The authors argue that arthropods can cause significant changes in the body's decomposition process, which can make it difficult to determine the time of death accurately.

References Sonmez, Y. U., & Varol, A. (2017). Review of evidence collection and protection phases in digital forensics process. International Journal of Information Security Science , 6 (4), 39-45. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijiss/issue/67174/1048760 . Madea, B. (2016). Methods for determining time of death. Forensic science, medicine, and pathology , 12 , 451-485. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12024-016-9776-y . Viero, A., Montisci, M., Pelletti, G., & Vanin, S. (2019). Crime scene and body alterations caused by arthropods: implications in death investigation. International journal of legal medicine , 133 , 307-316. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-018-1883-8 . Girard, J. E. (2021). Criminalistics: Forensic science, crime, and terrorism . Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://books.google.com/books? hl=en&lr=&id=wvVMEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=determining+cause+of+death+in+crime+scene &ots=XkRKwKbz7I&sig=wVY2t7w1-9uvOEKvk8D2xHzZWqo .

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