Algor Mortis Calculations Information 1 st 12 hours

Algor Mortis Calculations

Information • 1 st 12 hours = body loses 0. 78°C (1. 4°F) per hour • After the 1 st 12 hours = body loses 0. 39°C (0. 7°F) per hour • Example 1 – What is the total temperature loss for someone who has been dead for 12 hours? • Total temp loss = 12 hours x 0. 78°C/hour = 9. 36°C • 9. 36°C total loss • 27. 6°C temp at 12 hours exactly

Example 2 • Calculate T. O. D. if a person has been dead for less than 12 hours, and body temp is 32. 2°C • If < 12 hours or 9. 36°C, use 0. 78°C/hr for T. O. D. • What we know: • Dead body temp = 32. 2°C (90°F) • Normal body temp = 37°C (98. 6°F) • 37°C – 32. 2 °C = 4. 8°C (8. 6°F) • “HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO LOSE 4. 8°C? ”

Example 2 • (unknown # of hrs. ) x (0. 78°C/hr. ) = degrees lost • (unknown # of hrs. ) x (0. 78°C/hr. ) = 4. 8°C lost • 4. 8°C ÷ 0. 78°C/hr. = 6. 1 hours • Convert 0. 1 hours to minutes • (0. 1 hour) x (60 min. /hour) = 6 minutes • “HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO LOSE 4. 8°C? ” • 6 hours and 6 minutes

Example 3 • “IS THE TIME OF DEATH > OR < 12 HOURS? ” • Recall: If body loses 9. 36°C Victim has been dead for 12 hours If body loses > 9. 36°C Victim has been dead for > 12 hours If body loses < 9. 36°C Victim has been dead for < 12 hours MORE OR LESS THAN 9. 36°C? ? ? ? Total loss of 7. 9°C Less than Total loss of 4. 4°C Less than Total loss of 11. 7°C More than Total loss of 17. 2°C More than Total loss of 10. 6°C More than

Example 4 • Calculate T. O. D. if person was dead for > 12 hrs. • Recall: – After 12 hours, rate of heat loss = 0. 39°C/hr. • We need to calculate how many hours beyond the initial 12 hours, and then add it to the initial 12 hours. • Body temp taken from corpse = 22. 2°C (72°F)

Example 4 • How many total degrees were lost? • 37°C – 22. 2°C = 14. 8°C (MORE or LESS than 9. 36°C) • Since “MORE THAN 9. 36°C”: – Body has been dead for >12 hours • 9. 36°C were lost in 1 st 12 hours • How much longer than the initial 12 hours? ? ? • 14. 8°C – 9. 36°C = 5. 44°C lost after 1 st 12 hours • 5. 44°C ÷ 0. 39°C/hr. = 13. 9 hours

Example 4 • • • 1 st 12 hours = loss of 9. 36°C Next 13. 9 hours = loss of additional 5. 44°C Victim has been dead for approx. 25. 9. hours 0. 9 hours x (60 min. /hour) = 54. minutes The total time of death is approx. 25 hours and 54 minutes