Time since Death from Rigor Mortis: Forensic Prospective

Abstract

Among this triad, Algor mortis is the cooling of body after death. The body temperature at the time of death is generally 37°C which falls to the temperature of surrounding by 12 to 18 hours after death. The liver mortis or postmortem staining generally appears over dependent parts of the body within 1⁄2 1 hour of death and gets fixed within 6 to 8 hrs after death. Similarly, the rigor mortis, which is cadaveric rigidity, starts developing within 1 to 2 hours after death and takes around 12 hours after death for complete development and remains in the developed stage for further 12 hours and disappears in the next 12 hours generally. This can give the approximate time since death till 36 hours after death. Many other sophisticated techniques like biochemical studies of C.S.F., Vitreous Humor, Aqueous humor, etc. have been tried to reach the accuracy regarding time since death.