Estimation of the time of death based on the assessment of post mortem processes with emphasis on body cooling

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature referring to the estimation of the time of death (TOD) over nearly 200 years. Emphasis is put on the development of the methods taking advantage of the decrease in body temperature after death, measured in various body sites. The review is complemented by the first authors' own experiences on TOD estimation based on post mortem temperature measurements in the eyeball and orbit soft tissues.