Page 91 - CFDI Guide

Certified Forensic Death Investigator (CFDI) Program
Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI, CFDI-Expert and Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI, CFDI-SME
Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC
Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council (CDITC) Accredited

with the law enforcement investigation, as well as statements of involved persons. Where blood is not
found is as important as where blood is found.

Like GSW incidents, this additional scene information with the assessment will define the parameters from

which the assailant(s) could or could not be positioned, and also the decedent or victim. For example,

seeing specific types of blood spatter at a door will tell if it was opened or closed at the time, and any
progression of the injured person – such as collapsing. If the body is moved after, the continued
bloodletting is important. Any injuries to the body with blood will also assist with body movement and

position – as blood flows with gravity, whether the person is standing, sitting, or laying down. Blood flow

not consistent with the position of the body is important – and important to look for in the review and
analysis.

If any ‘stringing’ – using strings and calculations to determine the three-dimensional space of blood spatter

– the accuracy and sequence determination with diagramming in the official investigation is important,
and should be of concern if not determined or provided. If possible, the CFDI should do their own

diagramming, or consult an expert to do so. The information from this task could be very important.

Case Investigation
Specific to the injury causing incident, the case investigation is specific to determining the aforementioned

positions of involved persons, where on the body the injuries occurred, where they occurred from, and
any actions determined from the Scene Description. In the course of the official investigation, what was

determined and reported for the following:
• Determining if a crime occurred – were there any affirmative or implied defenses investigated?

• Determining specific criminal statute violations – were any distinctions of premeditated vs. careless or

reckless actions investigated?

Any instrument – including hands - are used lawfully in self-defense, defense of others, and even sport.

Within these may be affirmative and implied defenses, or lesser charges. The injury causing incident

happening during an illegal act (i.e. an illicit drug deal in which all parties are acting criminally) or at a
victim’s work or residence, does not imply the victim is without responsibility or the defendant is
categorically guilty. The means of self-defense is not defined by person or location - it is defined by the act.

The law enforcement investigation is not based only on the identification of persons and their actions, it is

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