Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

In my screenplay, a cop is raped and murdered. Murdered by being shot to death. Now when the autopsy is being performed, would the coroner even bother checking the orifices for any secreted DNA, when the cause of death is obviously gunshot wounds? I'm guessing they would possibly if the dead body was found undressed?

Another question I have is, how long till the autopsy is performed after the body being found? I was told they take up to 1-2 days at the very most, but if it's the homicide of an officer, I'm guessing it would get some sooner attention probably. Thanks.

That depends on the crime scene, you take the totality of the situation to determine where you go from there. No offense, but some of your questions lead me to believe you don't have enough basic instinct or knowledge of what we do to write about crime and police work. Some of your questions like the autopsy one are technical and no big deal, but that first question tells me you're writing blind. This would be like me writing about a doctor doing heart surgery.

Regarding the autopsy, it depends on what time of day the body is found, but it will always be within 24 hours, probably less.

We have a writers section, and those who frequently using it, tend to becoming "supporting members." It is a small donation ($10) that makes others realize you are not just here for "you" and taking, but giving back and supporting the site. Some folks may not answer unless they see you are an active member or supporting member. Not a requirment at all, but just throwing it out there. Good luck with your book.

Oh okay I had no idea. I might donate if I use the site more but right now I have no idea if I will. Thanks. And yes I am writing blind on the first question. I have books on police procedure to help with my writing, and have interviewed a real officer, but this is a first when it comes to inspecting every inch of a dead body for a trace on DNA. No book has commented that specifically if it's done in general.

Oh okay I had no idea. I might donate if I use the site more but right now I have no idea if I will. Thanks. And yes I am writing blind on the first question. I have books on police procedure to help with my writing, and have interviewed a real officer, but this is a first when it comes to inspecting every inch of a dead body for a trace on DNA. No book has commented that specifically if it's done in general.

Harmonica-

Consider that you are the most frequent writer/poster/questioner on this site. Plenty of writers who use the site far less than you have contributed.

Wow, I'm the most frequent. Didn't know. Well once I get a new credit card, I can do that then. No I don't have credit card problems, I just don't have one now. So if the coroner cannot get to the crime scene till say 16 hours, will the cops actually watch a dead body for that long, since it's the coroner that has to check out the scene before moving it?

No, a deputy coroner or here, a deputy medical examiner comes to the scene and takes the body to the morgue after we finish processing the crime scene. The body is stored there under refrigeration until the pathologist can do the autopsy. Deputy ME's are on call 24/7 and often arrive before we're ready to move the body.

Oh so it's the pathologist who conducts the autopsy and not the coroner. Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

Oh so it's the pathologist who conducts the autopsy and not the coroner. Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

Well, yeah. It has to be an MD. An elected coroner that owned a furniture store previously wouldn't know what he was doing. Different places have different requirements for the coroner position, not all have to be doctors. But only a pathologist is going to be able to perform a medical procedure like an autopsy.

Yeah, I read that a coroner does not have to necessarily be a doctor, in a police procedure book for writers, but it did not say that that the autopsy has to be done by a pathologist. Okay so say, that the morgue was broken into, and the crooks did not leave any evidence behind to tie them to the break in. So the police do not know who did it. Does this mean that every evidence on any of the corpses in the morgue, cannot be used in court, because since crooks broke in, they don't know which bodies have been tampered with and what not?

Yeah, I read that a coroner does not have to necessarily be a doctor, in a police procedure book for writers, but it did not say that that the autopsy has to be done by a pathologist. Okay so say, that the morgue was broken into, and the crooks did not leave any evidence behind to tie them to the break in. So the police do not know who did it. Does this mean that every evidence on any of the corpses in the morgue, cannot be used in court, because since crooks broke in, they don't know which bodies have been tampered with and what not?

Dude, you come up with some WAAAAAAAAY FAR OUT THERE questions.....some of them so extremely highly unlikely I can't even answer...

Yeah, I read that a coroner does not have to necessarily be a doctor, in a police procedure book for writers, but it did not say that that the autopsy has to be done by a pathologist. Okay so say, that the morgue was broken into, and the crooks did not leave any evidence behind to tie them to the break in. So the police do not know who did it. Does this mean that every evidence on any of the corpses in the morgue, cannot be used in court, because since crooks broke in, they don't know which bodies have been tampered with and what not?

Morgues are never left unattended. They is someone there 24/7.

Besides, what do you think they could possibly do to a corpse that wouldn't be detected. manahmanah is right and as I've suggested in the past, you really need to find another subject to write on. Your questions transcend common sense on police matters.

What is the person doing there 24/7? Just a security guard?

Depends. Why do some places have coroners and some medical examiners?