Knife after Death

Student
··4 min read

Theresa Bui | Blogger | SQ Online (2017-18)

 

Image 1. Y-Incision to Enter the Trunk (Source).

Piled under thousands of powerpoint printouts, worksheets, and study guides, it is easy to scream, “I want to die!” in Geisel at 12 a.m. But how are you actually going to fall to your demise? And what happens after death? Perhaps “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol plays in the background as your body lies lifeless on the ground like in Grey’s Anatomy. Perhaps, Lucifer will resurrect you to continue your torture like in Supernatural. Perhaps, you’ll be wandering far north of Westeros as a White Walker like in Game of Thrones. Or perhaps the most plausible outcome– you will receive an autopsy.

Image 2. All Deaths Reported in 2016 by Department of Medical Examiners in San Diego County (Source).

Welcome to season 12 of Bones with me, starring as Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan. To begin, an autopsy is a methodical internal and external examination of a corpse by a pathologist to determine the cause of death. “How is an Autopsy Performed?” explains the protocol and surgical procedure of autopsies in detail. There are two major types of autopsies: clinical, and forensics. Clinical autopsies are performed to find the underlying disease that caused the death. Forensics autopsies are performed to investigate foul play when a death seems unnatural. I personally want to have an insane casefile, so I am going to focus on the killer forensics autopsies. Can you tell that I am a death junkie?

 

A forensic autopsy is collaboratively established by an investigating officer and a medical examiner, if the manner of death is established as a category other than natural. The objectives of a forensic autopsy are to:

Image 2. Manner of Deaths, reported by the Department of Medical Examiners of San Diego County in 2016 (Source).
  1. Identify manner of death

    Natural: The body ceases to function, and one passes away “peacefully.”
    Accident: The death is inflicted by misfortune.

    Suicide: Deliberate taking of one own’s life.

    Homicide: A person deliberately taking another’s life.

  2. Identify cause of death
  3. Identify John/Jane Doe
  4. Determine time of death
  5. Collect evidence to reconstruct the crime

 


 With these objectives taken in consideration, I will unearth dusty medical records to explain the biological processes and reactions that results in the inevitable death. So what really happens when you are only a cold corpse on a metal bed? Knife after death, grieving family/friends, and a long civil court case. Get ready to explore several sensational murder cases and mysterious death cases.

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