Overview :

The temperature of a body can be used to estimate the time of death.

time since death in hours =

= ((((rectal temperature at time of death in °F) -  (rectal temperature in °F at time t1)) /  ((rectal temperature at time t1 in °F) -  (rectal temperature in °F at time t2))) * (t2 - t1)) + 0.75

where:

• 0.75 hours (45 minutes) is a factor that can be added to take into account any delay in cooling

Limitations:

• Body temperatures at the time of death that are above or below normal can give misleading results.

De Saram G, Webster G, Kathirgamatamby N. Post-mortem temperature and the time of death. J Crim Law, Criminol, Police Sci. 195; 1: 11-24.

Knight B, Nokes L. Chapter 2: Temperature-based methods I. pages 3-45 (page 35). IN: Henssge C, Knight B, et al. The Estimation of the Time Since Death in the Early Postmortem Period. Arnold Publishers. 1995.