While that is true I have read where MEs have stated that the best indicator to narrow time of death is if the victim's remains still had stomach contents."
In some cases, of course....cases where the ME knew the time of the deceased's last meal, how much they had to drink after, whether there was shock involved, whether or not the body continued to digest the food after death...etc., it would be a good indicator, but absent these variables, other findings would have to be considered A snack would take about an hour to empty from the stomach. She was last seen at 5:00 - I am going to assume, prior to dinner and at least 5 hours since she'd eaten a light lunch at school. RB was just off work at 5:00, and while he may have had food in that apartment to entice her with, there doesn't seem to be much of a window of opportunity for him to have had a snack, kill her, hide her body, and the assist in the search. *IMO
The decomposition rate is also a guesstimate as it varies from victim to victim. Liver punches can also assist in that if the body is found shortly after death.
A punch biopsy of her liver, which is what I think you mean, wouldn't have been done because she was autopsied. Unfortunately, I am familiar with liver punch biopsy - my dear friend has ovarian cancer that has shown back up in her liver - they aspirated her at least 3 times and were still unable to get a sample from the tumors. It was horrible. The point is, if the body will undergo an autopsy, there's no reason for the liver punch biopsy - as I understand it.
I dont imagine they did a liver punch since she was not found for several days. Her remains would have lost all body temp by then. That is usually done when LE/ME suspects that the victim may have been killed shortly before they are found and in this case she had been missing for days.
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Actually, she was missing less than 72 hours. She was last seen at 5:00 pm, reported missing at 7:00 pm on 12/2, and her body was discovered at 12:30 PM on Monday 12/5. In my estimation, this would be a time lapse of between 65 & 67 hours. They' could have taken her temperature rectally at the scene, but because sexual assault was suspected, they shouldn't have. They may have taken her temperature with a special thermometer in her stomach cavity, but I doubt this would have been done at the scene. Either way, given the amount of time she was missing, and the mild temperature outside, body temp, IMO, combined (if present), with stomach contents, would get them close to a good time.
Normal body temperature during life is 98.6 degrees F. After death, heat loss is approximately 1.5 degrees per hour until the ambient temperature is reached. At this rate, given the time she was missing, and in the conditions where she was placed, the body temperature scenario would be within the realm of accuracy. Obviously, considerations have to be made where temperature, humidity, and other outside factors exist. The ambient temperature of where she was found would not have been excessively hot or cold, so TOD by body temperature is a possibility - the outside temp range was a average of 45 degrees between 12/2 and 12/5.
Since she was placed in a trash compactor I am sure that heightened the decomp compiled with the injuries she sustained. The mere heat put off by the spoiling garbage around her would break her remains down faster imo unless it was extremely cold. I am sure they did find coffin flies. A two hour time line is considered a very tight time line.
I sort of think the garbage might hold the key to the timeline. Someone may have thrown a certain item away at a certain time, and it is on or close to her body, with other trash thrown after. A receipt with a time stamp. The time of death was pretty precise, and even stomach contents would not be that precise, IMO.
Imo, the ME found she still had something she had eaten or drank in her stomach contents. That would show she died before the stomach could completely break the food or liquid down.
You could very well be right - just like to explore the possibilities
So many times information (not saying your info is, just making an observation), is taken straight from crime drama shows like CSI, whose facts are often skewed or greatly lacking in informational details, for dramatic effect -thus the need (excuse
),for further research. Much of forensics is case specific and almost every case is different - being privy to the details would sure 'nuff help!
I am sure LE still has his car. I think there are witnessess that saw him at the dumpster some time later after Jorelys went missing.
Thanks, I would think they would have released his car if there is no evidence in it. Did someone see him at the dumpster after she went missing? I can't help but think he intended to take her off the property in his car, but police presence prevented him from doing it (likely too scared), Friday, and then he just ran out of time, IMO. This would have happened prior to the missing child call went in though.
IMO
By now my post is way too long and makes little sense, but I have to eat and walk my dogs! This TOD subject is fascinating to me and has been since the JonBenet Ramsey case in 1996. Her parents disputed the time of death, and it was determined, largely, by the contents of her stomach....which they also disputed. Anyone have a timeline of exactly what JR ate the day she was killed?
