Ever wonder who's involved in a fire investigation? Or maybe to what extent the teams involved work together? Well this blog will tell you just that! Please feel free to mark this positively :)
Pathologist
A pathologist is expert trained in human anatomy and forensics that spends their time in an investigation doing something called a post mortem (UK) or autopsy report (US). A post mortem is a detailed examination of a victims deceased body in order to determine time/cause of death. A large amount of the evidence found in a post mortem will highlight the story as to what happened to the victim whilst still stating factual information. It is only at a coroner (UK) or medical examiner (US) that the pathologist will perform an autopsy as it is they who decides whether or not the death is explainable at the scene or whether or not is suspicious. The pathologist can deal with determining whether or not someones death was: homicide, accidental, natural, suicide or undetermined.
During a fire investigation a pathologist will only be required if a body is found at the scene that the coroner/medical examiner wants checking out. The body will be taken back to the mortuary for a full examination. In order to determine the cause of death the pathologist will examine and document any physical damage (wounds or otherwise) in order to ensure all injuries were inflicted during the fire and not prior to the fire as that would suggest a suspicious death. A pathologist will also test tissue samples from the deceased victim in order to identify the victim at a fire scene as quite often the bodies are charred making it difficult to identify them from their physical appearance. Recent development in 3D digital facial reconstruction can also be used in order to identify a victim alongside dental records however this can be a difficult and lengthy process so isn't used that often at the moment. A pathologist will also be required to attend court as an expert witness so as to provide their findings to the court as use of evidence.
A pathologist will primarily liaise with the forensic scientists and police so as to not only report their own findings and compare resulting evidence but to provide evidence to each other on where/what/who to look for based on their individual findings. Police may have a witness say they saw someone buying a specific fire accelerant in large portion days before like petrol so may advise forensic scientist to check for the accelerants presence in their chemical evidence. The police would advise pathologists to look for any traces of the accelerant as residue in the victims esophagus, lungs or on the victims body so as to confirm the witnesses beliefs and to identify the lead of a suspects potential involvement.
