Human Remains In processing a "normal" death scene, primary and secondary areas of the crime scene are identified. The primary area represents the location of the body, while the secondary area is the area(s) leading to the crime scene. For instance, if a body is found in the middle of a room, the primary area of the crime scene is in that room and consequently, well defined by the walls, floors, and ceiling. The secondary area represents all avenues to the room, including the outside yard. How did the suspect(s) enter and leave the scene? Did he/she drive to the scene? Answers to these questions define the secondary areas of the crime scene. If the crime scene is an outdoor scene with a body laying in an open field, what are the dimensions of the scene? Answering this question is problematic to most. The primary scene is represented by the area closest to the body, while the secondary scene is the surrounding access area. The body didn't just fall out of the sky and land there. Someone put the body there by vehicle or carried it to that spot. Therefore, prime physical evidence leading up to the body, i.e., tire tracks, footwear prints, drag marks, etc. may be present. Unfortunately, whenever there is a body in a field or any open space, walking in a straight line right to the body, ignoring the evidence on the way, is a natural tendency. We seem to lose sight of the dimensions to the scene. To correct this tendency, identify a least likely point of entry to the body and approach this way. Open your eyes and look for evidence in the path the perpetrator most likely used, it's going to be there! Two types of evidence, physical and testimonial, are possible at all crime scenes. In general, physical evidence is anything that can be held, while testimonial evidence is what can be testified to in the reconstruction of the crime scene. One form of evidence is just as important as the other. Death investigation scenes are processed to prove if a crime was committed and provide clues to who may have committed the crime. Determining the identity of the deceased is an added problem that arises in cases involving human remains which are buried and/or badly decomposed or skeletonized. Current procedures for identifying the deceased are by finger, palm or foot prints, dental charts and x-rays, comparison x-rays of old injuries and deformities of the deceased, measurement of the bones of the skeleton to determine approximate age, height, existence of physical deformities such as missing fingers, etc., and tattoos. Facial reconstruction by a forensic sculptor/artist or an anthropologist can also be attempted. A likeness of the victim is created and circulated in local, state and regional news papers. This likeness may be recognized and open new leads as to the identity of the victim. All new leads are then confirmed using the traditional methods of positive identification discussed above. The victim's personal identification might also be found on the body. Even in this situation, the identity of the individual must be confirmed using traditional identification methodology.