Alyssa & Breanna

Alyssa and Breanna.

1. Get your pen and paper ready for taking notes, or get a voice recorder and just dictate notes aloud.

2. First, the height, weight, age, and gender of the body should be noted and recorded. any distinguishing characteristics like birthmarks, scars, or tattoos should be noted as well.

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You should also take fingerprints at this point, they may be needed in police investigations .

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3. Examine the body very closely, meticulously, under magnification. Check the clothing and skin for any marks that look out of the ordinary. Fibers that don't seem to belong, droplets of blood, organic materials, and any residues found on clothing should all be noted. Any bruises, wounds, or marks on the skin should be noted as well. If foul-play is suspected, carefully check under the victims fingernails. Oftentimes, you will find blood or skin from the attacker.

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4. Check for any dental work. Dental records are often used to identify bodies. Perform an x-ray to find any broken or fractured bones, or medical devices, like a pace-maker. These records can also be used to identify the subject.

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5. Check the genital area for any signs of rape, bruising and tearing are common in such cases. This will help determine whether foul-play was involved or not.

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6. Now it is time to take a photographic record of the body, clothed and nude. Take special care when removing the clothing, as it may be needed for police investigation. Take close-up shots of the marks, bruises, blood flecks, etc., that you noticed earlier.

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7. Take a blood sample, it can be used for DNA purposes, or to determine if the victim was on drugs, had been using alcohol, or whether there was poisoning.

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8. Now is the time to open the body cavity, but not going into too much detail. Make one large "Y" shaped incision from each shoulder across the chest to the brisket, then down to the belly button, spread open the skin and check to see if any ribs are broken.

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9. Split the ribcage, open it up, and examine the lungs and heart, note any abnormalities, and take a second blood sample directly from the heart.

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10. Next you should examine each organ in the chest cavity individually. Weigh each organ, record anything notable, and take a tissue sample in case further examination is needed.

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11. Next, repeat the same process for the organs in the lower body, like the spleen and intestines, as sometimes partially digested food is used to determine time of death.

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12. A urine sample should also be taken from the bladder using a syringe, just like blood, the urine can be used in tests to detect drugs or poisons.

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13. Always carefully examine the eyes, any hemangioma or petechial rash (tiny, broken blood vessels) can be a sign of choking or strangulation.

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14. Next, examine the head. Check for any trauma to the skull like fractures or bruises.

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15. Remove the top of the skull, then remove the brain. Follow the same procedure as with all other organs, weigh, and take a sample.

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16. After the autopsy is completed, finish your notes or your dictated recording. State the cause of death, and the reasons that brought you to that conclusion.

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17. Mention any details, no matter how small, as they may be the final clues needed to stop a murderer or to put a family member's mind at ease.

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18. Based on your findings (assuming you're a licensed coroner) The Chief Medical Examiner will issue a Death Certificate.

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19. The body will be returned to surviving family members for funeral arrangements.