Forensic investigations in television and movies, especially murders, tend to be fast and exciting. After a few twists in the story, the medical examiner (who was also picking up bullets at the crime scene) points to an innocuous spot on the victimโs head that clearly indicates the manner, time, place, and perpetrator of the murder. Itโs a fun way to feel like science has been honored in favor of moving along the โwho dunnitโ to its satisfying conclusion. The real world has no such conveniences.
Perhaps this list could be longer than five things, but thatโs not to say Hollywood portrays forensic investigations with total inaccuracy. Rather, I donโt fault the short cuts, because a forensic investigation has so many pieces, people, and variables that narrowing this down to five things is more a matter of self-preservation lest I bury myself under facts. So, I will focus on the five biggest things.
The Speed
A police procedural show cannot wrap up in a tidy 43 minutes without a speedy investigation. The forensic investigators often perform autopsies while simultaneously running samples of toxicology and looking at something under their microscope. Let me start delineating those three items by their expected chronology.
The first 24 hours will consist mainly of preserving the body and evidence from the scene. Between the first and second day after the investigation begins, the medical examiner will complete a pre-autopsy, gathering victim history and radiology. After that, the actual autopsy may only take one to three hours, but any samples taken will require six to forty-two days for all toxicology, microscopic examination, and consultation to be completed. Only then, after nearly six weeks, will the medical examiner complete their final report.
Perhaps the biggest factor in this timeline is that working as a forensic investigator is traditionally a nine to five job, so you wonโt often see lab results getting poured over well into the night.
The Technology
Not every investigation requires the latest technology to get the answers. In reality, many methods that have been used for decades are still quite effective. While entertainment may lean into DNA evidence, victim and even perpetrator identification is still primarily done through fingerprint and dental records. Dating back to the early 20th century, Locardโs Exchange Principle that says, โevery contact leaves a traceโ still governs many investigations today, prompting examiners to look for trace evidence with the traditional magnifying glass and tweezers.
Finally, and this may seem silly, but the amber bulbs meant to convey drama in the autopsy room would make most investigatorโs jobs nearly impossible. We need bright fluorescents if weโre ever to find all that trace evidence and complete a proper autopsy.
The Paperwork
Almost completely overlooked is the amount of paperwork required. We do paperwork prior to an investigation to ensure all of our equipment is organized and working correctly. We do paperwork whenever we need to send evidence out for testing or correspond with other members of our team. We do SO MUCH paperwork at the conclusion of an investigation. Show me the show with paperwork.
The Body
An episode of CSI depicting a well-groomed man on the autopsy table looking like heโs taking a nap is a far cry from reality. To start, the eyes often donโt stay closed and muscle tension in the face could freeze expressions of shock or even fear. In most cases, the jaw simply falls open.
Those open eyes will discolor, flatten, and cloud over. As the skin loses oxygen and blood settles, it can turn yellow, gray, purple, or a combination of a few. Since the blood is pulling away from the skin, itโs also settling in the lower most parts of the body, contorting the shape. Around 24 hours after death, decomposition will begin and gas will build up inside the body, furthering the comparison from, โa man sleepingโ. To most, the appearance of a corpse would be very disconcerting, so I canโt blame shows for choosing to avoid this detail.
The Team
The plucky bespectacled doctor that picks up bullet casings at the scene and then cuts open the victim is a huge oversight. There is no one role that covers even half of the duties required for a complete forensic investigation. While I may perform autopsies and examine trace evidence under a microscope, Iโm not usually physically present at crime scenes, but use photo and video documentation of those scenes in the analysis of a case, and certainly donโt perform the actual testing for toxicology. There are entire labs dedicated to that testing, but the results of those tests are very often germane to my ultimate workup of a case.
So, the next time you watch a police procedural, look for the opportunities to further the reality. Keeping a close eye on investigations in entertainment could ignite something within your own work that will make your written investigations feel that much more immersive.
Dr. William R. Anderson has been working as a forensic pathologist and medical examiner for over 30 years. A career focus of compassionate curiosity allows him to work with families to find some measure of peace and justice in the death of a loved one. Dr. Anderson carries this same motivation over into his Forensic Fiction series, Dr. Arthur Lyons, Medical Examiner Volume 2 is out now and available wherever you get your crime.
