Detective's Guide : Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigations

Infant Death: Natural causes, accidental death, or homicide?

Sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant due to natural or unnatural causes. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of several causes of SUID. However, SIDS, unlike the other SUID causes, is a diagnosis that is reached when all other causes have been eliminated. Although most conditions or diseases usually are diagnosed by the presence of specific symptoms, SIDS is a diagnosis that should be given only after all other possible causes of sudden, unexplained death have been ruled out through a careful case investigation, which includes a thorough examination of the death scene, a complete autopsy, and a review of the infant’s medical history.  Suffocation, drowning, electrocution, hyperthermia, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and homicide are examples of other causes of SUID that can be explained after a careful case investigation. A thorough death scene investigation, as described in this book, is often the only way to make a distinction between SIDS and suffocation as a cause of death.

Having knowledge about the many causes of SUID, in addition to SIDS, is critically important for the death scene investigator. At the scene, the investigator will gather evidence as well as information from the parents or caregivers who were with the infant and who may be in a great deal of distress. All of this information is crucial for distinguishing between a natural death, an accidental death, or a homicide.
The Detective’s Guide:  Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome presents a comprehensive resource manual for law enforcement investigators tasked with the challenging and difficult investigation of infant deaths. This book provides comprehensive reference manuals for an investigator including:

• Infant Growth Charts
• Infant Developmental Milestones
• Information Gathering Templates
• Witness Interview Questions
• Water Temperature and Scalding Chart
• Infant Medical History Template
• Pregnancy History Questionnaire
• Feeding History Template
• Incident Scene Investigation Checklist
• Evidence/Materials Collection Log

Prepare for these critical incidents today by purchasing the Detective's Guide:  Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigations.