ABMDI - American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Evidence Collection and Preservation Questions and Answers

Question 1

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent has a suspected contact gunshot wound to the head.
To best preserve potential gunshot residue (GSR) on the decedent's hands for analysis, what is the most appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Carefully place clean, unused paper bags over the hands and secure them with tape.

Answer

Photograph the hands from multiple angles.

Answer

Swab the web space between the thumb and index finger for trace DNA.

Answer

Roll the decedent's fingerprints before transport.

Question 2

What is the primary legal purpose of maintaining a strict chain of custody for all evidence collected at a death scene?

Accepted Answer

To document the chronological history of the handling, transfer, and storage of evidence to ensure its integrity and admissibility in court.

Answer

To determine who is responsible for analyzing each piece of evidence.

Answer

To prevent the media from gaining access to sensitive items.

Answer

To create a inventory for the decedent's personal property.

Question 3

Which of the following is the LEAST appropriate container for packaging wet, blood-stained clothing collected from a death scene for long-term storage?

Accepted Answer

A sealed plastic bag.

Answer

A breathable paper evidence bag.

Answer

A cardboard box.

Answer

A clean paper sheet (druggist's fold) placed inside a paper bag.

Question 4

At the scene of a suspected prescription drug overdose, an investigator finds multiple prescription bottles belonging to the decedent. What is the most critical information to document about the medications at the scene?

Accepted Answer

The name of the prescribing physician, the drug name, the fill date, and the number of pills remaining versus the number dispensed.

Answer

The color and shape of the pills.

Answer

The pharmacy's phone number and address.

Answer

The cost of the prescription as listed on the receipt.

Question 5

The concept that every contact leaves a trace, which is the fundamental principle behind the collection of hair, fiber, and soil evidence, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Locard's Exchange Principle

Answer

The Corpus Delicti Rule

Answer

The Daubert Standard

Answer

The Frye Standard

Question 6

An investigator is collecting a single, small, dry bloodstain from a tile floor. Which of the following is the most appropriate method for collection?

Accepted Answer

Slightly moistening a sterile cotton swab with distilled water, swabbing the stain, and allowing the swab to air-dry before packaging.

Answer

Using a large, wet towel to absorb the entire stain.

Answer

Scraping the dried stain with a metal scalpel into a plastic bag.

Answer

Pouring bleach on the stain to test for a chemical reaction before collection.

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent has a suspected contact gunshot wound to the head.To best preserve potential gunshot residue (GSR) on the decedent's hands for analysis, what is the most appropriate initial action?

An investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent has a suspected contact gunshot wound to the head.
To best preserve potential gunshot residue (GSR) on the decedent's hands for analysis, what is the most appropriate initial action?