Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter you will be able to:

11.1 Identify the four ways by which people may die (manner of death), the factors that must be considered in determining manner of death, and the relative frequency of the various manners of death.
11.2 Identify the major patterns and characteristics of homicides.
11.3 Explain how the three fundamental questions that guide a homicide investigation can be addressed. These questions are: Who is the decedent? What was the cause of death? Who committed the murder?
11.4 Discuss why serial homicides and cold cases present major challenges to investigators.