The presence of insects in a corpse is a critical clue towards estimating the time of death for bodies dead for longer periods of time. Because flies rapidly discover a body and their development times are predictable under particular environmental conditions, the time of death can be calculated by counting back the days from the state of development of insects living on the corpse.


Dead body feeding larvae : Forensic investigators are used to find the time of death.

Blow flies are attracted to dead bodies immediately after death and begin laying eggs shortly after arriving.

All muscles relax after death. After 3 hours, glycogen is converted into lactic acid and muscles become rigid. The process will complete within 12 hours.

Colour of the cornea of eyes change with time.

Food in the stomach (found by autopsy/postmortem)

A light meal is out of the stomach within 1 ½ - 2 hours
A medium meal is out of the stomach within 3 - 4 hours
A heavy meal is out if the stomach within 4 - 6 hours