Estimating time of death

Doctoral research that will be useful for her future career

Working part time in the fingerprints bureau for Derbyshire Constabulary, Helene LeBlanc has to investigate human corpses.

And her doctoral study on the value of insect activity in estimating the time of death of human corpses in the UK.

Determining when insects first appeared on the corpse

Helene has set up controlled conditions to assess the deterioration of pigs’ corpses and monitor the insects that invade the body, and in what sequence, with the aim of determining the time since death.

"We cannot use the term ‘time of death’ as we can only determine when insects first appeared on the corpse, so ‘time since death’ is more accurate,” explained Helene.