Time Of Death Calculator

Estimating time since death requires careful input of temperatures and environmental factors:

Step 1: Choose your unit of measurement (°C or °F).

Step 2: Enter the body temperature (rectal temperature is the standard for accuracy).

Step 3: Enter the ambient (surrounding) temperature at the scene.

Step 4: Select the body's build and clothing level — these act as insulation and slow down cooling.

Step 5: Click 'Calculate PMI' to generate an estimated timeframe since death.

The calculator primarily uses the Glaister Equation: PMI = (37.2°C - T_body) / 1.5. This assumes a cooling rate of roughly 1.5°F (0.83°C) per hour under average conditions. We adjust this rate using an insulation factor (κ):

Revised Rate = Standard Rate / κ

- Thin / Naked: κ = 0.75 (faster cooling) - Average / Clothed: κ = 1.0 (standard) - Obese / Heavily Clothed: κ = 1.5 (slower cooling)

Forensic science uses the physiological process of Algor Mortis to estimate how long a person has been deceased. Immediately after death, the body's metabolic heat production ceases, and the body begins to equilibrate with the ambient temperature. While this is one of the most reliable methods for the first 24 hours (early post-mortem period), it is subject to 'temperature plateaus' and environmental variations that must be considered by forensic investigators.