ABMDI Board Certification EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED
PASS!/LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Section 1: Death Scene Investigation (Questions 1-25)
1. A 56-year-old male is found dead in a locked garage, seated in his car. The keys are in
the ignition, turned to the "on" position. The garage door is closed. There is no visible
trauma. What is the most likely manner of death pending further investigation?
A) Natural
B) Accident
C) Suicide
D) Undetermined
Correct Answer: B) Accident
Rationale: While suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning is possible, the absence of a note or
other indicators (e.g., deliberate sealing of vents) and the context of a closed garage with
keys in the ignition most commonly points to an unintentional death. The investigator must
not presume suicide without evidence of intent.
2. The medicolegal investigator is called to a hospital for a death. The decedent was a 45-
year-old female with a history of depression who was found unresponsive in her jail cell.
Which of the following makes this death a medical examiner/coroner case?
A) The decedent was under the age of 60.
B) The decedent was in a penal institution.
C) The decedent had a history of depression.
D) The death occurred in a hospital.
Correct Answer: B) The decedent was in a penal institution.
Rationale: Deaths of individuals in the custody of law enforcement (jails, prisons) are
universally under medicolegal jurisdiction regardless of suspected cause. This is a key
statutory jurisdictional criterion.
,3. What is the primary purpose of establishing "time of death" at a scene?
A) To determine the exact moment the heart stopped for the death certificate.
B) To correlate the decedent’s last known alive time with the scene findings.
C) To satisfy a requirement for law enforcement homicide investigations only.
D) To calculate the precise postmortem interval for the funeral home.
Correct Answer: B) To correlate the decedent’s last known alive time with the scene
findings.
Rationale: The field "time of death" is an estimation used to focus the investigation. It helps
narrow the window of death, identify potential witnesses, and corroborate or refute
statements from involved parties. The exact time of death is often left to the pathologist or
listed as "pronounced" time.
4. A body is found in a supine position with fixed lividity on the anterior chest, abdomen,
and proximal anterior thighs. This indicates:
A) The body has been moved approximately 2-4 hours postmortem.
B) The body has been moved approximately 8-12 hours postmortem.
C) The body has not been moved.
D) The decedent was in a prone position at death.
Correct Answer: B) The body has been moved approximately 8-12 hours postmortem.
*Rationale: Lividity (livor mortis) becomes fixed (non-blanching) generally between 8-12
hours. If a body is found supine but fixed lividity is on the anterior chest, the decedent was
face-down (prone) for the first 8-12 hours after death before being turned over.*
5. Which of the following is the most reliable method for estimating body temperature at
a scene to aid in time of death approximation?
A) Axillary temperature using a standard oral thermometer.
B) Rectal temperature using a specialized probe thermometer.
C) Liver temperature using a stab incision.
D) Ambient temperature measured at the scene.
Correct Answer: C) Liver temperature using a stab incision.
Rationale: While not always performed in the field by all jurisdictions, the liver has high
,thermal stability and is a deep core organ. A stab incision with a specialized thermometer
provides the most accurate core temperature for use in algor mortis formulas (e.g., Glaister
equation). Rectal temps can be affected by fecal matter and ambient exposure.
6. You arrive at a scene where a body is found in a bathtub. The water is cold, and the
decedent is fully submerged except for the knees, which are dry and elevated out of the
water. What is the most significant inference?
A) The decedent died of natural causes before entering the tub.
B) The body was placed in the tub after death.
C) The decedent died from electrocution.
D) The water level dropped after death.
Correct Answer: B) The body was placed in the tub after death.
Rationale: Postmortem submersion results in uniform wetness. If a body is found with dry
areas in a wet environment, it suggests the body was positioned after death (dry areas were
not originally submerged) or the body was moved.
7. A 6-month-old infant is found unresponsive in a crib. The scene investigation reveals
soft bedding, a cluttered crib with stuffed animals, and the infant was sleeping prone. The
initial manner of death is most likely:
A) Homicide
B) Natural (SIDS)
C) Accident
D) Undetermined
Correct Answer: C) Accident
Rationale: While the final manner may be certified as Undetermined or Natural (SIDS) after
autopsy, the scene investigation points to accidental asphyxia due to unsafe sleep
environment (prone positioning, soft bedding). The investigator must document these risk
factors.
8. A key component of the "body diagram" or "body map" during scene documentation is
to:
A) Only document injuries that appear antemortem.
, B) Document all marks, scars, tattoos, and injuries, noting color, shape, and location.
C) Create a narrative for the pathologist without photographic reference.
D) Record only the clothing present on the body.
Correct Answer: B) Document all marks, scars, tattoos, and injuries, noting color,
shape, and location.
Rationale: The body diagram provides a visual record. It is crucial to document everything—
distinguishing between antemortem injuries, postmortem artifacts, therapeutic marks (IVs,
incisions), and identifying features (tattoos, scars).
9. Which of the following is an antemortem characteristic of a wound?
A) Lack of hemorrhage
B) Yellowish discoloration of the tissue
C) Edges that are dry and leathery
D) Swelling and red/purple discoloration of surrounding tissue
Correct Answer: D) Swelling and red/purple discoloration of surrounding tissue
Rationale: Antemortem wounds exhibit signs of inflammation and vital reaction, including
hemorrhage (reddish-purple), edema (swelling), and tissue retraction. Postmortem wounds
lack these signs; they are often yellow, dry, and do not bleed actively.
10. At a death scene, what is the first priority of the medicolegal death investigator?
A) Preserving the chain of custody for evidence.
B) Interviewing witnesses.
C) Ensuring scene safety and officer safety.
D) Pronouncing death.
Correct Answer: C) Ensuring scene safety and officer safety.
Rationale: Safety is always the primary concern. The investigator cannot conduct a proper
investigation if they are injured or become a victim themselves. This includes hazards like
carbon monoxide, biohazards, structural instability, or violent individuals.
11. A decedent is found with extensive rigor mortis in the small muscles of the face and
fingers, but not in the large muscle groups of the legs and back. This suggests death
occurred approximately:
DETAILED ANSWERS/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED
PASS!/LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Section 1: Death Scene Investigation (Questions 1-25)
1. A 56-year-old male is found dead in a locked garage, seated in his car. The keys are in
the ignition, turned to the "on" position. The garage door is closed. There is no visible
trauma. What is the most likely manner of death pending further investigation?
A) Natural
B) Accident
C) Suicide
D) Undetermined
Correct Answer: B) Accident
Rationale: While suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning is possible, the absence of a note or
other indicators (e.g., deliberate sealing of vents) and the context of a closed garage with
keys in the ignition most commonly points to an unintentional death. The investigator must
not presume suicide without evidence of intent.
2. The medicolegal investigator is called to a hospital for a death. The decedent was a 45-
year-old female with a history of depression who was found unresponsive in her jail cell.
Which of the following makes this death a medical examiner/coroner case?
A) The decedent was under the age of 60.
B) The decedent was in a penal institution.
C) The decedent had a history of depression.
D) The death occurred in a hospital.
Correct Answer: B) The decedent was in a penal institution.
Rationale: Deaths of individuals in the custody of law enforcement (jails, prisons) are
universally under medicolegal jurisdiction regardless of suspected cause. This is a key
statutory jurisdictional criterion.
,3. What is the primary purpose of establishing "time of death" at a scene?
A) To determine the exact moment the heart stopped for the death certificate.
B) To correlate the decedent’s last known alive time with the scene findings.
C) To satisfy a requirement for law enforcement homicide investigations only.
D) To calculate the precise postmortem interval for the funeral home.
Correct Answer: B) To correlate the decedent’s last known alive time with the scene
findings.
Rationale: The field "time of death" is an estimation used to focus the investigation. It helps
narrow the window of death, identify potential witnesses, and corroborate or refute
statements from involved parties. The exact time of death is often left to the pathologist or
listed as "pronounced" time.
4. A body is found in a supine position with fixed lividity on the anterior chest, abdomen,
and proximal anterior thighs. This indicates:
A) The body has been moved approximately 2-4 hours postmortem.
B) The body has been moved approximately 8-12 hours postmortem.
C) The body has not been moved.
D) The decedent was in a prone position at death.
Correct Answer: B) The body has been moved approximately 8-12 hours postmortem.
*Rationale: Lividity (livor mortis) becomes fixed (non-blanching) generally between 8-12
hours. If a body is found supine but fixed lividity is on the anterior chest, the decedent was
face-down (prone) for the first 8-12 hours after death before being turned over.*
5. Which of the following is the most reliable method for estimating body temperature at
a scene to aid in time of death approximation?
A) Axillary temperature using a standard oral thermometer.
B) Rectal temperature using a specialized probe thermometer.
C) Liver temperature using a stab incision.
D) Ambient temperature measured at the scene.
Correct Answer: C) Liver temperature using a stab incision.
Rationale: While not always performed in the field by all jurisdictions, the liver has high
,thermal stability and is a deep core organ. A stab incision with a specialized thermometer
provides the most accurate core temperature for use in algor mortis formulas (e.g., Glaister
equation). Rectal temps can be affected by fecal matter and ambient exposure.
6. You arrive at a scene where a body is found in a bathtub. The water is cold, and the
decedent is fully submerged except for the knees, which are dry and elevated out of the
water. What is the most significant inference?
A) The decedent died of natural causes before entering the tub.
B) The body was placed in the tub after death.
C) The decedent died from electrocution.
D) The water level dropped after death.
Correct Answer: B) The body was placed in the tub after death.
Rationale: Postmortem submersion results in uniform wetness. If a body is found with dry
areas in a wet environment, it suggests the body was positioned after death (dry areas were
not originally submerged) or the body was moved.
7. A 6-month-old infant is found unresponsive in a crib. The scene investigation reveals
soft bedding, a cluttered crib with stuffed animals, and the infant was sleeping prone. The
initial manner of death is most likely:
A) Homicide
B) Natural (SIDS)
C) Accident
D) Undetermined
Correct Answer: C) Accident
Rationale: While the final manner may be certified as Undetermined or Natural (SIDS) after
autopsy, the scene investigation points to accidental asphyxia due to unsafe sleep
environment (prone positioning, soft bedding). The investigator must document these risk
factors.
8. A key component of the "body diagram" or "body map" during scene documentation is
to:
A) Only document injuries that appear antemortem.
, B) Document all marks, scars, tattoos, and injuries, noting color, shape, and location.
C) Create a narrative for the pathologist without photographic reference.
D) Record only the clothing present on the body.
Correct Answer: B) Document all marks, scars, tattoos, and injuries, noting color,
shape, and location.
Rationale: The body diagram provides a visual record. It is crucial to document everything—
distinguishing between antemortem injuries, postmortem artifacts, therapeutic marks (IVs,
incisions), and identifying features (tattoos, scars).
9. Which of the following is an antemortem characteristic of a wound?
A) Lack of hemorrhage
B) Yellowish discoloration of the tissue
C) Edges that are dry and leathery
D) Swelling and red/purple discoloration of surrounding tissue
Correct Answer: D) Swelling and red/purple discoloration of surrounding tissue
Rationale: Antemortem wounds exhibit signs of inflammation and vital reaction, including
hemorrhage (reddish-purple), edema (swelling), and tissue retraction. Postmortem wounds
lack these signs; they are often yellow, dry, and do not bleed actively.
10. At a death scene, what is the first priority of the medicolegal death investigator?
A) Preserving the chain of custody for evidence.
B) Interviewing witnesses.
C) Ensuring scene safety and officer safety.
D) Pronouncing death.
Correct Answer: C) Ensuring scene safety and officer safety.
Rationale: Safety is always the primary concern. The investigator cannot conduct a proper
investigation if they are injured or become a victim themselves. This includes hazards like
carbon monoxide, biohazards, structural instability, or violent individuals.
11. A decedent is found with extensive rigor mortis in the small muscles of the face and
fingers, but not in the large muscle groups of the legs and back. This suggests death
occurred approximately:
