Forensic Simulation Activity: Establishing Time of Death

Purpose

Students will use critical thinking and forensic reasoning to estimate the time of death and identify key postmortem indicators from a simulated corpse description generated by ChatGPT.

Instructions

1. Open ChatGPT.

2. Enter the following prompt exactly as written below:

You are a corpse simulation. I am a forensic investigator.

Please respond only to the questions I ask about the body. Do not give me information until I ask for it.

I will ask questions about body temperature, rigor mortis, postmortem lividity, decomposition, and signs of water involvement to estimate time and cause of death. Respond as a medical examiner at the scene would.

Begin with the body I found in the woods near a creek. Wait for my first question.

3. Review ChatGPTs generated case. Read through the description carefully. Take notes on all physical and environmental clues related to the time of death.

4. Analyze the Evidence:

Estimate time since death (in hours)

Explain how each indicator (rigor mortis, body temperature, lividity, decomposition, etc.) supports your estimate

Identify possible cause and manner of death if clues allow

5. Write a Brief Investigative Summary (12 pages). Your report should include:

Case Overview: Summary of ChatGPTs simulated scene

Forensic Findings: Description of postmortem indicators

Estimated Time of Death: Based on your analysis

Reasoning: Explain your logic step-by-step

Conclusion: Likely cause/manner of death

6. Submit your report with a screenshot or a copy of the ChatGPT simulation you analyzed.

Submission Instructions

• Complete voiceprint activity
• Format your document as follows:
• Double-spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• inch margins
• Submit your completed document through D2L by the assigned due date.

**** Key Note**** from professor

Hi,

Forensic Simulation Activity

• For this activity, please use the prompt that I have provided.
• You will need to review the book on determining Time of Death (TOD).
• Please do not ask ChatGPT for the time of death. Ask questions you need to determine TOD.
• I will need you to provide your conversation with ChatGPT, starting from the prompt. I will review what questions you asked to help you determine TOD. If you do not ask questions about rigor mortis, lividity, etc. (pg 306 – 312), I will deduct points from the assignments.
• After asking the necessary questions, please provide a summary in your own words.
• Again, in your submission, please provide:
• Chat log with ChatGPT
• Investigative summary

If you have any questions, please let me know.

David

Attach will be the Textbook for this class