EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED

ABMDI Final Exam (American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators) NEWEST

EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED

ANSWERS 2025 (VERIFIED ANSWERS)

• What is the most appropriate initial action upon arriving at a death

scene?

• Begin collecting evidence immediately
• Interview family members
• Secure the scene to preserve evidence
• Move the body for a better look

Rationale: The scene must be secured first to prevent contamination or

loss of evidence. All further actions depend on the integrity of the scene.

• Which of the following types of death must typically be reported to

the medical examiner or coroner?

• Hospice death of a cancer patient
• Natural death in a hospital 1 / 3

• Death of a prisoner in custody
• Death of a known Alzheimer's patient in a care home

Rationale: Any death in custody, regardless of apparent cause, requires

investigation to rule out foul play or negligence.

• Rigor mortis generally begins within how many hours after death?
• 1-2 hours
• 2-4 hours
• 6-12 hours
• 24 hours

Rationale: Rigor mortis typically begins 2–4 hours after death, starting in

smaller muscles such as the jaw and eyelids.

• What is the correct procedure if a firearm is found near the deceased?
• Pick it up with a gloved hand and inspect it
• Unload it to make it safe
• Leave it and call the bomb squad
• Do not touch the firearm; photograph and document it as found

Rationale: Firearms should not be handled until properly documented to

preserve potential evidence like fingerprints and gunshot residue.

• What is the purpose of a medicolegal death investigation?
• To arrest suspects
• To determine the cause and manner of death
• To provide therapy for the family
• To assign criminal liability 2 / 3

Rationale: The investigator’s role is to establish how and why the person

died—not to determine guilt or arrest anyone.

• When photographing the death scene, what is the correct order?
• Body close-up, room overview, external entry
• Overall scene, midrange, close-up
• Close-up, then external surroundings
• Family photos, then the deceased

Rationale: Proper documentation begins with wide (overall) shots to

establish context, followed by midrange and detailed close-up photos.

• What should be done if next of kin is not immediately known or

present?

• Cremate the body per state policy
• Make reasonable efforts to identify and notify next of kin
• Assign temporary guardianship to the hospital
• Proceed with burial under John/Jane Doe

Rationale: Investigators must make diligent efforts to identify and notify

legal next of kin before final disposition.

• Which of the following best describes livor mortis?
• Muscle stiffening
• Pooling of blood in dependent areas
• Skin drying
• Discoloration from decomposition

Rationale: Livor mortis refers to the gravitational pooling of blood,

which can help estimate the time and position of death.

• / 3