Postmortem

interval The postmortem interval (PMI) is the time that has passed between death and the discovery of a body. It is an important measurement within forensic science, as it is often used to help calculate the time and cause of death in a criminal investigation. Other factors, such as environmental temperature, can also influence the postmortem interval. It is estimated by examining the rate of body decomposition and calculating the time since the victim's last known location. Accurately estimating the postmortem interval can offer invaluable evidence in criminal investigations.