---
title: "SFS5: Medicolegal Death Investigation (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SFS5
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SFS5
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SFS5
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SFS5.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SFS5.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SFS5: Medicolegal Death Investigation

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to Medicolegal Death Investigations.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SFS5.a**: Ask questions to identify various causes and mechanisms of death (blunt force trauma, heart attack, bleeding, etc.).
- **SFS5.b**: Construct an argument based on evidence that pertains to the manner of death (natural, homicide, suicide, accidental, or undetermined).
- **SFS5.c**: Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain post mortem changes used to determine post mortem interval (PMI): * Rigor mortis * Livor mortis * Algor mortis * Gastric contents
- **SFS5.d**: Analyze and interpret entomological data to evaluate the role insects play in decomposition and determining PMI.
- **SFS5.e**: Plan and carry out an investigation to analyze height, sex, age, and race to develop an anthropological profile of the victim and potential perpetrator.

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.