ABMDI REGISTRY EXAM (2026/2027) | COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED A+ | BRAND NEW
VERSION
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification Examination | Core
Domains: Death Scene Investigation & Management, Postmortem Changes & Forensic Taphonomy,
Medicolegal Jurisdiction & Authority, Evidence Collection & Chain of Custody, Death Certification &
Cause/Manner Determination, Interviewing Techniques & Next-of-Kin Notification, Mass Fatality
Incident Response, and Professional Ethics & Standards of Practice | Medicolegal Death Investigator
Certification Focus | National Registry Exam Format
Exam Structure
The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam for the 2026/2027 certification cycle is a 200-question,
multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination.
Introduction
This ABMDI Registry Exam guide for the 2026/2027 cycle prepares candidates for the national
certification examination for medicolegal death investigators. The content assesses comprehensive
knowledge of death investigation protocols, forensic science principles, legal procedures, and ethical
standards required to conduct thorough, objective, and legally defensible investigations into deaths falling
under medical examiner/coroner jurisdiction.
Answer Format
All correct answers and investigative procedures must be presented in bold and green, followed by
detailed rationales that reference ABMDI performance domains, explain forensic principles (e.g., livor,
rigor, algor mortis), justify evidence handling and documentation practices, apply legal statutes governing
death investigation, and adhere to ethical guidelines for professional conduct.
Questions (200 Total)
1. Which postmortem change is characterized by the settling of blood in dependent areas due to gravity?
A. Algor mortis
B. Livor mortis
C. Rigor mortis
D. Putrefaction
Rationale: Livor mortis (lividity) is the purple-red discoloration caused by hemoglobin settling in
capillaries after circulation ceases. It begins 20–30 minutes postmortem, becomes fixed in 8–12 hours,
and can indicate body repositioning if inconsistent with scene findings. Algor mortis is cooling; rigor is
muscle stiffening; putrefaction is decomposition.
,2. A death investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent is found supine with lividity on the back.
This suggests:
A. The body was moved after death
B. The body remained in the same position after death
C. Death occurred during physical activity
D. The decedent was frozen
Rationale: Livor mortis appears in dependent (lowest) areas. If the body is supine and lividity is on the
back, it indicates the body was not moved after lividity became fixed (~8–12 hours). Inconsistent lividity
(e.g., front of body when found supine) suggests postmortem movement.
3. Which death is typically under medicolegal jurisdiction?
A. Expected death from end-stage cancer in hospice
B. Sudden death of a 45-year-old with no known illness
C. Death occurring during elective surgery with consent
D. Natural death in a nursing home with physician care
Rationale: Medicolegal jurisdictions (ME/coroner) investigate sudden, unexpected, violent, or
suspicious deaths. A healthy adult dying suddenly requires investigation to rule out homicide, overdose,
or undiagnosed condition. Hospice and expected natural deaths are usually certified by physicians.
4. What is the primary purpose of maintaining a chain of custody for evidence?
A. To reduce storage costs
B. To ensure evidence integrity and admissibility in court
C. To speed up autopsy scheduling
D. To assign blame to first responders
Rationale: Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence, preventing tampering or
loss. It is essential for legal admissibility under evidentiary rules. Failure to maintain it can result in
evidence being excluded from trial, compromising justice.
5. When documenting a death scene, the investigator should:
A. Move objects to get better photos
,B. Photograph and sketch the scene before moving anything
C. Rely on memory and write notes later
D. Allow family members to clean the area first
Rationale: Scene integrity is paramount. Photos, videos, and sketches must capture the original state
before any disturbance. Moving items contaminates the scene and destroys contextual evidence.
Documentation must be contemporaneous, objective, and detailed.
6. Rigor mortis typically begins:
A. Immediately at death
B. 2–6 hours after death
C. 24–48 hours after death
D. Only in cold environments
Rationale: Rigor mortis (stiffening due to ATP depletion and actin-myosin cross-linking) starts in
small muscles (eyelids, jaw) 2–6 hours postmortem, peaks at 12 hours, and dissipates in 24–72 hours.
Environmental temperature affects timing—faster in heat, slower in cold.
7. Which manner of death is used when the cause cannot be determined despite investigation?
A. Homicide
B. Undetermined
C. Accident
D. Natural
Rationale: “Undetermined” is a valid manner of death when evidence is insufficient to classify as
natural, accident, suicide, or homicide. It is not a failure but an honest reflection of investigative limits.
Never guess or force a classification.
8. When notifying next of kin, the investigator should:
A. Deliver news over the phone whenever possible
B. Use in-person notification with compassion and clarity, accompanied by support
personnel if available
C. Wait until autopsy results are final
, D. Ask the family to come identify the body immediately
Rationale: Best practice is in-person, face-to-face notification by trained personnel (e.g., investigator
+ chaplain or officer). It shows respect, allows immediate support, and prevents miscommunication.
Phone notification is only acceptable if in-person is impossible (e.g., remote location).
9. In a mass fatality incident, the primary role of the death investigator includes:
A. Leading search-and-rescue operations
B. Assisting in victim recovery, triage, and identification coordination
C. Providing acute medical care
D. Managing media interviews alone
Rationale: Death investigators support DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) by
recovering remains, documenting findings, collecting antemortem data, and aiding identification (e.g.,
fingerprints, dental records). They do not perform rescue or media management as primary duties.
10. Ethical conduct for a death investigator requires:
A. Sharing case details on social media for public awareness
B. Maintaining confidentiality and objectivity at all times
C. Accepting gifts from families as thanks
D. Speculating about cause of death in public
Rationale: ABMDI Code of Ethics mandates confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism.
Discussing cases publicly, accepting gifts, or speculating violates trust and may compromise
investigations or legal proceedings. Objectivity ensures justice for the decedent and family.
11. When collecting a pill bottle at a scene, the investigator should:
A. Place it in a plastic bag without labeling
B. Seal it in a properly labeled evidence bag and log it in the chain of custody
C. Give it to the police officer without documentation
D. Leave it for the family to handle
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) | ALREADY GRADED A+ | BRAND NEW
VERSION
American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry Certification Examination | Core
Domains: Death Scene Investigation & Management, Postmortem Changes & Forensic Taphonomy,
Medicolegal Jurisdiction & Authority, Evidence Collection & Chain of Custody, Death Certification &
Cause/Manner Determination, Interviewing Techniques & Next-of-Kin Notification, Mass Fatality
Incident Response, and Professional Ethics & Standards of Practice | Medicolegal Death Investigator
Certification Focus | National Registry Exam Format
Exam Structure
The ABMDI Registry Certification Exam for the 2026/2027 certification cycle is a 200-question,
multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination.
Introduction
This ABMDI Registry Exam guide for the 2026/2027 cycle prepares candidates for the national
certification examination for medicolegal death investigators. The content assesses comprehensive
knowledge of death investigation protocols, forensic science principles, legal procedures, and ethical
standards required to conduct thorough, objective, and legally defensible investigations into deaths falling
under medical examiner/coroner jurisdiction.
Answer Format
All correct answers and investigative procedures must be presented in bold and green, followed by
detailed rationales that reference ABMDI performance domains, explain forensic principles (e.g., livor,
rigor, algor mortis), justify evidence handling and documentation practices, apply legal statutes governing
death investigation, and adhere to ethical guidelines for professional conduct.
Questions (200 Total)
1. Which postmortem change is characterized by the settling of blood in dependent areas due to gravity?
A. Algor mortis
B. Livor mortis
C. Rigor mortis
D. Putrefaction
Rationale: Livor mortis (lividity) is the purple-red discoloration caused by hemoglobin settling in
capillaries after circulation ceases. It begins 20–30 minutes postmortem, becomes fixed in 8–12 hours,
and can indicate body repositioning if inconsistent with scene findings. Algor mortis is cooling; rigor is
muscle stiffening; putrefaction is decomposition.
,2. A death investigator arrives at a scene where the decedent is found supine with lividity on the back.
This suggests:
A. The body was moved after death
B. The body remained in the same position after death
C. Death occurred during physical activity
D. The decedent was frozen
Rationale: Livor mortis appears in dependent (lowest) areas. If the body is supine and lividity is on the
back, it indicates the body was not moved after lividity became fixed (~8–12 hours). Inconsistent lividity
(e.g., front of body when found supine) suggests postmortem movement.
3. Which death is typically under medicolegal jurisdiction?
A. Expected death from end-stage cancer in hospice
B. Sudden death of a 45-year-old with no known illness
C. Death occurring during elective surgery with consent
D. Natural death in a nursing home with physician care
Rationale: Medicolegal jurisdictions (ME/coroner) investigate sudden, unexpected, violent, or
suspicious deaths. A healthy adult dying suddenly requires investigation to rule out homicide, overdose,
or undiagnosed condition. Hospice and expected natural deaths are usually certified by physicians.
4. What is the primary purpose of maintaining a chain of custody for evidence?
A. To reduce storage costs
B. To ensure evidence integrity and admissibility in court
C. To speed up autopsy scheduling
D. To assign blame to first responders
Rationale: Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence, preventing tampering or
loss. It is essential for legal admissibility under evidentiary rules. Failure to maintain it can result in
evidence being excluded from trial, compromising justice.
5. When documenting a death scene, the investigator should:
A. Move objects to get better photos
,B. Photograph and sketch the scene before moving anything
C. Rely on memory and write notes later
D. Allow family members to clean the area first
Rationale: Scene integrity is paramount. Photos, videos, and sketches must capture the original state
before any disturbance. Moving items contaminates the scene and destroys contextual evidence.
Documentation must be contemporaneous, objective, and detailed.
6. Rigor mortis typically begins:
A. Immediately at death
B. 2–6 hours after death
C. 24–48 hours after death
D. Only in cold environments
Rationale: Rigor mortis (stiffening due to ATP depletion and actin-myosin cross-linking) starts in
small muscles (eyelids, jaw) 2–6 hours postmortem, peaks at 12 hours, and dissipates in 24–72 hours.
Environmental temperature affects timing—faster in heat, slower in cold.
7. Which manner of death is used when the cause cannot be determined despite investigation?
A. Homicide
B. Undetermined
C. Accident
D. Natural
Rationale: “Undetermined” is a valid manner of death when evidence is insufficient to classify as
natural, accident, suicide, or homicide. It is not a failure but an honest reflection of investigative limits.
Never guess or force a classification.
8. When notifying next of kin, the investigator should:
A. Deliver news over the phone whenever possible
B. Use in-person notification with compassion and clarity, accompanied by support
personnel if available
C. Wait until autopsy results are final
, D. Ask the family to come identify the body immediately
Rationale: Best practice is in-person, face-to-face notification by trained personnel (e.g., investigator
+ chaplain or officer). It shows respect, allows immediate support, and prevents miscommunication.
Phone notification is only acceptable if in-person is impossible (e.g., remote location).
9. In a mass fatality incident, the primary role of the death investigator includes:
A. Leading search-and-rescue operations
B. Assisting in victim recovery, triage, and identification coordination
C. Providing acute medical care
D. Managing media interviews alone
Rationale: Death investigators support DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) by
recovering remains, documenting findings, collecting antemortem data, and aiding identification (e.g.,
fingerprints, dental records). They do not perform rescue or media management as primary duties.
10. Ethical conduct for a death investigator requires:
A. Sharing case details on social media for public awareness
B. Maintaining confidentiality and objectivity at all times
C. Accepting gifts from families as thanks
D. Speculating about cause of death in public
Rationale: ABMDI Code of Ethics mandates confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism.
Discussing cases publicly, accepting gifts, or speculating violates trust and may compromise
investigations or legal proceedings. Objectivity ensures justice for the decedent and family.
11. When collecting a pill bottle at a scene, the investigator should:
A. Place it in a plastic bag without labeling
B. Seal it in a properly labeled evidence bag and log it in the chain of custody
C. Give it to the police officer without documentation
D. Leave it for the family to handle
