cooler

The second stage of decomposition, Algor Mortis translates to “coldness” [algor] “of death” [mortis]. Algor Mortis, sometimes refered to as the “death chill”, is marked by a steady decline in body temperature and continues until the corpse reaches “ambient temperature”, or matches the temperature of its surroundings. Algor Mortis usually sets in one hour after death, but many factors have significant influence on this phase of decomposition. Determining the correct time of death by way of body temperature can be difficult due to stability/fluctuation of ambient temperature, the thermal conductivity of the surface the corpse is on and what is known as a “temperature plateau”, a highly variable period of time in which the body does not cool. The rate of cooling may be increased if the deceased is thin or malnourished or if the body is exposed to low temperatures and/or a windy environment. On the other hand, if the person was febrile (running a fever), under the influence, obese or left in a warm environment, the rate of cooling will decrease. Clothing can also play a major role in speeding up or slowing down Algor Mortis. The corpse will cool faster if large amounts of skin are exposed or when wearing wet clothing. Dry, layered, heavy clothing keeps the body warm for a longer period of time after death. Once the body begins true decomposition, the temperature will rise again, making Algor Mortis most helpful in determining time of death within the first 24 hours. Temperature readings can be obtained from the rectum of the deceased or by inserting a meat thermometer under the ribcage on the right side of the corpse and into the liver. Investigators use the Glaister Equation to estimate the time of death. While the temperature change can vary anywhere between a 1 degree Fahrenheit drop in temperature per hour to a 12 degree F drop per hour, the average is 1.5 degree F drop per hour, each hour following death. The Glaister Equation uses 98.4 degrees F (average body temperature) minus the rectal (or internal) temperature in degrees F, divided by 1.5 degrees F, to equate time of death. During this stage of decomposition, we also usually begin to see full corneal cloudiness in eyes which remained open after death.
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Read about Stage 1: Pallor Mortis and Stage 3: Rigor Mortis
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Lyudmila Steblitskaya (center) with her daughter, Anastasia, and granddaughter, Nelli. Photo courtesy The Siberian Times.

Lyudmila Steblitskaya is a 65-year-old grandmother, retired cook and she has come back from the dead more than once. On November 4, 2011 Lyudmila was taken to Tomsk Regional Hospital in Russia by her daughter, Anastasia. At the time, Lyudmila was 61 years old and had a history of heart problems. After spending several days at the hospital, sadly, Lyudmila passed away. Anastasia began planning her mother’s funeral; She broke the news to her daughter, Nelli, informed family members of Lyudmila’s death, bought flowers, food for guests, even had a grave dug for her mother’s body, spending 60,000 roubles ($1,875 / 1,223 pounds) on her mother’s memorial service. On the day of Lyudmila’s funeral, Anastasia went to the hospital with the clothes her mother was to be buried in to collect the body. Hospital staff told her to wait a while because Lyudmila’s autopsy had not yet been performed. Meanwhile, Lyudmila awoke to find herself laying in the morgue with her skin cracked and peeling off because it had become frozen in the three days she spent inside a human refrigerator. An unnerved doctor found Anastasia waiting in the hall and informed her Lyudmila was very much alive and back in her hospital bed. Anastasia Steblitskaya was shocked to find her mother lying in bed, alive, just as the doctor had said. Lydmila says she has no memory of what happened; Only that she remembers being in the hospital on Friday, and waking up in the morgue on Monday. Less than one year later, in October of 2012, Lydmila died again. This time, she was somehow able to be resuscitated several hours after she had been pronounced dead. There are some reports that Lyudmila Steblitskaya died a third time, almost undergoing an autopsy again, before coming back to life; However, reports of the third instance are not confirmed. Nevertheless, coming back to life, even just one time, is an incredibly impressive feat.
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