Which method is commonly used to determine the PMI?

The method commonly used to determine the postmortem interval (PMI) is forensic entomology. This discipline involves studying the insects that colonize a decomposing body. Forensic entomologists can estimate the time of death by analyzing the development stages of these insects, particularly blowflies, which are often among the first to arrive at a body.

By understanding the life cycles of these insects and the environmental factors affecting them, forensic entomologists can provide estimations of PMI ranging from hours to days or even weeks. This information can be critical in investigations to establish timelines and support legal conclusions.

Other methods like forensic analysis, DNA analysis, and toxicology testing serve different purposes in forensic science. For instance, forensic analysis may deal with the examination of the crime scene or physical evidence, DNA analysis focuses on biological material to establish identity or relationships, and toxicology testing is used to identify chemical substances in the body. While useful in their own right, these methods do not specifically focus on estimating the time since death like forensic entomology does.