What is the significance of rigor mortis in death investigations?

Rigor mortis is a key factor in death investigations primarily because it assists forensic experts in estimating the post-mortem interval, or the time that has elapsed since death occurred. This physiological change involves the stiffening of muscles due to chemical changes occurring in the body after death. Typically, rigor mortis begins within a few hours after death and progresses through various stages, which can be measured to help ascertain how long the individual has been deceased.

While rigor mortis can provide critical insights into the timeline of death, it does not offer definitive conclusions regarding the method of death or the emotional state of the deceased. Moreover, it cannot determine the exact moment of death; it merely offers a window of time based on the physiological changes observed. Thus, its primary significance lies in helping investigators approximate when death occurred, making it a valuable tool in forensic pathology.