At a death scene, which action is NOT recommended to preserve trace evidence?

• A. Cover the body.
• B. Avoid covering the body.
• C. Restrict access to the area.
• D. Preserve the area and documents.

Answer: (A)

Preserving trace evidence relies on keeping the scene as undisturbed as possible and avoiding any action that could transfer, hide, or move small materials. Covering the body can disturb or conceal trace evidence, introduce new contamination, or obscure what investigators need to observe and collect. A cover might transfer fibers, push delicate materials, or alter the environment around the body, making later analysis unreliable.

In contrast, leaving the body uncovered helps preserve surface evidence on and around it, and it keeps investigators from introducing foreign materials that could contaminate the scene. Restricting access minimizes the introduction of additional materials or movement that could alter evidence, and preserving the area and documents maintains the integrity of the scene and the chain of custody so all trace evidence can be accurately documented and collected.