What does an autopsy commonly help determine regarding the victim?

An autopsy is a critical procedure in forensic science that provides valuable insights into a victim's death. It commonly helps determine the time of death, which can be crucial for establishing a timeline of events and coordinating witness testimonies and suspect alibis. Additionally, an autopsy reveals the nature of injuries sustained by the victim, helping to ascertain how, and sometimes why, the death occurred. This can include identifying the cause of death, whether it was due to foul play, an accident, or natural causes, as well as the manner of death, which may be classified as homicide, suicide, accidental, or undetermined.

This type of forensic evidence is instrumental in criminal investigations, often guiding law enforcement in their inquiries and providing necessary information for legal proceedings. The other options, while related to investigative processes, do not specifically pertain to the primary objectives of an autopsy, which is fundamentally about understanding the physiological aspects of the victim's death.