What color would a deceased victim appear if carbon monoxide (CO) was present in their blood?

When carbon monoxide is present in the blood, it combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, which gives the blood a characteristic color. This alteration typically results in a pink to cherry red appearance of the skin and tissues of a deceased victim. This coloration occurs due to the strong affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglobin compared to oxygen, which can lead to hypoxia and ultimately, death.

In cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, examining the color of the blood or the general appearance of the body can be crucial for forensic investigations, enabling investigators to assess the cause of death. Understanding this physiological response helps in distinguishing carbon monoxide poisoning from other types of suffocation or asphyxiation, which typically present with different coloration cues.