How do you determine how long someone has been dead by the mottling of skin?

Mottling of the skin, also known as livor mortis, occurs after death as blood settles in the lower parts of the body due to gravity, causing discoloration. The pattern and extent of mottling can provide clues about the time since death, typically becoming noticeable within 30 minutes to 2 hours and fully developed within 6 to 12 hours. Factors such as temperature, body position, and the individual's health can influence the rate of this process, aiding forensic experts in estimating the time of death more accurately.