Final answer:
Rigor mortis beginning in the hands and toes at 10 AM implies death occurred approximately 6 to 8 hours prior, subject to additional forensic evidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a body is found at 10 AM with rigor mortis present in the hands and toes only, it suggests that death occurred approximately 2 to 6 hours prior to discovery. This is based on the general timeline for rigor mortis, where the stiffening process begins within 2 hours of death, starting with the smaller muscles such as those in the hands and feet, and can take up to 12 hours to fully develop throughout the entire body. However, environmental factors and the individual's condition at death can also influence the rigor mortis process, therefore this is only an estimate and should be corroborated with additional forensic evidence.