Accepted Manuscript Title: Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge Author: Melanie Todt Friedrich Ast Roman Wolff-Maras Birte Roesler Tanja Germerott PII: DOI: Reference:
S0379-0738(14)00166-2 http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.04.022 FSI 7581
To appear in:
FSI
Received date: Revised date: Accepted date:
25-3-2014 10-4-2014 14-4-2014
Please cite this article as: Melanie Todt, Friedrich Ast, Roman Wolff-Maras, Birte Roesler, Tanja Germerott, Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge, Forensic Science International http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.04.022 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge Melanie Todt1, Friedrich Ast2, Roman Wolff-Maras1, Birte Roesler1, Tanja Germerott1 1
Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625
Hannover, Germany 2
Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Pappelallee 4, 26122 Oldenburg,
ip t
Germany
cr
Corresponding author:
us
Dr. Melanie Todt Institute of Legal Medicine
an
Hannover Medical School Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1
Fax: +49 511 532 5635
Ac ce pt e
[email protected]
d
Tel.: +49 511 532 4570
M
30625 Hannover, Germany
Abstract
In the case of suicidal drowning forensic examination is difficult, particularly with regard to differentiating between suicide, accident, homicide and natural death. Bondage and weighting with objects, putrescence and attendant lesions aggravate interpretation and investigation of postmortal forensic findings. In this respect, two cases of seemingly homicidal drowning with leg and arm bondage and weighting, to prevent resurfacing, are presented and discussed. Keywords: Forensic medicine – Suicide – Drowning – Bondage
1. Introduction
Page 1 of 12
Complex suicides, homicide-suicides, and simulated suicides, as well as the use of uncommon suicide methods may raise suspicion of foul play and often lead to an early involvement of forensic investigators [1]. In these cases a proper investigation of the death scene and the deceased’s history as well as a forensic autopsy is mandatory [2]. In 2012, the Federal Statistical Office registered 9.890 suicides in Germany representing 1.1 % of all deaths. According to the Federal Statistical Office suicide by drowning,
ip t
represented with 2.5 %, is not a very common method to commit suicide in Germany [3]. Especially in cases in which a corpse is found in the water, careful examination to
cr
differentiate between suicide, accident, homicide, and natural death has to be performed. Forensic investigation can be challenging due to putrefaction and agonally or postmortem
us
inflicted injuries. Furthermore, bondage and weighting with heavy objects are suspicious of third party involvement [4].
This report details the planned suicides of two men by drowning, in which leg and arm
an
bondage as well as weighting with heavy objects were applied in order to prevent resurfacing
2. Case circumstances
d
Case 1
M
and self-rescue.
Ac ce pt e
A 29-year-old male was reported missing by his parents. On the same day a suicide note was discovered on a flash drive and the man’s car was located beside a dam. In the middle of the artificial lake an inflatable dinghy was located containing the mobile phone and the wallet of the missing person. A first search for the man conducted by the police failed. Finally, by echo sounding a male corpse, later identified as the missing person, was found in the lake which shows a maximum depth of 30 meters. However, the exact depth in which the body was located was not determined. The legs were fixed by cable ties and attached to a bag filled with approximately 23 kg of angle irons lying on the lake ground, resulting in the corpse floating vertically in the water (Fig.1). The corpse was brought to the Institute of Legal Medicine for forensic autopsy. External examination revealed a male corpse wearing several layers of clothing, more specifically a coat, a sweater, a t-shirt, an undershirt, trousers, thermal underpants, briefs, socks and sneakers. Additionally swimming goggles and gloves were worn. Both wrists were tied in front of the man’s waist by cable ties. Regarding the way the cable ties were attached to the arms and legs, latter connected to a bag containing angle iron, a self-application in order to exclude self-rescue was the most probable (Fig. 2). Livor mortis located at the arms and legs
Page 2 of 12
were suitable with a vertical floating position. The corpse exhibited waterlogged skin and considerable signs of putrefaction with green coloration of the skin and gaseous distension. Despite advanced signs of putrefaction, the internal examination revealed signs of drowning, namely emphysema of the lung and diluted content of the stomach. Furthermore, a few milliliters of liquid could be punctured from the sphenoid sinuses. According to the autopsy, cause of death was stated to be drowning. Competing causes of death, organic
ip t
abnormalities or indications of homicidal violence were not present. Toxicological analyses for alcohol and drugs were denied by the Justice department, but an examination for ethyl
cr
alcohol was commissioned in-house and showed negative results. Finally, based on the autopsy results, the negative toxicological examination, and police investigations a suicide by
an
us
submersion was stated.
Case 2
M
A 23-year-old man was found in the reed bed of a canal with his hands and legs fixed by padlocked metal chains (Fig. 3, 4). The corpse wore a backpack on his back, filled with
d
multiple stones (Fig. 5). At about the same time the body was recovered, a couple of cylinder keys were found by a fisherman at the opposite canal bank. The keys matched the padlocks
Ac ce pt e
found at the corpse. In the apartment of the man, who was suspected to be found dead, a suicide note and packing material of padlocks were found. A forensic autopsy was ordered by the Justice department. External examination revealed a regularly clothed young man. Appearance of the bondage of arms and legs secured by padlocks was in accordance with self-captivation. Beside waterlogged skin, the corpse showed advanced signs of putrefaction such as green coloration and gaseous distension of the soft tissue and the viscera. Due to putrefaction the ascertainment of relevant findings was very limited. The stomach was brimming (800 ml) and a few milliliters of reddish-aqueous liquid could be punctured from the sphenoid sinuses. The lung was collapsed and no relevant findings, in particular no findings congruent with drowning, were found due to extended putrefaction. In the context of the autopsy a pathological cause of death, organic abnormalities or injuries suspicious of third person intervention could not be determined. Moreover, toxicological examination of the urine showed a negative result for ethyl alcohol. Even though in the context of the autopsy no definite findings verifying the cause of death could be found, careful consideration of all findings as well as the result of police investigation concluded suicide due to drowning as the most probable cause of death. Page 3 of 12
ip t
3. Discussion Even though drowning as a cause of death is not unusual in Germany, drowning in order to
cr
commit suicide is a rather rare, but important forensic manifestation and has to be distinguished from accidents, homicides and natural death in water [3, 5].
us
Drowning can be defined as a process of primary respiratory impairment from submersion in a liquid, most frequently in water. In typical drowning, breath is initially held voluntarily when
an
sinking beneath the water surface. Based on a combination of hypercapnia, hypoxaemia and acidosis involuntarily inspiration occurs resulting in the inhaling and swallowing of liquid. The whole process results in cerebral hypoxia which continues until death occurs by anoxia [6, 7].
M
In this process CO2-stimulation of the respiratory centre leads to the inhalation and swallowing of water. Repeated resurfacing combined with deep inhalation causes foam and overinflation of the lungs. Furthermore, reddish blurred blotches located beneath the
d
pulmonary pleura on the exterior of the lung (Paltauf’s spots) created by accelerated
Ac ce pt e
respiration with simultaneous haemolysis may arise [8]. Even though these specific findings may be present at autopsy, they can be very slightly developed or lack completely, particularly after the onset of putrefactive changes, so that diagnosis of drowning, based solely on an autopsy may be difficult or impossible [5]. In the two presented cases, signs of drowning were discrete in one case and lacked in the other due to advanced signs of putrefaction.
However, even in cases in which, based on autoptic findings, drowning can be identified as the cause of death, the circumstances of death cannot be fully determined at all times [9]. Injuries sustained by third party involvement in homicides have to be differentiated from agonal or postmortem lesions as well as from traumatic origin for example from falls. No injuries were detectable during autopsy in the two presented cases. Nevertheless, because of self-bondage and weighting with heavy objects foul-play had to be excluded. Careful reconstruction of the bondage of both fully and regularly dressed males revealed, that a selfattachment of the bondage was undoubtedly possible in each case. Comparable circumstances can be observed in numerous cases of suicidal drowning [10]. Regardless, if a corpse is found in water, especially when bondage and attachment of heavy weight objects
Page 4 of 12
are present, a homicide has to be considered and a careful investigation including a forensic autopsy has to be performed [11]. An intoxication with alcohol or other drugs seems to be unusual in victims of suicidal drowning [5, 11, 12, 13, 14]. On the contrary, positive blood alcohol concentrations in cases of drowning should alert the investigator to review all aspects related to the drowning incident
ip t
before assuming a suicide as the manner of death [11]. Forensic autopsy of the two presented cases could not prove either intoxication with ethyl alcohol or a competing cause of death, e.g. organic abnormalities or signs of violence.
cr
Furthermore, in both cases suicide notes were found during police investigations. In the end, considering autopsy results and case circumstances, suicidal drowning was stated as the
us
cause of death in both cases.
The two cases presented here reveal, that putrefaction, bondage, and weighting with objects
an
causes hindered post-mortem interpretation of findings within corpses located in water. It poses a challenge for the pathologist and other investigators to determine the cause and manner of death, because all manner of death is possible. For this reason correlation
M
between case circumstances, setting of the finding situation, and results in securing of evidence always have to be carefully investigated, in order to exclude potential violence and
Ac ce pt e
d
thus to act on the assumption of suicidal drowning.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
References [1]
M. Kaliszan, K. Karnecki, E. Tomczak et al, Complex suicides by self-stabbing with
subsequent drowning in the sea, J Forensic Sci 58 (2013) 1370-1373
[2]
S. Pollak, Rechtsmedizinische Aspekte des Suizids, Rechtsmedizin 15 (2005) 235249
[3]
Statistisches Bundesamt (2013) Todesursachen in Deutschland 2011. Statistisches Bundesamt, Wiesbaden. https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/GesellschaftStaat/ Gesundheit/Todesursachen/Tabellen/EckdatenTU.html
[4]
M.J. Shkrum, D.A. Ramsay, Bodies recovered from water, in: Forensic Pathology of Trauma, Humana Press Inc, New Jersey, 2007, pp 243-293 Page 5 of 12
[5]
R.W. Byard, G. Houldsworth, A.J. Ross, J.D. Gilbert, Characteristics features of suicidal drownings – A 20-year study, Am J Forensic Med Pathol 22 (2001) 134-138
[6]
V. DiMaio, D. DiMaio, Death by Drowning, in: Forensic Pathology, 2nd ed., CRC Press, Bocca Raton, 2001
[7]
A.S. Papadodima, S.A. Athanaselis, E. Skliros, C.A. Spiliopoulou, Forensic
[8]
ip t
investigation of submersion deaths, Int J Clin Pract 64 (2010) 75-83 G. Reinhardt, H.J. Seidel, H.G. Sonntag et al, Tod im Wasser, in: Ökologisches
[9]
cr
Stoffgebiet, Hippokrates Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart, 1991, pp 303–309
E. Salib, N. Agnew, Suicide and undetermined death by drowning, Int J Psych Clin
[10]
us
Pract 9 (2005) 107-115
F.A. Benomran, S.E. Masood, A.I. Hassan, A.A. Mohammad, Masking and bondage
[11]
an
in suicidal hanging: A case report, Med Sci Law 47 (2007) 177-180 V. Stemberga, M. Bralic, M. Coklo et al, Suicidal drowning in Southwestern Croatia –
S.P. Avis, Suicidal drowning, J Forensic Sci 38 (1993) 1422-1426
[13]
A.R. Copeland, Suicide by drowning. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 8 (1987) 18-22
[14]
Figures
d
[12]
Ac ce pt e
M
A 25-year review, Am J Forensic Med Pathol 31 (2010) 52-54
L.G. Davis, Suicidal drowning in south Florida, J Forensic Sci 44 (1999) 902-905
Fig. 1: Legs fixed by cable ties and attached to a bag filled with angle irons, in order to exclude self-rescue Fig. 2: Tied wrists in front of the waist by most likely self-fastened cable ties Fig. 3, 4: Death scene: Discovery of a male corpse in the reed bed of a canal with signs of putrefaction. The hands and legs were fixed by padlocked metal chains. Fig. 5: Backpack filled with multiple stones to prevent resurfacing
Page 6 of 12
Page 7 of 12
d
Ac ce pt e us
an
M
cr
ip t
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 1 .
Page 8 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 2 .
Page 9 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 3 .
Page 10 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 4 .
Page 11 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 5 .
Page 12 of 12
S0379-0738(14)00166-2 http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.04.022 FSI 7581
To appear in:
FSI
Received date: Revised date: Accepted date:
25-3-2014 10-4-2014 14-4-2014
Please cite this article as: Melanie Todt, Friedrich Ast, Roman Wolff-Maras, Birte Roesler, Tanja Germerott, Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge, Forensic Science International http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.04.022 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Suicide by drowning: A forensic challenge Melanie Todt1, Friedrich Ast2, Roman Wolff-Maras1, Birte Roesler1, Tanja Germerott1 1
Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625
Hannover, Germany 2
Institute of Legal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Pappelallee 4, 26122 Oldenburg,
ip t
Germany
cr
Corresponding author:
us
Dr. Melanie Todt Institute of Legal Medicine
an
Hannover Medical School Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1
Fax: +49 511 532 5635
Ac ce pt e
[email protected]
d
Tel.: +49 511 532 4570
M
30625 Hannover, Germany
Abstract
In the case of suicidal drowning forensic examination is difficult, particularly with regard to differentiating between suicide, accident, homicide and natural death. Bondage and weighting with objects, putrescence and attendant lesions aggravate interpretation and investigation of postmortal forensic findings. In this respect, two cases of seemingly homicidal drowning with leg and arm bondage and weighting, to prevent resurfacing, are presented and discussed. Keywords: Forensic medicine – Suicide – Drowning – Bondage
1. Introduction
Page 1 of 12
Complex suicides, homicide-suicides, and simulated suicides, as well as the use of uncommon suicide methods may raise suspicion of foul play and often lead to an early involvement of forensic investigators [1]. In these cases a proper investigation of the death scene and the deceased’s history as well as a forensic autopsy is mandatory [2]. In 2012, the Federal Statistical Office registered 9.890 suicides in Germany representing 1.1 % of all deaths. According to the Federal Statistical Office suicide by drowning,
ip t
represented with 2.5 %, is not a very common method to commit suicide in Germany [3]. Especially in cases in which a corpse is found in the water, careful examination to
cr
differentiate between suicide, accident, homicide, and natural death has to be performed. Forensic investigation can be challenging due to putrefaction and agonally or postmortem
us
inflicted injuries. Furthermore, bondage and weighting with heavy objects are suspicious of third party involvement [4].
This report details the planned suicides of two men by drowning, in which leg and arm
an
bondage as well as weighting with heavy objects were applied in order to prevent resurfacing
2. Case circumstances
d
Case 1
M
and self-rescue.
Ac ce pt e
A 29-year-old male was reported missing by his parents. On the same day a suicide note was discovered on a flash drive and the man’s car was located beside a dam. In the middle of the artificial lake an inflatable dinghy was located containing the mobile phone and the wallet of the missing person. A first search for the man conducted by the police failed. Finally, by echo sounding a male corpse, later identified as the missing person, was found in the lake which shows a maximum depth of 30 meters. However, the exact depth in which the body was located was not determined. The legs were fixed by cable ties and attached to a bag filled with approximately 23 kg of angle irons lying on the lake ground, resulting in the corpse floating vertically in the water (Fig.1). The corpse was brought to the Institute of Legal Medicine for forensic autopsy. External examination revealed a male corpse wearing several layers of clothing, more specifically a coat, a sweater, a t-shirt, an undershirt, trousers, thermal underpants, briefs, socks and sneakers. Additionally swimming goggles and gloves were worn. Both wrists were tied in front of the man’s waist by cable ties. Regarding the way the cable ties were attached to the arms and legs, latter connected to a bag containing angle iron, a self-application in order to exclude self-rescue was the most probable (Fig. 2). Livor mortis located at the arms and legs
Page 2 of 12
were suitable with a vertical floating position. The corpse exhibited waterlogged skin and considerable signs of putrefaction with green coloration of the skin and gaseous distension. Despite advanced signs of putrefaction, the internal examination revealed signs of drowning, namely emphysema of the lung and diluted content of the stomach. Furthermore, a few milliliters of liquid could be punctured from the sphenoid sinuses. According to the autopsy, cause of death was stated to be drowning. Competing causes of death, organic
ip t
abnormalities or indications of homicidal violence were not present. Toxicological analyses for alcohol and drugs were denied by the Justice department, but an examination for ethyl
cr
alcohol was commissioned in-house and showed negative results. Finally, based on the autopsy results, the negative toxicological examination, and police investigations a suicide by
an
us
submersion was stated.
Case 2
M
A 23-year-old man was found in the reed bed of a canal with his hands and legs fixed by padlocked metal chains (Fig. 3, 4). The corpse wore a backpack on his back, filled with
d
multiple stones (Fig. 5). At about the same time the body was recovered, a couple of cylinder keys were found by a fisherman at the opposite canal bank. The keys matched the padlocks
Ac ce pt e
found at the corpse. In the apartment of the man, who was suspected to be found dead, a suicide note and packing material of padlocks were found. A forensic autopsy was ordered by the Justice department. External examination revealed a regularly clothed young man. Appearance of the bondage of arms and legs secured by padlocks was in accordance with self-captivation. Beside waterlogged skin, the corpse showed advanced signs of putrefaction such as green coloration and gaseous distension of the soft tissue and the viscera. Due to putrefaction the ascertainment of relevant findings was very limited. The stomach was brimming (800 ml) and a few milliliters of reddish-aqueous liquid could be punctured from the sphenoid sinuses. The lung was collapsed and no relevant findings, in particular no findings congruent with drowning, were found due to extended putrefaction. In the context of the autopsy a pathological cause of death, organic abnormalities or injuries suspicious of third person intervention could not be determined. Moreover, toxicological examination of the urine showed a negative result for ethyl alcohol. Even though in the context of the autopsy no definite findings verifying the cause of death could be found, careful consideration of all findings as well as the result of police investigation concluded suicide due to drowning as the most probable cause of death. Page 3 of 12
ip t
3. Discussion Even though drowning as a cause of death is not unusual in Germany, drowning in order to
cr
commit suicide is a rather rare, but important forensic manifestation and has to be distinguished from accidents, homicides and natural death in water [3, 5].
us
Drowning can be defined as a process of primary respiratory impairment from submersion in a liquid, most frequently in water. In typical drowning, breath is initially held voluntarily when
an
sinking beneath the water surface. Based on a combination of hypercapnia, hypoxaemia and acidosis involuntarily inspiration occurs resulting in the inhaling and swallowing of liquid. The whole process results in cerebral hypoxia which continues until death occurs by anoxia [6, 7].
M
In this process CO2-stimulation of the respiratory centre leads to the inhalation and swallowing of water. Repeated resurfacing combined with deep inhalation causes foam and overinflation of the lungs. Furthermore, reddish blurred blotches located beneath the
d
pulmonary pleura on the exterior of the lung (Paltauf’s spots) created by accelerated
Ac ce pt e
respiration with simultaneous haemolysis may arise [8]. Even though these specific findings may be present at autopsy, they can be very slightly developed or lack completely, particularly after the onset of putrefactive changes, so that diagnosis of drowning, based solely on an autopsy may be difficult or impossible [5]. In the two presented cases, signs of drowning were discrete in one case and lacked in the other due to advanced signs of putrefaction.
However, even in cases in which, based on autoptic findings, drowning can be identified as the cause of death, the circumstances of death cannot be fully determined at all times [9]. Injuries sustained by third party involvement in homicides have to be differentiated from agonal or postmortem lesions as well as from traumatic origin for example from falls. No injuries were detectable during autopsy in the two presented cases. Nevertheless, because of self-bondage and weighting with heavy objects foul-play had to be excluded. Careful reconstruction of the bondage of both fully and regularly dressed males revealed, that a selfattachment of the bondage was undoubtedly possible in each case. Comparable circumstances can be observed in numerous cases of suicidal drowning [10]. Regardless, if a corpse is found in water, especially when bondage and attachment of heavy weight objects
Page 4 of 12
are present, a homicide has to be considered and a careful investigation including a forensic autopsy has to be performed [11]. An intoxication with alcohol or other drugs seems to be unusual in victims of suicidal drowning [5, 11, 12, 13, 14]. On the contrary, positive blood alcohol concentrations in cases of drowning should alert the investigator to review all aspects related to the drowning incident
ip t
before assuming a suicide as the manner of death [11]. Forensic autopsy of the two presented cases could not prove either intoxication with ethyl alcohol or a competing cause of death, e.g. organic abnormalities or signs of violence.
cr
Furthermore, in both cases suicide notes were found during police investigations. In the end, considering autopsy results and case circumstances, suicidal drowning was stated as the
us
cause of death in both cases.
The two cases presented here reveal, that putrefaction, bondage, and weighting with objects
an
causes hindered post-mortem interpretation of findings within corpses located in water. It poses a challenge for the pathologist and other investigators to determine the cause and manner of death, because all manner of death is possible. For this reason correlation
M
between case circumstances, setting of the finding situation, and results in securing of evidence always have to be carefully investigated, in order to exclude potential violence and
Ac ce pt e
d
thus to act on the assumption of suicidal drowning.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
References [1]
M. Kaliszan, K. Karnecki, E. Tomczak et al, Complex suicides by self-stabbing with
subsequent drowning in the sea, J Forensic Sci 58 (2013) 1370-1373
[2]
S. Pollak, Rechtsmedizinische Aspekte des Suizids, Rechtsmedizin 15 (2005) 235249
[3]
Statistisches Bundesamt (2013) Todesursachen in Deutschland 2011. Statistisches Bundesamt, Wiesbaden. https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/GesellschaftStaat/ Gesundheit/Todesursachen/Tabellen/EckdatenTU.html
[4]
M.J. Shkrum, D.A. Ramsay, Bodies recovered from water, in: Forensic Pathology of Trauma, Humana Press Inc, New Jersey, 2007, pp 243-293 Page 5 of 12
[5]
R.W. Byard, G. Houldsworth, A.J. Ross, J.D. Gilbert, Characteristics features of suicidal drownings – A 20-year study, Am J Forensic Med Pathol 22 (2001) 134-138
[6]
V. DiMaio, D. DiMaio, Death by Drowning, in: Forensic Pathology, 2nd ed., CRC Press, Bocca Raton, 2001
[7]
A.S. Papadodima, S.A. Athanaselis, E. Skliros, C.A. Spiliopoulou, Forensic
[8]
ip t
investigation of submersion deaths, Int J Clin Pract 64 (2010) 75-83 G. Reinhardt, H.J. Seidel, H.G. Sonntag et al, Tod im Wasser, in: Ökologisches
[9]
cr
Stoffgebiet, Hippokrates Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart, 1991, pp 303–309
E. Salib, N. Agnew, Suicide and undetermined death by drowning, Int J Psych Clin
[10]
us
Pract 9 (2005) 107-115
F.A. Benomran, S.E. Masood, A.I. Hassan, A.A. Mohammad, Masking and bondage
[11]
an
in suicidal hanging: A case report, Med Sci Law 47 (2007) 177-180 V. Stemberga, M. Bralic, M. Coklo et al, Suicidal drowning in Southwestern Croatia –
S.P. Avis, Suicidal drowning, J Forensic Sci 38 (1993) 1422-1426
[13]
A.R. Copeland, Suicide by drowning. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 8 (1987) 18-22
[14]
Figures
d
[12]
Ac ce pt e
M
A 25-year review, Am J Forensic Med Pathol 31 (2010) 52-54
L.G. Davis, Suicidal drowning in south Florida, J Forensic Sci 44 (1999) 902-905
Fig. 1: Legs fixed by cable ties and attached to a bag filled with angle irons, in order to exclude self-rescue Fig. 2: Tied wrists in front of the waist by most likely self-fastened cable ties Fig. 3, 4: Death scene: Discovery of a male corpse in the reed bed of a canal with signs of putrefaction. The hands and legs were fixed by padlocked metal chains. Fig. 5: Backpack filled with multiple stones to prevent resurfacing
Page 6 of 12
Page 7 of 12
d
Ac ce pt e us
an
M
cr
ip t
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 1 .
Page 8 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 2 .
Page 9 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 3 .
Page 10 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 4 .
Page 11 of 12
ip t cr us an M d Ac ce pt e
Fig 5 .
Page 12 of 12
