Citation

Craun SW, Tanner L, Clausen V, Merola MA, Opanashuk L, Keel TG. Homicide Stud. 2022; 26(3): 292-307.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10887679211013071

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Anecdotal reports of deceased celebrities being found nude abound, yet research is lacking regarding the frequency of nudity at death. Moreover, it is unknown if nudity at the time of death is a useful investigative clue or a distracting non-factor in equivocal death cases. This study used data from 119,145 homicides and suicides reported to the Centers for Disease Control to explore victim nudity, prior life stressors, and demographics on the likelihood of a death being a homicide or a suicide. Logistic regression results indicate that a female victim being found nude is a strong indicator of homicide.

Language: en

Keywords

crime scene; equivocal deaths; investigation; nudity; policing; suicides