Citation

Asamura H, Ito M, Fukushima H. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2009; 30(2): 215-216.

Affiliation

Department of Legal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. asamura@sch.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181873f5d

PMID

19465823

Abstract

A 52-year-old man died of a combination of suffocation by adherent tape wrapped around the head to cover the airway and ligature strangulation by an electrical cord. An autopsy could not conclusively determine whether it was a case of suicide or homicide. Further investigation, including investigations of the scene, the decedent's background, and the testimony of those close to the victim, helped determine the manner of death -- suicide because of a combination of several forms of asphyxia has rarely been reported in the past. Therefore, this is a very rare and unusual suicide case.

Language: en