TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Delayed familial self-immolation: a rare memorial event
JO  - Legal medicine (Elsevier)
A1  - Byard, Roger W.
A1  - Heath, Karen J.
SP  - e101865
EP  - e101865
VL  - 50
IS  - 
N2  - Self-immolation suicides refer to lethal situations where a victim has intentionally set themselves on fire using an accelerant, or has deliberately stepped into a fire. These are rare events in Western countries accounting for only 0.6-1% of suicides. Two cases are described of familial self-immolation with features of an anniversary/memorial event: Case 1: The charred body of a 66-year-old woman was found beside a suburban waterway with evidence of self-immolation using methylated spirits. Death was attributed to incineration; Case 2: Twenty five years later the charred body of another 66-year-old woman was found on the banks of a nearby suburban river. Analysis of clothing revealed ethanol, a major component of methylated spirits. Death was due to the combined effects of inhalation of products of combustion and incineration. Review of the history revealed that the decedent in case 2 was the daughter of the victim in case 1. This, therefore, represents an extremely rare event, that of familial self-immolation suicides with the daughter choosing the same method that had been used by her mother, at an identical age and in a similar location. These cases add to the potential complexities of familial suicides.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1344-6223
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2021.101865
ID  - ref1
ER  -