Korean J Leg Med.  2014 May;38(2):73-77. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.2.73.

An Unusual Hanging Case Mistaken as Homicidal Strangulation in the Scene of a Fire

• Ahn HJ
• Kim A
• Moon B
• Ha H

• KMID: 1849356
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.2.73

Abstract

Here, we report an autopsy case of an unusual hanging that was misinterpreted as a case of homicidal strangulation, as th body was found on the scene of a house fire. A 29-year-old unmarried woman hanged herself from the gas pipe using a bath towel. Subsequently, the pipe broke and a fire broke out after an explosion. However, as the initial postmortem investigation revealed the absence of cherry-pink lividity and as a burnt bath towel was found around her neck, this case was misunderstood as a case of arson after homicidal strangulation. The cause and manner of death in this case were finally determined based on the autopsy findings of ligature marks that are typically noted in cases of hanging and the presence of a burnt electric lock and a broden gas pipe that were noted at the suicide scene.

Keyword

Fire Scene; Hanging; Suicide; Ligature mark

MeSH Terms

Adult
Autopsy
Baths
Explosions
Female
Fires*
Firesetting Behavior
Humans
Ligation
Neck
Single Person
Suicide

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The neck showed a “half of U”shaped ligature mark (a and b). A burnt bath towel was found around the neck (c).

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  Fig. 2. The floor plan of Room 403. The victim was found sitting between the foot of the bed and the sliding door of the kitchen. The gas pipe ran horizontally on the inside wall of the kitchen above the sliding door.

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  Fig. 3. The detailed plan of the gas pipe on the kitchen (a and b). There was a broken part at a joint (“A”) between the gas pipe and the control valve (c).

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