Korean J Leg Med.  2014 Aug;38(3):121-125. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.3.121.

A Case of Dyadic Death Associated with Helium Gas: An Autopsy Case Report

• Ha H
• Lim S
• Kim JM
• Park S
• Yang KM
• Kim SH
• Kim YH

• KMID: 2082763
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.3.121

Abstract

A 39-year-old man, his 35-year-old wife, and their 13-year-old daughter were found dead in their home. The man and his daughter were found lying in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected to four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes. Fragments of the burnt ignition briquette were found in the bucket located at her feet. His wife was found in a decomposed state lying on her right side in her bedroom. Autopsy findings for the man were unremarkable except for cherry pink lividity; the blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration was 73%. Autopsy findings were unremarkable for the woman as well, except for a few petechial hemorrhages and conjunctival congestion. The daughter showed no definite abnormalities; however, her blood and lung contained helium gas. The deceased man's suicide note, evidence gathered at the scene, and postmortem examination revealed that this was a case of dyadic death.

Keyword

Asphyxia; Autopsy; Helium; Homicide-Suicide

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Asphyxia
Autopsy*
Carboxyhemoglobin
Deception
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Female
Foot
Head
Helium*
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lung
Nuclear Family
Plastics
Polypropylenes
Prunus
Spouses
Suicide
Carboxyhemoglobin
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Helium
Plastics
Polypropylenes

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. The man and his daughter were lying along in her bedroom, with his head wrapped in a plastic bag connected with four helium gas cylinders by green polypropylene tubes (a). Fragments of burnt ignition briquette were seen in the bucket located at his daughter's feet (b).

• 

  Fig. 2. His wife was lying on right side and decomposed in her bedroom.

Reference

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