Decapitated Body and a Severed Head in the River - Case Report

[hermantheshocker]

A decapitated body was found down an embankment beside a road that ran alongside a river (Fig. 1). A search of the surrounding area by police revealed, 2 days later, a severed head in the river several kilometers downstream, wedged between two rocks (Figs. 2-4). The body, which was subsequently identified as that of a 35-year-old male, was taken for forensic autopsy.


Fig. 1 The headless body found abandoned next to a road adjacent to the river.


Fig. 2 A view of the river showing the severed head caught between two rocks.

At autopsy the head was matched to the body. Both showed changes of decomposition with skin slippage and bloating, although more so of the head. The head had been severed from the body with multiple chop/incised wounds through the cervical soft tissue and the third cervical vertebra associated with relatively superficial incised wounds of the right shoulder (Figs. 5-6). There was no evidence of haemorrhage into the tissues at the edges of the incised wounds.



Figs. 3-4 A closer view of the head in situ showing identifiable features.

Two bullet entrance wounds were also found in the skull: a circular defect measuring 8 mm in diameter immediately behind the right ear (Fig. 7) and an oval defect measuring 10 × 12 mm in the right posterior occiput 25 mm from the midline. There were no corresponding exit wounds and two fragmented bullets were found within the cranial cavity.

Examination of the remainder of the body revealed no other significant trauma or any natural diseases that could have caused or contributed to death. Toxicology was not performed.


Fig. 5 The upper torso of the decedent showing decapitation with irregular incised/chop wounds to the neck associated with a series of linear, parallel incised wounds to the right shoulder. Blood smearing is present on the anterior aspect of the left shoulder.


Fig. 6 The inferior aspect of the severed head.

Death was attributed to gunshot wounds to the head followed by postmortem decapitation with a large sharp edged weapon such as a machete. The incised wounds to the right shoulder most likely had occurred as the head was being severed.

Subsequent police investigations revealed that the decedent had been shot elsewhere and then placed in the trunk of his rented car. The body was then driven by the perpetrator to an isolated area where the head had been removed while the body was still in the trunk. The body was dumped over the side of the road and the head taken several kilometers downstream and thrown into the river. As a result of the murder the perpetrator received a sentence of 25 years in custody.


Fig. 7 The inside of the skull showing an entrance bullet wound with internal beveling.

Decapitation after death may be associated with a number of quite different scenarios. Animal predation, usually from dogs feeding, is one of the more commonly occurring events, particularly in elderly recluses who may not be found for some time. Domestic disarray at the death scene and spreading of putrefactive effusion fluid throughout a house may raise suspicions of homicide.

Postmortem mutilation may be a strong indicator of homicide if there is no obvious explanation from a scene as to how injuries occurred. The reasons for postmortem decapitation are quite varied and may be as straightforward as an attempt to dispose of a body by reducing it to more manageable fragments and to render it less identifiable. Alternatively, cutting a body after death may be a manifestation of significant psychiatric illness in the perpetrator that may be associated with ritualistic and sexual activities. Ante and postmortem injuries can usually be distinguished by the absence of haemorrhage and vital reaction in injuries that have been inflicted after death, as in the current case.

The reported case demonstrates an example of postmortem mutilation where the head was removed in an attempt to de-identify the body, or else where contempt for the victim had led the perpetrator to remove the head and discard it into a river. However, the absence of other areas of injuries inflicted postmortem and of ritualistic behaviour makes de-identification a more likely motive. Although rare in most medico-legal practices the finding of unexplained decapitation raises a number of significant issues regarding the nature of the death and the mental status of the possible perpetrator.

This post is for educational purpose only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. No copyright infringement intended. All the images have been upscaled and sharpened/enhanced. Some of the text might have been shortened and simplified, and/or reorganized for online view. Original case report by Winskog, C., Byard, R.W. - Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2016

[HeyJealousy]

Gnarly pics.

Hate to be THAT guy, but do you have any inkling as to where this happened? (i.e. what nation)?

[Cathedral]

I suspect Snail will identify the scene Congolese.

[Cathedral]

Amazing resolution. Thanks.

[LittleNightmare]

Lonely head in the rocky river....
Great post

[REVZZYBAN]

Excellent, detailed photos. Thanks

[valizavia]

Looks like the river has thoroughly cleaned that severed head

[Brynjar]

His head blends in well with the background of rocks in the river.

[hca66]

Thanks for all your time and effort,and detailed write-up and lay-out

[WonderMomma]

Yes, great post. Thank you.