Postmortem Animal Predation on Woman's Face by a Domestic Pet

[hermantheshocker]

King County, WA, USA. The face of this woman shows typical postmortem animal scavenging injuries, in this case from a domestic pet, the type of pet was not disclosed. A considerable amount of skin and subcutaneous fatty tissue are missing. Cause of death unknown. No further info on this case.





Postmortem animal depredation is a substantial part of the taphonomic processes a body undergoes after death. While the occurrence and presentation of such injuries are well known to forensic pathologists, the morphological appearance of these injuries may be misinterpreted by police officers or members of other investigating authorities.

A broad range of carnivores can be involved in the postmortem destruction of corpses located in open spaces or indoors (e.g. wild animals such as foxes and big cats or domestic animals such as dogs and cats). The wound margins caused by carnivores often appear more regular than those caused by rodents and V-shaped or rhomboid punctured wounds are often seen upon the intact skin in the immediate vicinity to the actual wound margins. Such stab wound-like defects represent canine tooth marks of carnivore origin. An additional criterion for animal depredation by carnivores is the presence of claw-induced linear scratch-type abrasions in the vicinity of the damaged skin areas.

In cases with postmortem animal predation, the psychological state of the animal is a possible reason for its behavior. One possible explanation for such behavior is that a pet will try to help an unconscious owner first by licking or nudging, but when this fails to produce any results the behavior of the animal can become more frantic and in a state of panic can lead to biting. The motive is not to attack the owner but is a kind of ‘‘displacement’’ behavior motivated by confusion and fear. The fact that the efforts of the animal will obviously be fruitless explains why this can easily escalate and culminate in excessive mutilation.

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[Leahdc]

Is there a reason animals tend to go for the face first?

[William May]

The grimmest part of this story is that it turned out to be a parakeet.

[mickey27]

Originally Posted by William May

The grimmest part of this story is that it turned out to be a parakeet.

[Shadolife]

Originally Posted by Leahdc

Is there a reason animals tend to go for the face first?

So they can't be stared at while eating the rest of the body

[ride]

That looks like a pumpkin carving gone very, very bad.

[Caf002]

At least, she kept her teeth in good shape! I wish that I was so lucky to have that white of a smile.

[tcraig619]

Originally Posted by Leahdc

Is there a reason animals tend to go for the face first?

I'm guessing because usually that's what's exposed.

[William May]

Originally Posted by Caf002

At least, she kept her teeth in good shape! I wish that I was so lucky to have that white of a smile.

Um.......even with the rest of your face gone?
I guess she COULD still have an open-casket funeral, if her family really insisted on it.

[ride]

She obviously put those pretty teeth to good use. Not a petite woman.

Come to think of it, she looks a LOT like Kellyhound's avatar.