[hermantheshocker]

The examination of putrefactive or mummified corpses poses a particular challenge for pathologists and detectives. In this case, an inadequate external examination of a putrefied corpse resulted in incorrect sex determination, and that the deceased was thought to be the sole registered tenant. Following the subsequent identification of the corpse by medical staff, the apartment was searched again, revealing a mummified corpse located in a wooden linen chest on the balcony. The two bodies later turned out to be related. This case report was originally in German, so I translated it as best as I could -Herman. The images have also been upscaled and enhanced from the original low resolution.

In the summer of 2015 in Germany, a body in a state of decomposition was found in an apartment in a multi-storey residential building. Neighbouring tenants had reported a horrible smell in the hallway and alerted the emergency services. The apartment was a two-room apartment furnished in the style of the 1970s. Thick layers of dust lay on the carpets, the window frames were covered with mould, and the wallpapers were yellowed. Christmas decoration was found in the living room, such as dragon palms and artificial Christmas trees decorated with Christmas lights.


Fig. 1 Putrid corpse in the bathroom.

The apartment was registered to a 91-year-old woman who was listed as the sole tenant. Two identity cards were found in the hallway, which were issued to the woman and her 60-year-old son. In the bathroom next to the toilet on the floor, lying on its right side, was a corpse in a state of decomposition (Fig. 1). The on-call doctor at the scene was uncertain about the cause of death and identified the corpse as that of the very old tenant. In the event of an uncertain type of death, an autopsy was ordered.

During the external examination of the corpse, originally characterized as a female individual, male external sexual characteristics was noted and a noticeable growth of beard were found by the medical examiners (Fig. 2). The police was informed that the corpse was not of a woman, but of a man.

When identification documents of the son of the tenant became known, it was considered that the body could be that of the son. To further clarify the circumstances of death and the whereabouts of the tenant, the criminal police, accompanied by the forensic doctor on duty, carried out a second site inspection.


Fig. 2 Clearly recognizable male beard growth.

On the apartments balcony investigators discovered a wooden linen chest with a padded hinged lid next to various household items. The coffin-like chest was sealed with transparent plastic film, sealing compound, duct tape, and marked with an embroidered toweling article (Fig. 3). After removing numerous items of clothing from the chest, a mummified, partially skeletonized corpse as well as beetle droppings, beetle larvae and pupa were discovered in a gray garbage bag (Fig. 4). An autopsy of the mummified corpse was immediately ordered by the responsible public prosecutor's office, as well as a computed tomography (CT) scan examination.


Fig. 3 Linen chest on the balcony with embroidered terry towel.


Fig. 4 Partially skeletonized corpse in the bottom of the box.

Autopsy findings of the male corpse revealed arteriosclerosis and coronary sclerosis as well as kidney cysts. There were no indications of poisoning according to toxicology tests. Hair analysis was performed and measurable levels of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) pointed towards excessive alcohol consumption the months before death. There were no signs of external violence. Remnants of the thigh muscles did not reveal any evidence of poisoning.

The characteristic features of the pm-MSCT coincided with older chest x-rays when the deceased was alive, and a preliminary identification was made shortly after the dissection (Fig. 5), I compared this finding in Fig. 6. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed the identity of the female corpse and also led to the clarification of the family relationship and the reliable identification of the deceased male, her son.


Fig. 5 Comparison between the antemortal conventional chest x-ray (a) and the post-mortem computed tomogram with characteristic sternal cervix (b).


Fig. 6 The characteristic features of the pm-MSCT coincided with older chest x-rays when the deceased was alive.

The police investigation revealed that the tenant's son had not been living at his address since early 2013 and had stopped paying the rent for his apartment. Furthermore, according to the family doctor, the son received prescriptions in the practice on behalf of the mother. A cardiovascular medication was last prescribed in the summer of 2012, a pack size of which would have been sufficient for 6 months if taken as intended.

In consideration of the overall circumstances and the Christmas decoration in the apartment, the investigation considered that the woman had died around the turn of the year 2012/2013. It was therefore considered likely that the son had continued to use the apartment in an almost unchanged condition until his death.

The original assumption that the body found was the tenant of the apartment did not seem to have been questioned at any time during the medical and police measures at the scene of the incident. In retrospect, the criminal police photo documentation reveals numerous inconsistencies regarding the female gender of the corpse, including primary and secondary male sexual characteristics, “boxer shorts” and the exclusive presence of cosmetics from a men's care range. The presence of identity documents from various people should also have raised doubts.

During questioning, the on-call doctor stated that he had relied on the information provided by the police for the identity of the corpse: “It was clear to me to tick uncertain for the decomposed corpse, then I don't have to visit the scene”. The doctor was given a warning in accordance of section 56 of the Administrative Offences Act (OWiG). The police officers subsequently received a reprimand from their superiors.

The reasons for failures in the medical investigation include: A lack of routine, excessive technical demands, incomplete undressing of the corpse, insufficient examination time and the influence exerted by relatives or detectives. Advanced post-mortem changes represent a particular challenge for the examining physician.

A reliable identification of a corpse is one of the standard tasks of the medical examination. The examination of the corpse must be carried out personally by a doctor and perform a physical examination of the completely undressed corpse, including the front and back as well as the body orifices. An improperly conducted examination of the corpse and the associated defective documentation can result in regulatory, but also criminal and professional procedures.

Some of the text has been shortened and simplified, and reorganized for online view. The images have been upscaled and sharpened. Original case report by L.Backhaus and S.Hartwig - Institut für Rechtsmedizin - Translated by Hermantheshocker

[SimoneFlen']

Great to see you posting again.

Another excellent thread, thank you.

[LittleNightmare]

Love your work, thank you

[df2112]

Your posts are great. Very informative too. Keep it up

[WonderMomma]

Great post! So many details!

[kellyhound]

top thread

[rhubarb_king]

Feel sorry for the one who took the photos, cause that must have stank like a motherfucker!

[Budd Dwyer]

Imagine jumping in on that bathtub for a hot shower
That pile of shit in the toilet must have been skeletonized....how come no one noticed anything for years?

[REVZZYBAN]

The male son had been dead for how long? Months? That can't be years of decomp on the son.

[Caf002]

Great post, Herman! Thank you for all the work!