Suicidal Death by Oral Explosion

hermantheshocker · #1 ● 08-24-2021, 11:44 AM

India. The body of a 25-year-old, unmarried, male was referred by police for a medico-legal autopsy. At the scene of the crime, the victim was found in a semi-reclined state on the floor with his lower extremities extended, his face turned to the right and with blood oozing from his mouth. As per the police, his body was warm with marked stiffness present over the muscles of the neck, shoulder, and arms; other parts of his body were flaccid. During medico-legal post-mortem examination, the neck and shoulder were very rigid compared with other parts of the body, suggesting instantaneous rigor.

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Fig.1 Characteristic injury pattern of intraoral explosion.

Near to the victim’s body, a cable was found along with a partly burnt fuse and mobile battery. During investigations, it was revealed that the victim was a blaster by occupation. He specialized in using dynamite to break rocks while digging wells. He had been having an affair with a woman who lived opposite to the scene of the crime.

There was blackening of both hands. Burn marks were present on the lateral aspect of the right index finger and over the palm just below the base of the right ring finger. The mouth was open wide, with disfigurement due to facial injuries. There was a fracture to the base of the skull with fragmentation due to the severe blast effect, associated with contusion over the adjacent region and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The cause of death was given as death due to craniofacial injuries as a result of the intraoral explosion.

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Fig.2 Burnt blasting cap, cable and mobile battery recovered from the crime scene.

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Fig.3 Enlarged view of burnt blasting cap. Non-detonated dynamite with the detonator and battery.

Explosives can be fatal, even in very small quantities, provided they have been positioned near vital parts of the body. Explosion requires powerful detonation. Detonators are compact devices that are designed to initiate and control the performance of larger explosive charges safely. In the present case, the explosion was caused by the victim in the mouth with the help of a mobile battery and a detonator. As a result of the explosion, a blast wave was generated concentrically, and heat was produced which contributed to the injuries. There was a combination of laceration and burning of all the soft structures, along with crushing of the bony framework of the face. The structures were displaced centrifugally from the oral cavity, associated with the symmetric split lacerations around it.

The history of the case, the material recovered from the scene of the crime, and the characteristic pattern of injuries enabled the conclusion of the manner and cause of death in an act of suicide.

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This post is for educational purposes only and is nonprofit. Under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act of 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. OP is not a medical expert. No copyright infringement intended. This post does not encourage or glorify violence/harassment. Images might have been upscaled and enhanced. Text might have been shortened and simplified/reorganized for online view.