[hermantheshocker]

I colored the original black and white image. In November 1997 the decapitated corpse of an adult male was found partially submerged, entangled by brushwood on the bank of a ship canal, in an uninhabited area close to Strasbourg, France. The initial suspicion of a homicide followed by body dismemberment was rapidly refuted by the discovery some hours later of a strong rope hanging loosely from the parapet of a road bridge spanning 6.50 m (21.3 ft) over the canal, ca. 205 m (224 yds) upstream from the corpse. The upper end of the nylon rope, had been attached by a dual reef knot to the upper bar of the metallic handrail, whereas the free end had been fashioned as a slip knot that was completely tightened. Close examination of this knot disclosed the presence of hair strands and of epidermis fragments, as well as some small blood-like stains.


Fig.1 Decapitation wound (head) with 0.5 to 1.5-cm wide, circumferential skin abrasion. Colorized by OP.


Fig.2


Fig.3 The original image.

Divers of the French Gendarmerie located the victim’s head lying on its left side on the 6.70 m (22 ft) deep, slimy bottom of the canal under the bridge, directly below the lower end of the line. Further forensic investigations were carried out at the Medicolegal Institute of Strasbourg.

The autopsy revealed the body of a young Caucasian male of medium to stout build, measuring 1.85 m (6′ 0.8") and weighing 87.5 kg (193 lbs) (head included). Except for the neck injury, no other external signs of violence were visible. The head weighed 5007 g with an external volume of 4480 ml (as measured by immersing completely in water), thus the overall density was estimated at 1.12. There was a marked cadaveric hypostasis on the left side, consistent with its position on the bottom of the canal. A cyanotic congestion of the lips was present, contrasting with the absence of discoloration at the limb extremities of the torso. Post-mortem blood and urine tested negative for alcohol, pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse.

The deceased was subsequently identified as a 22-year-old man with a recent history of love disappointment and loss of his job, who was about to be drafted into the military service. According to the death scene reconstruction, the young man apparently attached one end of the line to the handrail of the bridge and the other around his neck, then he threw himself over the parapet. The drop height was between 3.70 and 5.30 m (12.1 and 17.4 ft), depending on the subject’s position on jumping. As the poorly stretchable rope suddenly tightened, the subject was beheaded by the constricting knot. Owing to its higher density the head sank directly below the bridge, whereas the decapitated torso remained floating and was dragged downstream by the flow.



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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.

[swegore1986]

The gif

[K53]

Sad way to die.

[Watcher===]

At least even the decapitation is crisp, clean and instant.

Good work on the colour too. I doubt we would have guessed it was monochrome.

[samipiggy]

it looks like a tomato

[*Ragdoll_Cutie*]

That's got to have been a bit of a pain in the neck....

[hermantheshocker]

Originally Posted by *Ragdoll_Cutie* ↗

That's got to have been a bit of a pain in the neck....

The injury or the coloring? I would say probably both

[scabby]

Might want to put some antiseptic on that neck abrasion...don't want to get it infected.

[Spiffyfable]

That's a Clean Cut