[AlmostBlue]

Unusual suicides with band saws: Two case reports

Case 1:

The deceased was a 41-year-old male schizophrenic patient. He had been ill for 19 years and had been hospitalized five times, the most recent time being 3 months prior to his suicide. He had been married between the ages of 34 and 37, but due to permanent conflicts with his wife, had divorced. He remained single and had disengaged socially since the divorce.

He had been a carpenter, but resigned from his job 2 years earlier.

He had a history of five suicidal attempts by gas inhalation and drowning in the past 1 year, the most recent attempt being 4 months prior to his death.

He was seen by a psychiatrist at a psychiatric outpatient department 6 days before he died and was reported to be still unemployed, socially disengaged with persistent depressive symptoms and auditory hallucinations commanding suicide, in spite of antidepressant and neuroleptic medications.

He was found dead in his carpentry workshop, lying down beside a band saw.

Investigations at the death scene showed a large quantity of pooled blood around the decedent's head and neck and a small amount of blood and tissue spray on the work surface and blade of the band saw. There was also bone dust between the teeth of the saw blade.

The investigating officers found no evidence of a struggle and, in view of the decedent's past history of suicidal ideation and previous suicidal attempts and the post-mortem findings, it was believed that the injuries could not have been produced accidentally and a verdict of suicide was returned.



Fig. 1. Case 1: the deceased lying down beside the band saw with a large quantity of pooled blood around his head and neck. Note the saw blade running off its axis (black arrow).



Fig. 2. Case 1: an incised, deep and gaping neck wound with ragged and lacerated edges involving the anterior, left and posterior sides of the neck (white arrow).



Fig. 3. Case 1: a small amount of blood and tissue spray on the work surface and blade of the band saw.

Case 2:

The decedent was a 47-year-old male schizophrenic patient. He had been ill for 15 years and had been hospitalized seven times, with a history of previous suicidal ideation 1 year earlier. He used to complain about depressive mood and command auditory hallucinations, but he had always been reluctant to take his medications once at home. He had been lost to psychiatric follow-up for 6 years prior to his death. He had been married for 25 years and had four children, but was not involved emotionally or financially with his family. He was a carpenter, but had quit his job several years earlier.

He was found dead in his carpentry workshop, lying down next to a band saw.

Investigations at the death scene showed a large pool of blood around the decedent's head and shoulders extending to the upper part of the thorax and a small amount of blood and tissue spray on the work surface and blade of the band saw.

The cause of death was attributed to a massive hemorrhage resulting from injury to the superior sagittal sinus and the manner of death was ruled as suicide.



Fig. 4. Case 2: an anterior view of the sagittal cranial wound inflicted by the band saw.
(the way they tried to hide his identity makes him look freaky tbh)



Fig. 5. Case 2: a posterior view of the deceased's head showing the course of the wound along the sagittal line down to the occipital region.



Fig. 6. Case 2: sagittal section of the cerebrum and upper part of the brain stem and cerebellum into two symmetric parts. (last image)

Source: Forensic Science International - Unusual suicides with band saws: Two case reports and a literature review

[RiversEdge]

man. they were bound and determined to go out. Surely seems they wanted to present a bloody and gory scene to whomever arrived and discovered them.

[Pink_spyder]

Most excellent post!
More! More!

[minka1]

Originally Posted by RiversEdge ↗

man. they were bound and determined to go out. Surely seems they wanted to present a bloody and gory scene to whomever arrived and discovered them.

Not as bad as the shotgun or rifle suicides we have seen here. Just brains skull gory bloody mess specks distributed everywhere.

[K53]

The human mind does strangle unforgiving things

[Susan]

What the fuck does it take to get sectioned?!!?

[MannyFarber1980]

Very interesting post ! Thanks !

[Aries85]

https://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f151/

[Aries85]

Well that didn't work.

Suicide by band saw. Old one, geezer chopped himself in half.

[William May]

Wonder if the bandsaw is for sale...…..That's a nice one!