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Giovannini E, Franchetti G, Ridolfi M, Berardi D, Pelletti G, Gualandi A, Giraudo C, Cecchetto G, Fais P. An unusual case of corpse concealment driven by emotional distress. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 67:102379. [PMID: 38183946 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Corpse concealment involves hiding a body for criminal purposes for many different reasons, such as destroy evidence of a murder or avoid the discovery of the victim. Although defendants could argue that they did not conceal the corpse with any criminal intent, but rather to spare themselves or others from emotional distress or to honor the wishes of the deceased. However, these arguments are often challenging to substantiate, and defendants may encounter significant legal obstacles when attempting to justify their actions. Herein, we report a case involving the concealment of a woman's corpse by her father. Autopsy and histological investigations were significantly limited due to the advanced decomposition of the body. Nevertheless, by integrating these data with radiological findings obtained from total body CT and micro-CT of the larynx-hyoid complex, hanging was deemed the cause of death. Additionally, the psychological evaluation of the father indicated that the act of concealment was motivated by emotions rather than criminal intent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Giovannini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Franchetti
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal, Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, Padova, Italy.
| | - Marcello Ridolfi
- Pediatric and Adult CardioThoracic and Vascular, Oncohematologic and Emergency Radiology Unit. IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy.
| | | | - Guido Pelletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Alberto Gualandi
- Institute of Pathology, DAME, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, UD, Italy.
| | - Chiara Giraudo
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal, Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, Padova, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal, Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, Padova, Italy.
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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Crudele GDL, Amadasi A, Franceschetti L, Cattaneo C. Pathological Findings in Hanging: Is the Traditional Knowledge Correct? Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:318. [PMID: 38337834 PMCID: PMC10855091 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14030318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In forensic pathology, asphyxia presents a problem as frequently as it is thorny and challenging. Some knowledge in forensic pathology is still considered to be traditionally acquired and is not critically assessed with modern statistical or technical tools. In this study, we seek to examine the injuries that are considered to be typical of cases of hanging (neck lesions, haemorrhages, and pleural and epicardial petechiae). METHODS We evaluated whether there was, indeed, a statistically significant association between these injuries and deaths from hanging as compared to non-hanging deaths. We collected 399 cases (32 deaths by hanging and 367 cases of non-hangings), built contingency tables and performed chi-square tests for each variable (lesion) examined; we also analysed this association in various subgroups of the sample (according to sex, age and weight ranges). RESULTS Our results did not deviate from the expected outcome based on traditional knowledge, although they do provide a more detailed demonstration and clarification of traditional knowledge regarding this topic. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide valuable insights for future discussion, examination and deepening of knowledge that is traditionally accepted but often undersupported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziano Domenico Luigi Crudele
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
| | - Alberto Amadasi
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Franceschetti
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
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Lyness JR, Collins AJ, Rutty JE, Rutty GN. Comparison of findings identified at traditional invasive autopsy and postmortem computed tomography in suicidal hangings. Int J Legal Med 2022; 136:1865-1881. [PMID: 35960370 PMCID: PMC9576641 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-022-02874-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Cases of suicidal hanging are a common death referred for medico-legal autopsy throughout the world. Although some advocate using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) without traditional invasive autopsy (TIA) to investigate such deaths, others reject this approach. There is currently limited evidence to guide practice. In this context, the TIA reports and PMCT images of 50 cases of suspected suicidal hanging during an 11-month period were reviewed. The reviewers were blinded to the findings of the other modality. A Cohen’s Kappa coefficient (K) was calculated to assess agreement between TIA and PMCT across a range of pertinent findings. This analysis demonstrated perfect agreement for identification of a ligature (K = 1.00) and a strong level of agreement for identification of a ligature suspension point (K = 0.832) but only a minimal level of agreement for overall ligature mark (K = 0.223). PMCT demonstrated a weak level of agreement for fractures of hyoid bone (K = 0.555) and thyroid cartilage (K = 0.538). Three probable fractures not identified at TIA were identified on PMCT. TIA was shown to be superior in the identification of intramuscular and laryngeal fracture–related haemorrhage/bruising whereas PMCT was superior to TIA in identifying body gas deposition. There was overall good correlation between the natural disease and trauma identified elsewhere in the body during the TIA and PMCT. The study demonstrates that PMCT can assist the investigation of suspected suicidal hangings. However, the accuracy of many findings is limited, and if it is used as an alternative to the TIA, potentially pertinent findings, such as fractures of the laryngeal cartilages, could be missed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jane E Rutty
- The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
| | - Guy N Rutty
- East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Kudo S, Kawasumi Y, Usui A, Igari Y, Funayama M, Ueda T, Ishibashi T, Saito H. Cervical intervertebral separation caused by trauma on post-mortem computed tomography: Possibility of a diagnosis based on intervertebral gas. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 330:111049. [PMID: 34844118 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gas is a common finding in cervical intervertebral separation. However, intervertebral gas is also found in many decedents without intervertebral separation. Here, we quantified intervertebral gas and examined its value in the diagnosis of cervical intervertebral separation. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed data from 1118 decedents who underwent post-mortem computed tomography (CT) and autopsy from May 2011 to July 2016 and selected those with cervical intervertebral gas with or without intervertebral separation. These data comprised 56 cervical intervertebral spaces with gas [intervertebral separation in 19 (33.9%)] in 43 subjects [intervertebral separation in 17 (39.5%)]. We categorised the decedents according to gas volume, position, and shape and determined the significance of the differences between the decedents with and without separation. RESULTS The gas volume did not differ significantly between decedents with and without separation (p = 0.063). However, there were significant differences in the gas position between decedents with and without separation. In the sagittal plane: gas was seen in the "centred" position in the ventral-to-dorsal direction in more decedents without separation than in those with separation (p = 0.018). Gas was seen in the ventral-to-dorsal positions in more decedents with separation than in those without separation (p = 0.049). In the cranio-caudal direction, gas in the upper position was more common in decedents with separation than in those without separation in the sagittal plane (p = 0.03). In the coronal plane: gas was seen in the upper position more frequently in decedents with separation in the cranio-caudal direction than in those without separation (p = 0.001). A significant difference in gas shape was observed only in the coronal plane (p = 0.024); irregular gas was associated with decedents without separation. CONCLUSION Gas in the ventral-to-dorsal and upper positions in the sagittal plane and in the upper position in the coronal plane was rather indicative of cervical intervertebral separation. An irregular gas shape in the coronal plane was indicative of degenerative changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seina Kudo
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Imaging, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Kawasumi
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Imaging, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Akihito Usui
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Image Analysis, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yui Igari
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masato Funayama
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takuya Ueda
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Imaging, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ishibashi
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Imaging, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Haruo Saito
- Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Diagnostic Image Analysis, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
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Tawil M, Serinelli S, Gitto L. Simon's sign: Case report and review of the literature. Med Leg J 2021; 90:52-56. [PMID: 34605291 DOI: 10.1177/00258172211006270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Hanging is a common method of suicide and multiple autopsy findings can be observed at the postmortem examination. Simon's sign is a haemorrhage into the anterior aspect of the intervertebral discs of the lumbar region that can be observed in hangings and other traumatic causes of death. This finding is considered evidence of vitality. Several mechanisms have been proposed regarding bleeding development. In this paper, we present a case of hanging in which Simon's sign was observed at the autopsy. A review of the literature regarding Simon's bleeding has been performed, and a discussion of the potential mechanism is reported. Although Simon's sign may be observed in hangings, a careful evaluation of all the available data, including investigation, autopsy findings, and toxicology, is mandatory to avoid misinterpretation of death's cause and manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Tawil
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Serenella Serinelli
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Lorenzo Gitto
- Department of Pathology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Tiantong Y, Yucong W, Haibiao Z, Ran L, Haidong Z, Dong Z, Xu W. Application of virtopsy in forensic pathology. JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AND MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_67_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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