Citation

Preuss J, Strehler M, Dressler J, Risse M, Anders S, Madea B. Forensic Sci. Int. 2005; 159(1): 55-60.

Affiliation

Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, D-53111 Bonn, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.09.010

PMID

16293386

Abstract

Homicide with subsequent hiding of the body using setting in concrete or sealing with bricks are rarely seen forensic cases. The article describes the circumstances and findings of six cases in which bodies were encased with concrete and/or bricks. In all cases, the offenders were male, in one case together with his wife and - except for one case - the victims were related to the offender. The causes of death were heterogeneous (suffocation, blunt force, shot) and the motive mainly domestic quarrel. Setting corpses in concrete and/or sealing with bricks does not prevent smell, slows decomposition and therefore complicates the estimation of the post mortem interval.