Citation

Suárez-Peñaranda JM, Muñoz JI, López de Abajo B, Vieira DN, Rico R, Alvarez T, Concheiro L. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 1999; 20(2): 141-144.

Affiliation

University Institute of Legal Medicine of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10414653

Abstract

Compression of the neck, either with the hands or by a ligature, is not an uncommon method of homicide. Burning of the body to try to conceal the homicide may complicate the situation by making it difficult to interpret the findings. We hereby report two cases of homicidal ligature strangulation with extensive burning of the bodies. In both cases, external findings included the presence of a soft piece of fabric around the neck that, when removed, disclosed a portion of pale, unburned skin that vividly contrasted with surrounding areas. Osteocartilaginous lesions were present in only one case. Carboxyhemoglobin levels in both cases were very low, and the histopathologic examination of distal airways for soot particles was negative.

Language: en