Citation

Wilson CI, Altschul S, Mead A, Flannagan LM. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2004; 25(1): 80-82.

Affiliation

Office of the Medical Examiner, Palm Beach County, Palm Beach, Florida, USA. cwilson690410@yahoo.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15075696

Abstract

The incidence of human fatalities due to arrow injuries in the medical literature is rare. We report an incident involving a 46-year-old man who was found in his secured apartment with a fatal arrow wound of his chest and abdomen. The initial scene investigation suggested that the victim impaled himself with an arrow attached to a razor-sharp, 4-bladed broad-head hunting tip before collapsing on the floor. However, analysis of the bloodstain patterns suggested that the victim used the compound bow to propel the arrow. When investigating deaths due to bows and arrows, thorough scene investigation along with bloodstain pattern analysis is essential in determining the mechanism of injury and manner of death.

Language: en