title: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia mimicking rape homicide: a case report.
abstract: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), also known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, is a known cause of sudden unexplained death in young, otherwise healthy adults. In the forensic setting, several cases of fatal ARVC have been reported, mostly occurring during physical exercise. However, a very few cases present where the death scene is mistaken for a homicide. We report here the case of a 23-year-old woman, found dead, lying in the snow on an isolated property. The woman's genitals were exposed, with her trousers down over her thighs. Rape homicide was strongly suspected, but autopsy findings proved otherwise.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale, Edifice Wilfrid-Derome, 1701, Parthenais Street, 12th floor, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2K 3S7.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Racette
authors.forename: Anny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauvageau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000401:mortality*; D008192:Deception; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D011902:Rape