title: [The case of a corpse found in a fox's den--forensic and criminological aspects].
abstract: Whenever foul play is suspected in a death, the forensic pathologist is required to examine the corpse where it is found. In the case described here, the unusual location of the corpse initially led investigators to suspect a crime was involved. A thorough examination of the site and the autopsy results ultimately pointed to a not-violent manner of death, although the advanced state of decomposition made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death. The fact that the victim crawled into a fox's den to die can be interpreted as a primitive reaction in a case of death due to hypothermia. Criminological aspects of the case are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Charité--Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmeling
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Correns
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D019548:Crime Victims; D004777:Environment; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D005589:Foxes; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male