Planned complex suicide: an unusual case.
We report an unusual case of planned complex suicide. The victim was a woman aged 67 years, who was found dead in her bath in a state of advanced putrefaction. A plugged-in hairdryer was submerged in the water and the electrical fuses in the room had short-circuited. A kitchen knife lay below the body of the victim, whose left forearm bore incisions suggestive of wrist-cutting. At autopsy, no sign suggesting electrocution could be observed because of the advanced state of putrefaction of the body. Toxicological analysis revealed massive ingestion of tianeptine (blood concentration 15.5 mg/L). Although the exact cause of death could not be determined because of the state of the corpse, meticulous examination of the scene and information obtained from the victim's relatives led to the conclusion of suicide.
Pélissier-Alicot
Anne-Laure
AL
Service de Médecine Légale, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France. apelissier@ap-hm.fr
Gavaudan
Gilles
G
Bartoli
Christophe
C
Kintz
Pascal
P
Piercecchi-Marti
Marie-Dominique
MD
Desfeux
Jacques
J
Leonetti
Georges
G
D000368:Aged; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004556:Electric Injuries; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013841:Thiazepines / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000473:pathology
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D013841:Thiazepines; C050504:tianeptine