title: The murderer is the bed: an unusual case of death by traumatic asphyxia in a hotel folding bunk bed.
abstract: This paper presents the first referenced case on a death by traumatic asphyxia in a folding bunk bed. A middle-aged man was found dead in a hotel room trapped into a lower folding bunk bed where he had been sleeping after a party. The autopsy showed signs of asphyxia and excluded signs of struggle and sexual intercourse. Toxicological analyses revealed alcohol intoxication. A differential diagnosis of the manner of death including a technical study of the bed which contributed to understand the circumstances of death was made. The medico-legal investigation of the case strongly supported the hypothesis of an accidental death by traumatic asphyxia.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Patologia Forense Zona Sud - Barcelona, Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya, Ciutat de la Justícia, Edifici G, 5ª Planta, Gran Via 111, Barcelona 08014, Spain. 25402msd@comb.cat
authors.forename: Mercè Subirana
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Domènech
authors.forename: Helena Martínez
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Alcázar
authors.forename: Antoni Aguilar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pallarès
authors.forename: Ignasi Galtés
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Josep Castellà
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Claudina Vidal
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Jordi Medallo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Muñiz
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications*; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D011187:Posture; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology