title: Postmortem burning of the corpses following homicide.
abstract: Although there have been a great number of studies focussing on antemortem burns or fire-related deaths, the present study is the first dealing exclusively with postmortem burnings aiming to cover up a homicidal action. This study aims to draw attention to postmortem burning following homicide by determining the general characteristics of a series of burned corpses. Thirteen cases of homicide involving postmortem burning were included in the scope of the study. The cases were examined with regard to age, gender, place of death or discovery, autopsy findings, accompanying injuries and manner of death. Eleven of the cases were male and two were female. Victims' ages ranged between 24 and 62 years with a mean age of 43.5 years. All of the victims were discovered in unfamiliar places. Autopsy findings indicated postmortem burning of corpses to cover homicide. Discovering a burned body in an unfamiliar, outdoor or abandoned place, scene or autopsy findings attributable to a violent death, presence of accelerant use and absence of vitality signs are factors indicative of postmortem burning following homicide.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Hacettepe University, 06100 Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Rıza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tümer
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akçan
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karacaoğlu
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balseven-Odabaşı
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keten
authors.forename: Ciğdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanburoğlu
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Ahmet Hakan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dinç
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D002725:Chloroform; D056146:Corpse Dismemberment; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005742:Gasoline; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012997:Solvents; D053260:Soot / Q000032:analysis; D014421:Turkey; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D005742:Gasoline; D012997:Solvents; D053260:Soot; D000431:Ethanol; D002725:Chloroform; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin