Suspected paradoxical undressing in a homicide case.
Paradoxical undressing is a phenomenon associated with fatalities due to severe hypothermia, which is characterized by the act of active undressing, despite low ambient temperatures, as a consequence of peripheral vasodilation. A 51-year-old man was found lying naked and inanimate on a road. Articles of his clothing were scattered in surrounding bushes. A nearby handrail showed a partially washed away bloodstain pattern. A forensic autopsy was used to distinguish whether death was due to a hypothermic fatality or whether the deceased was a victim of an accident or homicide. Medicolegal autopsy revealed craniofacial dissociation with injuries to the thorax and extremities and established choking/asphyxia due to deep aspiration of blood in combination with external blood loss as the cause of death. In the absence of hypothermia-related signs and toxicological findings the case was considered to be a homicide. Police investigation led to the conviction of a man who confessed to having kicked and hit the victim and forced him to take off his clothes in a humiliation-related scenario.
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Goethe University Medical School, 60594, Frankfurt, Germany. Mattias.Kettner@gmx.de
Mattias
M
Kettner
Axel
A
Schnabel
Frank
F
Ramsthaler
D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D058445:Bullying; D003020:Clothing; D003288:Contusions / Q000473:pathology; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000473:pathology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000473:pathology; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000473:pathology