title: Autopsy reenactment--a useful technique in the evaluation of adhesive tape asphyxia.
abstract: A 19-year-old woman was found dead with her face and head wrapped in plastic adhesive tape in a cupboard beside an opened helium cylinder. Despite the alleged presence of a suicide message on a social networking website, the unusual circumstances raised the possibility at the time of autopsy of either accidental death from sexual asphyxia or homicide. A carefully monitored reenactment demonstrated, however, that the type of commercial adhesive tape that had been used did not cause complete airway obstruction and that it was possible to wrap a considerable length of tape around the head and neck with the breath held. All of the features at autopsy were, therefore, compatible with self-infliction. Asphyxial death was attributed to the combined effects of smothering from tape and anoxia from helium, an extremely rare combination in young females.
authors: Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia.
authors: Jonathon
authors: J
authors: Herbst
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Stanley
authors: Roger W
authors: RW
authors: Byard
mesh_terms: D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology*; D020378:Confined Spaces; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006371:Helium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006371:Helium
keywords: adhesive tape; asphyxia; autoerotic death; forensic science; helium; homicide; plastic