Herman the Shocker

The Shocker brings you unfiltered views of reality and educational content

from the world of crime, accidents, and forensics

Welcome to Hermantheshocker.com

The purpose of the website is to delve into the realms of forensic education, accident awareness and suicide prevention. The Shocker brings a comprehensive resource for individuals seeking knowledge in the field of forensic science and investigation. The Shocker wants to empower students, professionals, and the curious with the tools to understand the intricacies of forensics and to raise awareness about accident prevention and safety by presenting real world cases. Running a website with high traffic is not cheap, you can support by subscribing to the Monthly Magazine or by donating.

Please consider donating to keep the website running

Fig.1 Note that the eyes are intact whilst the lower part of the body is partially decayed due to influence of faces and urine/bacteria. Upper part of body mummified (dried out).

An elderly woman was found dead

| Accident, Decomposition | No Comments
An elderly woman was found dead in October 2002 in her third floor apartment in urban Cologne, Germany.…
Fig.1 Self-stabbing of the throat in an elderly woman.

Self-stabbing of the throat in an elderly woman

| Suicide | No Comments
Whether the death is accidental, suicidal, or homicidal is one of the main questions asked of the forensic…
Fig.1 Postmortem predation by mice.

Postmortem predation by mice

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Postmortem animal interference of human corpses or remains is a well known phenomenon to forensic death investigators, the…
Fig.1 Fatal injuries after falling on an escalator.

Fatal injuries after falling on an escalator

| Accident | No Comments
This woman has fatal injuries after falling on an escalator. Linear lacerations and abrasions are clearly consistent with…
Fig.3

Woman beheaded in train suicide

| Suicide | No Comments
A 22-year-old woman in Russia committed suicide by lying on the tracks in front of an oncoming train.…
Fig.1 Stippling around an intermediate-range gunshot wound.

Stippling around an intermediate-range gunshot wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
The stippling around an intermediate-range gunshot wound will vary with the firearm and ammunition used. This is an…
Fig.1 A man’s body was found floating in the ocean.

A man’s body was found floating in the ocean

| Decomposition, Homicide | No Comments
A man’s body was found floating in the ocean approximately one-half mile offshore. A gaping head wound was…
Fig.1 Gunshot victim still retaining a loose hold of the weapon.

Gunshot victim still retaining a loose hold of the weapon

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Many well documented reviews of gunshot suicides show that the weapon is found to be still in the…
Fig.1 Decomposing individual.

Decomposing individual

| Decomposition | No Comments
Decomposition, or putrefaction, is a combination of two processes: autolysis and bacterial action. Autolysis is the breakdown of…
Fig.1 Suicide through the mouth with a rifle.

Suicide through the mouth with a rifle

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This man committed suicide through the mouth with a rifle, in the photo we see the exit wound…
Fig.1 Passenger propelled forward during a front-end collision.

Passenger propelled forward during a front-end collision

| Accident | No Comments
An unrestrained right rear seat passenger was propelled forward during a front-end collision. She landed in the right…
Fig.1 Contact entry gunshot wound.

Contact entry gunshot wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
Contact entry gunshot wound from a .22-caliber magnum. A magnum load, because it has more gunpowder in the…
Fig.1 Head obliterated in a shotgun suicide.

Head obliterated in a shotgun suicide

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
A man was found dressed in a formal suit, having taken his own life with a self-inflicted shotgun…
Fig.18 Civilians who wanted to evacuate from the Kyiv region were shot down and burned.

The war in Ukraine

| Animal Scavenging, Decomposition, Explosion, Fire, Gunshot, Hanging, Homicide | No Comments
! Child death warning ! The Russia-Ukraine war, now entering its fourth year as of April 2025, has…
Fig.1 Dismembered torso.

Dismembered torso

| Homicide | No Comments
Dismembered torso in a homicide case. The severed neck of a dismembered torso must be inspected carefully for…
Fig.1 Bullet graze wound.

Bullet graze wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
This photo shows the effect of a bullet that has grazed the scalp. A bullet graze wound occurs…