Suicidal ligature strangulation utilizing cable ties

This individual committed suicide by fastening cable ties around his neck, leading to suffocation. Each cable tie was assembled from two cable ties to make a longer one that could go around the neck. The thyroid cartilage was fractured and the tip of the tongue had bite marks on it. Strangulation is a type of mechanical asphyxia produced by constriction of the neck using ligature material, without suspending the body. Suicidal self-strangulation is rare and requires the use of a ligature that can be locked by some mechanism; in this case report a self-locking cable tie was utilized.