Accident

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Fig.1 Chop injuries inflicted by a boat propeller.

Chop injuries inflicted by a boat propeller

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Several chop injuries inflicted by a boat propeller. Chop injuries are sometimes regarded as a variant of blunt…
Fig.1 Mummified body of an elderly male.

Mummified body of an elderly male

| Accident, Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Mummified body of an elderly male that had been lying dead in a block of flats for about…
Fig.1 Note the matching pressure marks indicating that the head had been resulting on the neck for a prolonged time interval whilst the woman was still alive yet severely neglected by her son.

Corpse of an old woman found in her apartment

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In March 2002, the corpse of an old woman found in her apartment in an urban apartment in…
Fig.1 Opening of the abdominal body cavity.

Opening of the abdominal body cavity

| Accident, Explosion | No Comments
Opening of the abdominal body cavity following the (probably accidental) explosion of a homemade pipe bomb containing black…
Fig.1 Postmortem injuries inflicted by a domestic dog.

Postmortem injuries inflicted by a domestic dog

| Accident, Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Postmortem animal depredation is a substantial part of the taphonomic processes a body undergoes after death. While the…
Fig.1 A homeless alcoholic found dead in a fire.

A homeless alcoholic found dead in a fire

| Accident, Fire | No Comments
A homeless alcoholic, found dead in a fire, was extremely drunk. Fatal residential fires account for 10% of…
Fig.1 Fatal boat propeller chop wounds of the trunk.

Fatal boat propeller chop wounds of the trunk

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Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This individual has suffered from a fatal boat propeller chop wounds of the trunk and…
Fig.1 Bone abrasion due to the dragging force of a moving vehicle.

Bone abrasion due to the dragging force of a moving vehicle

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A 30-year-old male pedestrian was involved in an accident with a truck. He became trapped in the front…
Fig.1 Decomposition after submersion in water.

Decomposition after submersion in water

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If a body is placed in water containing a large amount of bacteria, such as that from sewage…
Fig.1 Brush-burn type abrasion.

Brush-burn type abrasion

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Brush-burn type abrasion on the left flank. One common type of blunt force injury is the so-called brush-burn…
Fig.1 Blunt force trauma.

Blunt force trauma

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Forensic autopsy of blunt force trauma. Two abraded lacerations on the forehead. Lacerations are a bursting of the…

Neck dissection in a 36-year-old woman

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Postmortem hypostatic hemorrhages in a 36-year-old woman who died of multiple drug intoxication and was found in the…
Fig.1 Decapitation by a train.

Decapitation by a train

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Railway injuries are not uncommon, especially in countries with many ‘level crossings’ (called ‘grade crossings’ in the USA),…
Fig.24

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami victims

| Accident, Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2–9.3 Mw struck with an epicenter off the west…
Fig.1 The victim fell down stairs and sustained a fracture of CVII and died of a spinal cord injury.

Laceration of the forehead

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Laceration of the forehead with surrounding bruising. The wound is stellate as a result of crushing against the…
Fig.1 The victim was discovered in a New York City hotel room lying on the floor.

New York City hotel room autoerotic asphyxiation death

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The victim was discovered in a New York City hotel room lying on the floor with his leg…
Fig.1 The mummified body of an absconder from a mental hospital.

The mummified body of an absconder

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The mummified body of an absconder from a mental hospital who was found a year later in a…
Fig.4 X-ray taken at Medical Examiner’s Office showing electronic cigarette mouthpiece and battery housing within decedents head.

Florida man killed by exploding mech mod vape

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2018 - St. Petersburg, Florida, US. A 38-year-old man was found dead and with burns to 80% of…
Fig.3 Position of the body after the removal of the objects collapsed over the woman.

A lethal case of hoarding

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Italy - A 75-year-old woman affected by hoarding disorder was found dead in her apartment. The woman’s family…
Fig.1 Advanced adipocere formation after 2.5 years in a grave.

Adipocere formation after 2.5 years in a grave

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Advanced adipocere formation after 2.5 years in a grave. Exhumation due to exclusion of an accidental death (fall)…
Fig.1 Mechanical asphyxia.

Mechanical asphyxia

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The orientation of the decedent with the tire of the motor vehicle apparently compressing the midsection and with…
Fig.1 Craniofacial injuries on the woman.

Three people killed by a black bear

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China, 2020. A 47-year-old woman and her 7-year-old son were attacked by a black bear while walking through…
Fig.1 Fatal contusions with a blunt object.

Fatal contusions with a blunt object

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Spain. This individual suffered multiple and violent contusions with a blunt object, which caused facial injuries and fractures…
Fig.1 A victim of an explosion.

A victim of an explosion

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This individual was a victim of an explosion, with severe destruction in the thorax and abdomen due to…
Fig.1 Postmortem animal scavenging.

Postmortem animal scavenging

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The phenomenon of postmortem animal interference with human bodies or their remains is a substantial part of the…
Fig.1 Fatal injury after a shell explosion.

Fatal injury after a shell explosion

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Fatal injury on the side of the neck and jaw after a shell explosion, no further info. A…
Fig.1 This individual was found lying on his left side.

Man found decomposing in his home

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This individual was found lying on his left side with a mild to moderate degree of putrefaction. note…
Fig.1 Air India Express Flight 812 crash victim.

Air India Express Flight 812 crash victim

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India. On the 22nd of May 2010, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft crashed at the Mangalore International Airport killing…
Fig.1 Body found in water.

Body found in water

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Toronto, Canada. Body found in water in an early stage of putrefaction with extensive wrinkling of feet and…
Fig.1 Postmortem injuries made by rodents.

Postmortem injuries made by rodents

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Postmortem scavenging is common among wild and domestic rodents; they are well known to alter or destroy the…
Fig.1 Lacerations with abrasions along the wound margins.

Lacerations with abrasions along the wound margins

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A laceration is a type of wound caused by the tearing or splitting of skin, which can occur…
Fig.1 A man hit on a zebra crossing.

A man hit on a zebra crossing

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A man hit on a zebra crossing by a heavy truck (44tons). The body is under one of…
Fig.1 An elderly couple was found dead at home.

Elderly couple found dead at home

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An elderly couple was found dead at home. The husband’s body was semiprone over the wife’s legs. The…
Fig.1 Man nearly decapitated.

Man nearly decapitated

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Russia. This man was nearly decapitated. It is unknown if this was a homicide or an accident. Accidental…
Fig.1 Fatal head injury from a boat propeller.

Fatal head injury from a boat propeller

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Fatal head injury from a boat propeller. No further info. Often when discussing boat safety one aspect is…
Fig.1 Postmortem bloating of a body.

Postmortem bloating of a body

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Postmortem bloating of body may create a misleading picture of obesity. Bloody decomposition fluid oozing from mouth and…
Fig.1 A civilian was shot in the head during a protest.

A civilian was shot in the head during a protest

| Accident, Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Mogok, Myanmar - 2021. Two protesters were shot and killed by regime troops during a demonstration on Saturday…
Fig.1 Autoerotic asphyxia using ligature strangulation.

Autoerotic asphyxia using ligature strangulation

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This individual died from autoerotic asphyxia using ligature strangulation. Note padding on ankles. Pornographic literature was positioned on…
Fig.1 The burned body of this young woman was recovered from the fire scene.

Burned body of a young woman

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Florida. The burned body of this young woman was recovered from the fire scene. She had fallen onto…
Fig.1 The woman had been experimenting with autoerotic activities.

Female autoerotic asphyxiation death

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USA. This case involved a woman who was discovered in this position on her bed in her apartment.…
Fig.1 Decomposed body found in a car.

Decomposed body found in a car

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This decedent was found in a car. Given the degree of decomposition, a protected sequestered source of DNA…
Fig.1 A view of victim on floor prior to removal and a view of void area on floor after removal of victim.

A void pattern within a bloodstained area

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The Netherlands. A view of victim on floor prior to removal and a view of void area on…
Fig.1 Man dies in a house fire.

Man dies in a house fire

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This individual died in his bedroom during a house fire, no further info. Nearly 4000 Americans die each…
Fig.2 Skull burst fracture from fall from height.

Skull burst fracture from fall from height

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Spain. This individual fell from height and suffered multiple fatal fractures in the extremities; as well as skull…
Fig.1 Accidental death by fire.

Accidental death by fire

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A fatal case of burns by flash fire which caused the death of a 41-year-old woman when she…
Fig.1 Extensive disintegration of a body that has been run over by a train.

Extensive disintegration of a body that has been run over by a train

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This individual has been run over by a train causing extensive disintegration of the body. Railway injuries are…

The tragic death of an elderly couple at their home

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January 28, 2018 - Magelang, Indonesia. A relative of an elderly couple was checking in on them but…
Fig.1 Patterned abrasion on neck in autoerotic death.

Patterned abrasion on neck in autoerotic death

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Patterned abrasion on neck associated with autoerotic hanging with belt, no further info. Autoerotic death refers to the…
Fig.1 Worker crushed by a building under construction.

Worker crushed by a building under construction

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Spain. This individual died after getting crushed by a building under construction. No further info. Fig.1 Worker crushed…
Fig.1 Crushing head injury.

Crushing head injury

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This individual has a fatal crushing injury to his head, no further info. A crushing brain injury causes…
Fig.1 Worker crushed by a building under construction.

Worker crushed by a building under construction

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Spain. This individual died after getting crushed by a building under construction. No further info. Fig.1 Worker crushed…
Fig.1 Typical postmortem changes combined with mud and debris.

Body recovered from water

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Typical postmortem changes combined with mud and debris as well as sloughing of the skin of the hands…
Fig.1 Pugilistic attitude of a burned body.

Pugilistic attitude of a burned body

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Nassau County, New York. This photo depicts the position the body assumes as a result of intense heat…
Fig.1 Victim of hemorrhaging peptic ulcer.

Victim of hemorrhaging peptic ulcer

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Victim of hemorrhaging peptic ulcer found on the floor in his bathroom. Note the brown color of the…
Fig.1 Ignition of a human body by a modest external source.

Ignition of a human body by a modest external source

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Switzerland. In October 2006, around 12 a.m., the Geneva Police Department police were informed that the body of…
Fig.1 Extensive destruction caused by an explosive device.

Extensive destruction caused by an explosive device

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Spain. Extensive destruction caused by an explosive device. No further info. Fig.1 Extensive destruction caused by an explosive…
Fig.1 Thermal charring.

Thermal charring

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Thermal charring (“fourth degree burns”). If an individual dies in a fire that continues to burn after death,…
Fig.1 Postmortem feeding from fish and crustaceans.

Postmortem feeding from fish and crustaceans

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Postmortem feeding from fish and crustaceans found on this body retrieved from the ocean. No further info. Bodies…
Fig.1 Woman hit by train.

Woman hit by train

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Frontal aspect of a train after collision with a 63-year-old woman who remained standing between the rails in…
Fig.1 A garbage truck driver under the influence of drugs did not see his coworker behind him and reversed his truck over him.

Man crushed by garbage truck

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A garbage truck driver under the influence of drugs did not see his coworker behind him and reversed…

Man dead after playing with a .40 caliber handgun

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27-year-old man was playing with a .40 caliber handgun and accidentally shot himself in the head. No further…
Fig.1 Detruncation after a fall from a height in rough terrain.

Detruncation after a fall from a height in rough terrain

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This individual fell from a height in rough terrain, and the body was cut in half from the…
Fig.2 Fentanyl patch in her mouth.

Fentanyl patch in mouth of dead woman

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USA. A 37-year-old woman was found dead on a sofa. Foam cone from nose and mouth. 100 ug/hr…
Fig.1 Skull blown off in air conditioner compressor explosion death.

Skull blown off in air conditioner compressor explosion death

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India. On a fateful day, a 27-year-old mechanic was fixing the compressor of a nonworking AC when there…
Fig.1 Nitrous oxide death.

Nitrous oxide death

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Spain. There was no info if this was a suicide or an accident. Nitrous oxide is an inflammable…
Fig.1 Compound fracture of the left tibia and fibula.

Compound fracture of the left tibia and fibula

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The forces necessary to cause skeletal fracture is usually significantly greater but may be dependent on the condition…
Fig.1 This was how the victim presented at the crime scene.

Autoerotic death from Whippits nitrous oxide cartridges

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Lenexa, Kansas, US. Police were dispatched to an apartment complex at the request of a resident, who advised…
Fig.3 Upper torso covered with cheese underneath upper body tights.

Man covered in cheese found dead after autoerotic activity

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Germany. A 40-year-old man who lived alone was found deceased in his apartment on the 13th floor of…
Fig.3 At autopsy, the distribution of postmortem lividities was comparable to that found at the time of death.

Woman dies from traumatic asphyxia

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Italy. The victim was a 56-year-old woman whose body was found by the rescue team to be in…

Natural death due to a ruptured aneurysm

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USA. This apparent case of a sex slaying is actually a natural death due to a ruptured aneurysm.…
Fig.1 Identification of a bomb victim.

Identification of a bomb victim

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Identification may sometimes be challenging when the victim has severe injuries. This individual has facial injuries from a…
Fig.1 Man drove his car at speed into a bus.

Man drove his car at speed into a bus

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Penetration of the wrist and chest by a wooden component of a bus seat. The victim drove his…

Death by drowning at sea and skin peeling

| Accident, Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
If a body is placed in water containing a large amount of bacteria, such as that from sewage…
Fig.1 Extensive head destruction.

Extensive head destruction

| Accident, Gunshot | No Comments
This individual has an extensive destruction of the head, no further info about this case. Head trauma from…
Fig.1 Arterial patterns on walls and floor.

Arterial patterns on walls and floor

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Arterial patterns on wall and floor in conjunction with large accumulation of blood from victim with malfunctioning arterial…
Fig.1 Postmortem face peel-down examination.

Postmortem face peel-down examination

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A postmortem face peel-down examination showing injury of and around the left eye with bleeding (hemorrhage). When injury…
Fig.1 Man cut in two parts by train.

Man cut in two parts by train

| Accident | No Comments
This individual was killed and cut in half when hit by a train, no further info. Railroad deaths…
Fig.4 A compound comminuted fracture of the head and face.

Motorcyclist’s heart skipping along the road and head split

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USA. A motorcyclist changed lanes on the freeway to avoid stopped traffic ahead of him. As he started…
Fig.1 Dicing injuries.

Dicing injuries

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These are short, linear, angulated, incised injuries caused by the characteristic cubed fragments of shattered tempered glass. Tempered…
Fig.1 The victim’s hair covered her face. There was a belt wrapped tightly around her neck.

Female autoerotic death

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Chicago, Illinois. The victim was a 34-year-old white female, who lived alone in an apartment on the north…
Fig.1 Rapid skeletonization of remains due to water temperature and carnivorous fish species.

Rapid skeletonization due to carnivorous fish species

| Accident, Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Brazil. Rapid skeletonization of remains may occur in bodies of water in tropical areas due to water temperature…
Fig.2

Worker shredded in a plastic pellet mixer

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February, 2015 - Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. A 45-year-old worker died in a gruesome accident at a plastic window…
Fig.1 The victim is 37-years old male. The cadaver was found in the apartment where he lived.

A case of autoerotic death

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Bulgaria. The victim is a 37-years-old male. The cadaver was found in the apartment where he lived. It…
Fig.3 When Nikki was eight years old, doctors discovered a tumor in her brain that they initially didn’t think she would survive.

Porsche girl – The accident of Nikki Catsouras

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On Halloween, 2006, 18-year-old Nikki Catsouras crashed her father’s Porsche 911 Carrera, driving at more than 100 miles…
Fig.1 Tire marks on the skin.

Tire marks on the skin

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This individual was killed when he was run over by a vehicle. One characteristic of traffic accidents is…
Fig.1 A man was found with his head, torso, and most of his upper and lower extremities completely submerged in a bathtub.

Alcoholic found dead in a bathtub

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A 42-year-old man was found with his head, torso, and most of his upper and lower extremities completely…
Fig.1 Laceration of the right upper lip extending to the right nostril. Note some small lacerations and abrasions around the nostril.

Impalement of the gear stick into the brain through the nose

| Accident | No Comments
Japan. A 59-year-old male was driving a car on the road. The back of his car was hit…
Fig.2 Note the large amount of avulsed tissue that can be reflected.

Pedestrian who was run over by a large heavy truck

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This woman was a pedestrian who was run over by a large, heavy truck. Note the severe amount…
Fig.1 Decomposition & bagged hands.

Decomposition & bagged hands

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In this case, police and scene investigators were suspicious that this individual was killed by blunt force injuries…
Fig.1 4th degree burns on the head.

Fire exposure after lethal hypothermia

| Accident, Fire, Medical | No Comments
A 49-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment after a fire in a residential building in Germany.…
Fig.2 Anterior view of perineal wound showing near complete amputation of the phallus.

Unusual mechanism of penile amputation from an industrial-sized lawn mower

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West Virginia, USA. A 69-year-old male who was found underneath an industrial-sized lawn mower in a rural area.…
Fig.1 A 55-year-old man was found dead in his friend’s apartment.

Autoerotic death in a special metal construction

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A 55-year-old man was found dead in his friend’s apartment. The victim’s body was suspended in a special…
Fig.4

Mechanic sucked into a jet engine

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January 16, 2006 - El Paso, TX, USA. A mechanic standing near a Boeing 737 at El Paso…
Fig.8 The fighter jet immediately returned to the carrier after the accident.

Sailor Killed in Aircraft Carrier Freak Accident

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A US sailor from Macomb County was killed when he was struck by the wing of a fighter…
Fig.1 Finding situation of the body.

Decomposing body found in apartment

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On 11 July 2017, the dead body of a 39-year-old man was found in his apartment in a…

The use of dentures to identify a decomposed body from the sea

| Accident, Animal Scavenging, Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
The body of this decomposed individual was pulled from the sea. The loss of tissue around eyes and…

Surveyor crushed to death in Israel

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September, 2016 - Israel. A 65-year-old surveyor was killed at a work site to widen Road 531 in…

Woman driver died in a collision with a truck while using her phone

| Accident | No Comments
Brazil - 2019. A 34-year-old woman died in a head-on collision with a truck on the PR-323 highway…
Fig.3

Woman falls to her death from 34th floor

| Accident | No Comments
Bangkok, Thailand - 2014. A 28-year-old Russian woman, Svetlana Pokasova, was killed after she fell from her room…
Fig.15

The victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

| Accident, Aircrash, Explosion | No Comments
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down…
Fig.1 The corpse floating in the bathtub.

Woman found dead in a bathtub

| Accident, Decomposition | No Comments
Madrid, Spain. Corpse of a 48-year-old woman, found in the bathroom in her home address, in a bathtub…

The Use of Digital Imaging in Human Identification

| Accident, Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
2001 - Ventura County, California. The decomposed body of an elderly male was found floating in the ocean…
Fig.1 Injuries on the face.

Injuries on man’s face

| Accident | No Comments
This man had a fatal accident and has suffered traumatizing injuries on his face. No further info. Soft…
Fig.1 Fatal fall from height.

Fatal fall from height

| Accident | No Comments
This individual fell from a great height and died. He suffered from crushing facial injuries and crushing brain…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head and torso showing extensive destruction of the craniofacial skeleton and deformity of the chest with multiple bruises and abrasions and complete avulsion of the left upper limb.

Fatal high-energy glider accident

| Accident, Aircrash | No Comments
This male individual lost control of his glider shortly after take-off and flipped upside down. The glider then…
Fig.1 Woman killed by train.

Woman killed by train

| Accident | No Comments
This woman was hit by a train and killed, no further info. In 2020, 1.331 significant railway accidents…
Fig.3 The head of the passenger. Severance lines through the base of occipital skull.

Woman passenger decapitated in road accident

| Accident | No Comments
Norway. In June 2003, a small Mazda 232 automobile was involved in an accident. In a sharp left…

Man found dead in a homemade autoerotic suspension equipment

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Hanging | No Comments
Spain. A 59-year-old man was discovered dead in his home, he was suspended by a harness and a…
Fig.1 A car with body dangling through the windshield pulled into Covington gas station.

A car with body dangling through the windshield pulled into Covington gas station

| Accident | No Comments
Covington, Kentucky, USA - 2017. “I thought it was a prank because there was this body hanging out…
Fig.2 A rope was tied to an iron room divider and was around the neck, but tightened when the victim’s head was in a forward position.

87-year-old autoerotic death

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Wayne Township, New Jersey. This case involved an 87-year-old male who was discovered after police went to his…
Fig.1 A 22-year-old woman who had suffered from anorexia for 10 years.

A fatal case of anorexia nervosa

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Germany. A 22-year-old woman who had suffered from anorexia for 10 years and had collapsed several times was…
Fig.1

18-year-old man died in a motor vehicle crash

| Accident | No Comments
USA. This 18-year-old man died in a motor vehicle crash with rollover and ejection. No further info. Rollover…
Fig.1 Fatal propeller injuries.

Fatal propeller injuries

| Accident | No Comments
No info about this case. The wounds produced by this mechanism are chopping, cutting, penetrating injuries produced by…
Fig.1 Raccoon eyes and pulpified brain tissue forced out of the nostrils

Raccoon eyes and pulpified brain tissue forced out of the nostrils

| Accident | No Comments
Occasionally, the fragile orbital roofs and ethmoid bone are so severely fractured as to allow pulpified brain tissue…
Fig.1 This decomposed man had collapsed to the ground face first near his kitchen table.

This decomposed man was found suspended by a telephone cord

| Accident, Decomposition | No Comments
This decomposed man was found in the prone position, having collapsed to the ground face first near his…
Fig.1 Anterior view showing the crushing-type injury to the skull with evisceration of the brain.

Pedestrian died after stepping in front of a moving bus

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A middle-aged female pedestrian died after accidentally stepping in front of a moving bus. The cause of death…
Fig.1 The victim.

Man eaten by vulture catfish

| Accident, Animal Scavenging, Drowning | No Comments
A 29-year-old man was fishing when his canoe turned over and his body submerged. The body was recovered…

Accidental masochistic death and sadomasochistic drawings

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death | No Comments
Spain. This is probably a case of autoerotic activity or masochism, where the victim appears to have hanged…
Fig.1 Body of a 66-year-old man lying in a structure made of plastic garbage bags.

Autoerotic activity that ultimately led to asphyxiation

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Cologne, Germany. The body of a 66-year-old man was found by his wife wrapped up in plastic garbage…
Fig.1 Fatal crushing injury to the head from a train.

Fatal crushing injury to the head from a train

| Accident | No Comments
This individual suffered a fatal head crushing injury from a moving train, no further info. Railroad deaths in…
Fig.1 Fatal head crushing injury.

Fatal head crushing injury

| Accident | No Comments
This individual suffered a fatal head crushing injury, no further info. A crushing brain injury causes damage to…
Fig.2 Detectives noticed the prominent ligature mark around the victim’s neck consistent with hanging.

Embarrassed wife finds her husband dead from autoerotic asphyxiation

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Knox County, Tennessee, USA. Police were called to a home residence in connection with an unresponsive man. His…
Fig.1 Destruction of the head with loss of a large part of the brain after a fall from a height.

Destruction of the head from a fall from height

| Accident | No Comments
This individual fell from a height and suffered fatal destruction of the head with a loss of a…
Fig.1 The woodchipper and product truck.

Man accidentally pulled into a woodchipper

| Accident | No Comments
Larimer County, Loveland, Colorado, USA. The decedent and one employee were trimming trees on private residential property. The…
Fig.1. Multiple fractures of the facial bones with deformity.

Multiple fractures of the facial bones with deformity

| Accident | No Comments
This individual suffered a fatal head crushing injury, no further info. A crushing brain injury causes damage to…
Fig.3 Flayed and crushed pattern of lacerations are developed on the orofacial area.

Fatal freight elevator accident

| Accident | No Comments
South Korea. A 53-year-old man was found dead on the roof of a freight elevator car installed on…
Fig.2 The man had a plastic bag over his head.

Autoerotic death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Decomposition | No Comments
C.a. 1995. This individual died during autoerotic activity, it is possible the individual was inhaling some chemical inside…

Worker dies in a lathe accident

| Accident | No Comments
Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, Russia - November 2020. A 65-year-old worker died at the KAMAZ PJSC factory when he…
Fig.1 Man died after choking on scrambled eggs.

Man died after choking on scrambled eggs

| Accident | No Comments
This man died after choking on scrambled eggs which can be seen draining out of the mouth, no…
Fig.4 Complete crushing of the base of the skull of fatality 1.

Two military pilots killed in a helicopter induced propeller accident

| Accident, Aircrash | No Comments
February 14th 2000 - Mendig, Germany. Following routine maintenance, a Sikorsky CH-53G military helicopter was returned to service.…
Fig.1

Fatal chop injuries after falling off a tractor

| Accident | No Comments
This victim fell off a tractor and sustained severe chop injuries when he was overrun by the chopping…
Fig.1

Man killed by train

| Accident | No Comments
India. This individual died when he was hit by a train, no further info. In 2020 more than…
Fig.1 Multiple injuries on a woman from an attack by three large dogs.

Multiple injuries on a woman from an attack by three large dogs

| Accident | No Comments
Dallas, Texas, US. This image shows multiple injuries on a young adult female from an attack by three…
Fig.1 End position after the fatal fall with destroyed skull. Black arrow: point of first impact with smashed brain tissue. White arrow: fragment of the cranial roof.

Head split open after fall from Ferris wheel

| Accident | No Comments
Germany. On a rainy September day, a 32-year-old man was working on a 50-m (164 ft) high Ferris…
Fig.1 Deceased in the sitting position on a chair at his residence.

Fatal bleeding from a laceration of superficial temporal artery

| Accident | No Comments
Toronto, Canada. A 34-year-old intoxicated male was found dead in his apartment. On scene inspection, the deceased body…

Moment of impact that killed wing walker Jane Wicker

| Accident, Aircrash, Explosion, Fire | No Comments
Vandalia, Ohio. On June 22, 2013, an airplane carrying wing walker Jane Wicker crashed at the Vectren Dayton…
Fig.2 She was reaching through the bars to depress the button on the control panel when the gate crushed her.

Woman crushed by a gate after trying to open it

| Accident, Asphyxiation | No Comments
The woman shown in the images was trying to open the electronically controlled iron gate by reaching through…
Fig.2 One of the woman had clenched in fists on her upper chest.

Fatal carbon monoxide toxicity after a car left running inside the garage

| Accident, Asphyxiation | No Comments
Four friends came from South America to vacation for a week (Probably Florida c.a. 2000). When one of…
Fig.2 The victim was suspended with ligature to the shower frame.

Female autoerotic death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Hanging | No Comments
North Carolina, USA. The body of a white female, 33 years old, who had recently been laid off…
Fig.1

Missing man found dead and dehydrated by his Lexus

| Accident, Decomposition | No Comments
From the very little info I found, this happened in 2015 in Saudi Arabia, this guy had been…
Fig.6 Male B, anterior view showing extensive trauma to the body, involving the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and limbs.

Four people died when their light plane crashed into water

| Accident, Aircrash | No Comments
Australia - 2016. Four elderly adults died in a light-plane accident. The light plane crashed into water. Male…
Fig.1 Anterior view showing the splitting laceration of the right side of the head.

Passengers head crushed in car crash

| Accident | No Comments
Two vehicles collided in an intersection. Vehicle 2 collided with Vehicle 1 on the passenger side. A male…
Fig.1 Victim was found burned and chained to a metal support column beneath an I-beam. He had Darby cuffs securing his feet with a chain running up from the Darby cuffs to his handcuffed hands and then to the top of the metal support column where it was affixed to a padlock. There were severe burns to the waist, chest, and upper thighs, feet, and arms. Note the mirror in the background.

Autoerotic death – Man found burned and chained to a metal support column

| Accident, Autoerotic Death, Fire | No Comments
Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Police officers were summoned to a residence to check on the welfare of a man…
Fig.1 The laceration of the pelvic floor with the testicles protrusion.

Fatal scuba diving accident during Costa Concordia recovery

| Accident | No Comments
Italy, 2014. A 41-year-old Spanish professional scuba diver, died while he was working to clear the wreck of…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head showing extensive loss of soft tissues of the head and exposure of the teeth and mandible. NB: the frames of glasses are still in situ.

Man burned to death when a LPG cylinder ignited

| Accident, Fire, Suicide | No Comments
This male individual was driving when an LPG cylinder(Liquefied petroleum gas), which was in the front passenger side…
Fig.2 The man was breathing through a latex hood gas mask.

Chemical substance autoerotic death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Decomposition | No Comments
Chicago, Illinois. This victim was inhaling an unknown chemical substance while practicing autoerotic activities. He was wearing a…

Christmas is cancelled – Autoerotic death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Decomposition, Hanging | No Comments
A 52-year-old man was found dead, already putrefied, in his apartment. He wore women’s underwear with a female…
Fig.1 Man beheaded when hit by a train.

Man beheaded when hit by a train

| Accident | No Comments
India. This individual was beheaded when he got hit by a train, no further info. In 2020 more…
Fig.1 Unusual position of a body.

Unusual position of a body

| Accident | No Comments
Maryland, USA. The unusual position of the body at this scene resulted from the deceased experiencing a heart…
Fig.1

Passenger dies from crushing head trauma

| Accident | No Comments
Asbest, Russia - A 27-year-old resident of the city of Asbest died when a car he was a…
Fig.1 Extensive destruction of man's head.

Extensive destruction of man’s head

| Accident | No Comments
This individual has an extensive destruction of the head, I don't have the details of what happened, I…
Fig.1 Crush laceration of the head.

Crush laceration of the head

| Accident | No Comments
Grinding and compression forces can cause crushing injuries of tissues. This form of injury may cause total or…
Fig.1 Scene photograph showing the position in which the head was found.

Unusual accidental decapitation in a road traffic incident

| Accident, Suicide | No Comments
A 28-year-old man was driving a car at a speed of approximately 80 km/h (49.7 mph) on a…
Fig.1 Amputation of the right arm and bruising of the face and chest in a pedestrian struck by a passing locomotive.

Woman amputated and killed after getting hit by train

| Accident | No Comments
This woman died after getting hit by a train. Her right arm got amputated along with bruising of…
Fig.2 A large collection of blood next to the decedent was associated with self-inflicted rectal trauma.

Fatal rectal trauma after a man shoves a shoehorn up his ass

| Accident | No Comments
A 54-year-old man was found dead on his bed next to a red shoehorn. Perhaps he just wanted…
Fig.2

Man driving a Chevrolet Corvette decapitated

| Accident | No Comments
US - 28 July 2005. A Westchester County man died Thursday afternoon in a crash on Route 287.…
Fig.2 Close up of the face and chest with gag and ligatures.

Natural death in the setting of autoerotic practice

| Accident, Autoerotic Death | No Comments
Australia. This case demonstrates the death of a 69-year-old male which has occurred in the setting of a…
Fig.1 Facial blast wave injury with gunpowder tattooing.

Accidental head explosion from self-made fireworks

| Accident, Explosion | No Comments
Germany - On New Year's Eve, a 33-year old hobby pyrotechnician sustained a lethal craniofacial trauma secondary to…
Fig.8 Overview of cadaver after recovery from secondary digester tank. Note torsion of the torso and extensive bloating of soft tissues.

Worker falls into a sewage plant digester tank

| Accident, Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
March 18, 2003 - Bonn, Germany. A lethal occupational accident occurred at the Bonn Salierweg sewage treatment plant…
Fig.1

Slashed neck from a broken bottle

| Accident | No Comments
This individual died after getting attacked with a broken bottle that slashed his neck, no more info. A…
Fig.1 The body of a man who overdosed on methadone.

The body of a man who overdosed on methadone

| Accident | No Comments
Newport, Rhode Island. The body of a man who overdosed on methadone has gone into gross decomposition. No…
Fig.1 The decedent on his right front side at the base of a wood wall in the partial log cabin-type home.

25-year-old Montana man dies in house fire

| Accident, Fire | No Comments
2010 - Montana, US. This 25-year-old man apparently was known to have been drinking into the early morning…
Fig.1 The victim was wearing a pilot-type oxygen mask, which was attached to his mouth and nose.

Nitrous oxide autoerotic death

| Accident, Autoerotic Death | No Comments
Huntington Beach, California. The victim was a white male, 37 years of age, living alone in a large…
Fig.1 Woman dies after falling into a machine used for making dough for tortillas.

Woman dies after falling into tortilla machine

| Accident | No Comments
Pachuca, Mexico. This happened about ~10 years ago. A woman died when she fell into a rotating machine…
Fig.1 Head and face were decapitated at C1 to C2 cervical vertebra with partial presence of scalp tissue of posterior aspect present with margins of the wound abraded and contused.

An accidental decapitation resulting from head protruding out of bus

| Accident | No Comments
India. A 24-year-old woman was traveling in a bus with her child and husband, she was seated on…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the pilot’s head showing comminuted compound fracturing of the cranial vault with extrusion of cerebral contents.

Pilot and passenger died when their aircraft dived straight into the ground

| Accident, Aircrash | No Comments
An elderly male pilot was flying a microlight aircraft with one middle-aged male passenger in the rear of…
Fig.1 Body impaled on a wrought iron fence

Body impaled on a wrought iron fence

| Accident | No Comments
Image from NYPD Crime Scene Unit. In this case a person's body had become fatally impaled on a…
Fig.1 The victim was dressed as a woman complete with outerwear and undergarments.

Cross-dressed male autoerotic death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Hanging | No Comments
Columbus, Ohio. The victim was a 22-year-old male, who reportedly had been experimenting with asphyxial recreation for a…
Fig.1 Man crushed by concrete culvert.

Man crushed by concrete culvert

| Accident | No Comments
This 55 year old male was fatally crushed by a concrete culvert. He suffered from compound skull fractures,…
Fig.1 Scene where the corpse was found with the system employed.

Autoerotic death self-induced fatal air embolism

| Accident, Autoerotic Death, Decomposition | No Comments
Brazil. A 38-year-old man was found dead in his house, already in a state of decomposition, with no…
Fig.1

Woman dies from hand grenade injuries after a marital quarrel

| Accident, Explosion, Homicide | No Comments
1994 - Rheine, Germany. A Chinese hand grenade type 86 P (weight approx. 290 g, approx. 1600 steel…
Fig.1

Patterned injury from a fence post

| Accident | No Comments
This individual was ejected from a motor vehicle and fatally impacted a fence at a high rate of…
Fig.1 The remains of an adult male found in a river after a crocodile attack. Colorized image.

Fatal Crocodile Attack [Colorized]

| Accident, Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Australia. The remains of an adult male found in a river after a crocodile attack. The head had…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head showing extensive lacerations, comminuted skull, and facial fractures with extrusion of the brain.

High-energy, blunt-force trauma in a motor vehicle incident

| Accident | No Comments
A middle-aged male was driving a semi-tractor with an attached trailer in heavy fog. On approaching a sharp…
Fig.1 The position of the masturbatory apparatus.

An unusual case of sudden death associated with masturbation [Colorized]

| Accident | No Comments
I colorized the original black and white images. The United Kingdom, ~1980s. The deceased was an unmarried 32-year-old…
Fig.2 The man spent hours preparing for his events. This included makeup, female undergarments & outerwear. The mucous and protruding tongue are consistent with asphyxial death.

Autoerotic Death at the Weight Bench

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Hanging | No Comments
Hobbs, New Mexico, USA. This was the view that the arriving police officers had when they responded to…
Fig.1 Face trauma. Injury resulting from high-velocity accidents leads to loss of skin, soft tissue, and skeletal integrity.

Facial injury resulting from high-velocity accident

| Accident | No Comments
This individual was involved in a fatal high-velocity accident resulting in facial trauma with loss of skin, soft…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the pilot’s head and chest showing extensive trauma. There was comminuted fracturing of the cranial vault with extrusion of cerebral material.

Fatal gyrocopter accident

| Accident, Aircrash | No Comments
Two persons were flying in a gyrocopter when deteriorating weather conditions resulted in the gyrocopter crashing. A middle-aged…
Fig.1 Case 1, destruction of the cranium by a contact shot with hunting rifle (CZ 550, caliber 308 W, projectile SPCE-soft point cutting edge, 150 g) to the right temple. Bursting of the skullcap with complete exenteration of the brain (Krönlein shot).

Reconstruction of devastating head injuries

| Accident, Suicide | No Comments
Crushing head injuries are characterized by extensive soft tissue laceration, closed and open comminuted fractures of cranial and…
Fig.2

Autoerotic death inside plastic bag wearing latex mask and nipple clamps

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death | No Comments
A 44-year-old man was found deceased after an autoerotic activity, he had pulled a plastic bag over his…
Fig.1 Obviously distorted appearance of the head.

Distorted appearance of the head from a fatal crush injury

| Accident | No Comments
Alabama, United States. This young man was working at a loading dock when a reversing semi-trailer crushed his…
Fig.1

Man killed in arc flash electrocution

| Accident | No Comments
This individual died after getting electrocuted, an electric arc formed and burned away part of his neck. An…
Fig.1

The hanging French maid

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic Death, Hanging | No Comments
Germany. A 21-year-old man was found hanging in a stairwell. A noose ran around the neck, ascending to…
Fig.1

Reconstruction of crushing head injuries

| Accident | No Comments
This 33-year-old man was riding his bicycle on the interstate highway when he was struck by a tractor-trailer.…
Fig.1 Scene photo of parachutist at impact site.

Parachute Death in Southern Arizona

| Accident | No Comments
There was no further info with the images except that this happened in Southern Arizona. From a study…
Fig.1 The burned van at the toll booth.

A van crashed into a toll booth and burst into flames

| Accident | No Comments
The driver of a van was approaching a toll booth at a high rate of speed in dense…

Man struck by multiple vehicles

| Accident | No Comments
A 24-year-old man ran out into the street while being chased by security guards, after being caught shoplifting.…