Herman the Shocker

The Shocker brings you unfiltered views of reality and educational content from the world of crime, accidents, and forensics

Please consider donating to keep the website running

Fig.1 Destruction of the facial skeleton due to shotgun blast.

Destruction of the facial skeleton due to shotgun blast

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Spain. Destruction of the facial skeleton due to shotgun blast. No further info. Shotguns differ from rifles and…
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 deceased was registered in the guest house as male.

Suicide by hanging

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
New Delhi, India. The incident took place in one of the guest houses in the city. The deceased…
Fig.1 This individual has a contact-range gunshot wound on the forehead.

Stellate wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
This individual has a contact-range gunshot wound on the forehead. No further info. In contact gunshot wounds with…
Fig.3 Her neck had been cut open with a large butcher knife, which was then placed across her throat.

Woman sexually assaulted and neck cut open with a butcher knife

| Homicide | No Comments
Pasadena, Texas, 1975. The nude body of 22-year-old Deborah Elizabeth Hester was found strangled in her apartment. She…
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 Anterior left lateral view of the head and neck showing the electrical cord wrapped around the neck.

Man tied down with electrical cords and murdered in his home

| Homicide | No Comments
Australia - This middle-aged male individual was assaulted in his home. When the individual was located his ankles…
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…

The lust murder of 20-year-old Keri Lynn

| Homicide | No Comments
October 1998 - Bellingham, Washington, US. 20-year-old Keri Lynn was visiting relatives in Bellingham, Washington, and she had…

Decomposition of the entire body

| Decomposition | No Comments
Decomposition of the entire body, including discoloration, skin slippage, bloating, mummification of lower arms, legs, and thighs, and…
Fig.1 Bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual.

Bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
Fig.1 Shotgun shot wound.

Shotgun shot wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
This individual has a shotgun shot wound. A large central defect is surrounded by smaller shotgun shot wounds…
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…
Fig.1 Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound.

Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound. There was no further info about this…
Fig.5 The severed left hand.

Fatal assault and dismemberment with a knife and hatchet

| Homicide | No Comments
Australia. This male individual died from sharp-force injuries to the chest and left wrist in the setting of…

Subscribe To Get The Latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The March 2023 issue is out   With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views of…
Fig.1 Advanced decomposition. The body was recovered after fourteen days in a well-heated residence. The necks of the teeth display ‘pink’ tooth discoloration.

Body recovered after 14 days in a well-heated residence

| Decomposition | No Comments
This body was recovered after fourteen days in a well-heated residence. The necks of the teeth display ‘pink’…

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.…

Woman’s face eaten postmortem by her dog

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
A 40-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment lying supine on the bed and the upper trunk…
Fig.1 Contact wound of the right temple with evisceration of the brain.

Contact wound of the right temple

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Contact wound of the right temple with evisceration of the brain. Note soot at the entrance site. In…
Fig.1 Woman shot in the face at close range with a rifle.

Woman shot in the face at close range with a rifle

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
This woman was shot in the face at close range with a bullet from a 30.06 rifle in…
Fig.1 Stab wounds into the victim’s back made with a large bladed knife.

Stab wounds into the victim’s back

| Homicide | No Comments
New York - Stab wounds into the victim’s back made with a large bladed knife. No further info…

Multiple stab wounds into chest with barbecue fork

| Homicide | No Comments
Chicago, Illinois. The victim of a lust murder, who had been stabbed multiple times in the chest with…
Fig.1 Dumped body.

Dumped body

| Animal Scavenging, Homicide | No Comments
Dumped body (Illinois State Police case Highway 64). Animal scavenging on face and left arm. This victim was…

Postmortem animal predation by a cat

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
This individual died and was attacked postmortem by a cat, no further info. Postmortem animal depredation is a…

15% Off All Merch

| Merch | No Comments
15% discount on everything in the merch shop February 23rd - 27th 2023. Latest posts
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…

Shotgun blast to the head

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Spain. Middle facial injury with cranial rupture caused by shotgun blast. No further info. Despite the extreme amount…

The murder of a 43-year-old Pontiac woman

| Homicide | No Comments
Pontiac, Michigan, US. On Tuesday, July 11, 1995, the nude and battered body of Margaret Midkiff, a 43-year-old,…
Fig.1 Death scene. Her face was pale and the protrusion of the tongue was observed.

Woman committed suicide by hanging herself in her bathroom

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. A 45-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself in her bathroom. The string was attached to the…
Fig.1 Gore had jammed the girl’s body into the trunk to hide her.

The killing cousins

| Homicide | No Comments
Indian River County, Florida, US. On July 26, 1983, David Alan Gore and his cousin, Fred Waterfield, were…

Google says my content is shocking!

| Uncategorized | No Comments
If I had a dollar for every time I've received a notification of a violation of a content…
Fig.1 The crime scene after the blanket was removed. Her throat had been cut and she had been stabbed in the back of the neck. There was a man’s black t-shirt over the cut throat.

Alabama woman stabbed and her throat cut

| Homicide | No Comments
Homewood, Alabama, US. On March 9, 1990, Homewood Police responded to a report of a murder from the…
Fig1. Contact rifle wound of the head.

Contact rifle wound of the head

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
In some contact rifle wounds of the head, the entrance may be difficult to locate because of the…
Fig.1 Typical stellate shaped entry wound showing tattooing effect.

Typical stellate shaped entry wound showing tattooing effect

| Gunshot | No Comments
In contact gunshot wounds with bony tissue underlying the injury, the injuries are typically called a stellate wound,…

Helium suicide

| Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
Poland. A grandmother found the corpse of her grandson in an apartment in a block of flats in…
Fig.1 This individual placed a 12-gauge shotgun against his right temple and pulled the trigger.

12-gauge shotgun suicide

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual placed a 12-gauge shotgun against his right temple and pulled the trigger. As can be noted,…
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 A murder case showing sex-related mutilation.

A murder case showing sex-related mutilation

| Homicide | No Comments
Los Angeles. A murder case showing sex-related mutilation. No further info about this case. A lust murder is…
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 Swelling of the scrotum and abdomen from putrefaction and accumulation of gases.

Swelling of the scrotum and abdomen from putrefaction and accumulation of gases

| Decomposition | No Comments
Swelling of the scrotum and abdomen occurs with putrefaction as gases accumulate from bacterial action. Numerous maggots can…
Fig.1 Bodies removed from water show excessive gas production.

Bodies removed from water show excessive gas production

| Decomposition | No Comments
Bodies removed from water show excessive gas production and tissue discoloration, owing to explosive bacterial gas production. The…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head showing an advanced state of decomposition.

Elderly woman was located in a state of advanced decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
Australia. This elderly woman was located in a state of advanced decomposition. Because of decomposition the body was…
Fig.1 The offender had severed the victim’s breasts from her chest. He placed one breast across her face.

Disorganized offender acts out with victim’s body

| Homicide | No Comments
Township of Van Buren, Michigan. Police received an anonymous call reporting a body of a female in an…
Fig.6 Cadaver 1, anteroposterior view of allograft (prethinning, with maxilla intact).

Facial Allograft Technique in Facial Reconstruction

| Medical | No Comments
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Composite facial allografts have become increasingly popular in the reconstruction of complex…
Fig.1 The bathroom where a man was found dead. On the victim’s left thigh was found a black powder percussion double barreled derringer (yellow arrow).

Complex suicide with black powder muzzle loading derringer

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Czech Republic. A 39-year-old man was discovered dead in the bathroom of his house, hanging by the neck…
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 A hard-contact gunshot wound of the head.

A hard-contact gunshot wound of the head

| Gunshot | No Comments
A hard-contact wound of the head with the central entrance wound containing a marginal abrasion, soot, and searing…

Subscribe To Get The Latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The February 2023 issue is out   With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views of…
Fig.1 Body at the bodyfarm at The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility.

Raccoon scavenging on a human corpse

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
The image is of a body at the bodyfarm at The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility. The…
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…
Fig.1 The victim was found lying dead in a pool of blood near a small table on which an abrasive saw had been fixed. A suicide note was found beside the glasses on the right table.

Man commits suicide by cutting his neck with a cut-off saw

| Suicide | No Comments
South Korea. Loosely translated from Korean. The deceased is a 48-year-old man who had been suffering from schizophrenia…
Fig.1 Skeletonization of the head and neck from animal predation.

Skeletonization of the head

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Skeletonization of the head, neck, and the left hand due to animal predation in a body that was…
Fig.1 This individual was found dead on the recliner due to self-ligature strangulation. There was a cutter, cigarette, and many liquor bottles nearby.

Self-ligature strangulation by utilizing a recliner

| Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
South Korea. Most cases of ligature strangulation are generally homicides, and deaths due to suicide or accident are…
Fig.1 Extreme case of sadomasochism.

Extreme case of sadomasochism

| Medical | No Comments
Extreme case of sadomasochism. This man inserted large dildos into his anus and with the trapeze-like contraption could…
Fig.4

Shotgun wound to the head

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual has a 12 gauge single-shot shotgun wound to the side of the head. Found supine on…
Fig.1 Victim lying on the floor with his head adjacent to a broken marble baseboard, holding a bread knife in his right hand.

Patricide and overkill

| Homicide | No Comments
Italy. An 83-year-old man, killed by his son, was found dead in the dining room of his apartment,…
Fig.1 Decomposed sclera showing hemorrhagic discoloration of the whites of the eyes.

Decomposed sclera showing hemorrhagic discoloration of the whites of the eyes

| Decomposition | No Comments
Decomposed sclera showing hemorrhagic discoloration of the whites of the eyes. This is sometimes misinterpreted as true injury.…

Moment of impact that killed wing walker Jane Wicker

| Uncategorized | No Comments
Vandalia, Ohio. On June 22, 2013, an airplane carrying wing walker Jane Wicker crashed at the Vectren Dayton…
Fig.1 Body dumped in a wooded area near LA and scavenged by animals.

Body dumped near LA and scavenged by animals

| Animal Scavenging, Homicide | No Comments
A body was dumped in a wooded area near Los Angeles. By the time it was discovered about…
Fig.1 Decomposition & bagged hands.

Decomposition & bagged hands

| Decomposition | No Comments
In this case, police and scene investigators were suspicious that this individual was killed by blunt force injuries…

20% off all merch

| Merch | No Comments
20% discount on everything in the merch shop January 26th - 30th 2023.
Fig.6 The torso was unwrapped at the medical examiner’s office and identified as the deceased.

Attempt to dispose of body by mutilation and disarticulation

| Homicide | No Comments
On February 21, 1997, at approximately 4:09 p.m., the Pottawatomie County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Department took a missing person’s…
Fig.1 Entrance wound on the left side of the head.

Suicide with a hunting rifle

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a hunting rifle, no further info on…
Fig.1 Gunshot entrance in center of upper eyelid, contact range.

This 66-year-old man committed suicide after being told he had cancer

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Billings, Montana - This 66-year-old man committed suicide after being told he had cancer. The entrance of the…
Fig.1 Woman's face eaten postmortem by an animal.

Woman’s face eaten postmortem by an animal

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
The woman in this photo passed away, and an animal in the household started to eat her face…

The impact of upright position on decomposition

| Animal Scavenging, Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Decomposition studies have elucidated many different factors affecting the rate and process of decomposition. However, no study has…
Fig.1 Postmortem carnivore activity around the mouth of a decedent.

Postmortem carnivore activity around the mouth of a decedent

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
A typical area of carnivore activity centered around the mouth of a decedent can be seen in this…
Fig.2 Destruction of victims head.

Explosive suicidal head destruction

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
November 2017 - Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A 57-year-old female was found dead in a room in the residence…
Fig.1 The victim lying dead in the bathtub. Her foot was cut off above the ankle following several incision wounds. The knife was found on the side of the bathtub near the faucet.

Woman commits suicide by cutting off her foot

| Suicide | No Comments
South Korea. Loosely translated from Korean. The deceased was a 61-year-old unemployed woman who lived alone. The mother…
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.1

Badly decomposed bodies are typically not visually identifiable

| Decomposition | No Comments
Badly decomposed bodies like the one shown here are typically not visually identifiable. I have no further info…
Fig.4 Frontal view of the mummified/skeletonized body.

Living with the dead

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
August 2016 - Italy. The police was called to a villa, following the reporting by neighbors of malodorous…

Polish man skinned his father and wore his face as a mask

| Homicide | No Comments
I colorized the original black and white images. Poland, 1999. A 26-year-old man killed his father by multiple…
Fig.1 Stippling around gunshot entrance wounds of the face.

Stippling around gunshot entrance wounds of the face

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
This individual has stippling around the gunshot entrance wounds of the face, intermediate range, no further info. Stippling…
Fig.1 Scene photograph showing the decedent’s posture in which he was found.

Self-inflicted explosive death by detonating a firecracker in the mouth

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
January 2017 - Pretoria, South Africa. A 76-year-old Caucasian man was admitted to a medico-legal postmortem examination after…
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 Nipples cut off.

A 39-year-old prostitute stabbed, beaten, and skinned

| Homicide | No Comments
A 39-year-old prostitute stabbed and beaten. Nipples cut off and “skinned” in pubic and perineal region. No further…
Fig.1 In this suicide by intraoral shotgun wound, note the tissue tears extending from the sides of the mouth

The dynamics of a firearm discharged into the mouth

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
In these intraoral gunshot wounds, note the tissue tears extending from the sides of the mouth. These tears…
Fig.1 Close-up of victim’s face showing entrance wound.

Accidental shooting or murder?

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Police were summoned to a home of a woman who reported that there had been…
Fig.1 Variation of access to the face from an extended bimastoid resection.

Dissection of the Head

| Medical | No Comments
The head must be slightly raised with appropriate supports. There is no one correct device; each autopsy surgeon…
Fig.1 Skeletonization and mummification.

Skeletonization and mummification

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
Fig.1 Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound.

Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Destruction of most of the head from a contact shotgun wound with preservation of the avulsed brain (next…

Subscribe To Get The Latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The January 2023 issue is out   With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views 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…

An unusual case of murder-suicide with a single gunshot

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Italy. When a 38-year-old policeman did not arrive at work and could not be reached by telephone, two…
Fig.1 Identification of badly charred and burned remains.

Identification of badly charred and burned remains

| Fire, Homicide | No Comments
In this particular case, the badly charred and burned remains of the victim of a kidnapping, rape, and…
Fig.1 Right lateral view showing a large disrupted lacerated injury on the right side of the lower face and the neck. The radiating lacerations and the presence of the wound on the other side of the face indicate that this is a gunshot exit wound.

Death from a gunshot wound to the neck

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
This middle-aged individual was involved in an altercation with another male relating to the manufacture of amphetamines. Circumstantial…
Fig.1 I got this way from drinking beer.

I got this way from drinking beer

| Decomposition | No Comments
This individual who was an alcoholic was found dead, and in the bloating stage of decomposition. The t-shirt…
Fig.1 This man committed suicide by cutting his throat.

Man commits suicide by cutting his throat

| Suicide | No Comments
This man committed suicide by cutting his throat while he was sitting on a bed opposite his own…
Fig.1 Multiple stabs on the back from the same knife, showing differing shapes and sizes.

Multiple stabs on the back from the same knife

| Homicide | No Comments
This deceased individual has multiple stab wounds on the back from the same knife, showing differing shapes and…
Fig.1 Intraoral blast injury.

Suicide by Detonation of Intraoral Firecracker

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
Detroit, MI. USA - A 21-year-old man was noted by family members to go into the garage behind…
Fig.1 Decomposing body of a woman discovered in a bathroom.

Decomposing body of a woman discovered in a bathroom

| Decomposition, Homicide | No Comments
The decomposing body of a woman was discovered in a bathroom in Indonesia, no further info. Putrefaction begins…
Fig.1 Postmortem mutilation by dogs.

Postmortem mutilation by dogs

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
This individual died and was attacked postmortem by dogs, no further info. Postmortem animal depredation is a substantial…
Fig.1 Postmortem animal activity by mice.

Postmortem animal activity by mice

| Animal Scavenging, Decomposition | No Comments
This old man died and was then partially consumed by some mice, no further info. Postmortem animal interference…
Fig.1 Top of the head blown away from shotgun blast in the mouth.

Top of the head blown away from shotgun blast in the mouth

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This suicide shows the devastating result of a shotgun blast in the mouth, which resulted in the top…
Fig. 3 The skull of the decedent with defleshing of the face and removal of the eyeballs. The orbits were filled with large amounts of white mold.

Postmortem predation by a clowder of domestic cats

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Australia. A 69-year-old man was found lying on the floor at his home address(Fig. 1). According to the…
Fig.1

Bulging face with protrusion of the tongue

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging face with protrusion of the tongue on these decomposing individuals, all related to the decomposition…
Fig.1 Catastrophic disruption of the head after a distant range discharge.

Catastrophic disruption of the head after a distant range discharge

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Catastrophic disruption of the head after a distant range discharge. Homicide with a 30-06 Springfield rifle. Note petal…
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 There are multiple cuts on the legs of the victim. A soda bottle was placed into the eviscerated abdomen and there was evidence that the offender drank the victim’s blood.

Eviscerated woman with a large soda bottle thrust into her abdominal cavity

| Homicide | No Comments
The partially clad body of a 22-year-old female, who had been beaten and sexually mutilated, was discovered in…
Fig.1 The catastrophic effect of an intraoral discharge.

The catastrophic effect of an intraoral discharge

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
The catastrophic effect of an intraoral discharge. The head has completely opened up in a petal like fashion.…
Fig.1 Contact gunshot wound to the eye.

Contact gunshot wound to the eye

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Contact gunshot wound to the eye. Note the lacerations of the eyelid and eye globe with soot deposition…
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 Suicidal smothering.

Suicidal smothering

| Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
New York, NY. This photo depicts a victim who has been smothered. She committed suicide by placing a…
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 Anterior view of the head and chest of a man who was significantly decomposed and not visually identifiable.

Significantly decomposed individual

| Decomposition | No Comments
Australia. This elderly male individual was significantly decomposed and not visually identifiable. Postmortem CT showed a metal orthopedic…
Fig.1 Postmortem rat bites.

Postmortem rat bites

| Animal Scavenging, Decomposition | No Comments
This individual received the injuries postmortem by rats, cause of death unknown. No further info on the case.…
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 Death scene. A 46-year-old male dentist was found dead of ligature strangulation next to a dental unit at the dental clinic where he worked.

Ligature strangulation using a dental unit

| Asphyxiation, Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
Seoul, South Korea. The victim, a 46-year-old male dentist, was found dead of ligature strangulation next to a…
Fig.1 Skin slippage, lividity, and marbling.

Skin slippage, lividity, and marbling

| Decomposition | No Comments
Chicago, Illinois. This photo illustrates decomposition, skin slippage, lividity, and marbling. No further info. Skin slippage is something…
Fig.4 Carol Marie Beethe was found in the bedroom of her home with a shotgun placed into her vagina. She also had been posed and propped for shock value.

The victims of serial killer George Waterfield Russell Jr.

| Homicide | No Comments
A series of murders occurred in Washington State in 1990. The murders began in Bellevue, Washington, in June…
Fig.1 Extreme tissue discoloration and gas formation in a body removed from water.

Extreme tissue discoloration and gas formation

| Decomposition | No Comments
Decomposition: extreme tissue discoloration and gas formation in a body removed from water. Bodies removed from water show…
Fig.1 Maggot activity on a decomposing body.

Insects, carnivores, and other invaders can speed up the process of decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
Forensic entomology is the study of insects as they relate to death investigation. For example, fly larvae can…
Fig.1 Postmortem animal depredation after poisoning.

Postmortem animal depredation after poisoning

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Spain. This individual died after ingesting poison. The injuries were inflicted postmortem by a dog. No further info.…
Fig.3 Left lateral view of the head and neck showing scissors in situ in the right eye.

Elderly male found dead with a pair of scissors protruding from the right eye

| Homicide | No Comments
An elderly male was found dead, slightly decomposed, lying on a couch with a pair of scissors protruding…
Fig.1 Slashed throat.

Slashed throat

| Homicide | No Comments
This victim’s throat was slashed. No further info about this case. Slash wounds occur as a result 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.1 This victim shot himself under the chin with a shotgun creating this classic massive tissue destruction.

Massive head destruction from an under the chin shotgun suicide

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This victim shot himself under the chin with a shotgun creating this classic massive tissue destruction. No further…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head and chest showing extensive trauma to the head.

Suicide with an explosive detonator in the mouth

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
This male individual placed an explosive detonator in his mouth. There was extensive destruction of the bone and…
Fig.1 Bloated body found in the Northern Adriatic Sea.

Bloated body found in the Northern Adriatic Sea

| Decomposition | No Comments
This individual was found in the Northern Adriatic Sea, near Italy. No further info. Many times it is…
Fig.1 The state in which the woman’s body was found.

Woman commits suicide by train

| Suicide | No Comments
Spain. This middle-aged woman with major depressive disorder committed suicide by train. No further info. Suicide by collision…
Fig.1 Decomposing woman in a bathtub.

Decomposing woman in a bathtub

| Decomposition | No Comments
Woman’s body lying face down in a bathtub in an advanced state of decomposition and with no apparent…
Fig.1 This is what the reporting witnesses saw when they looked into the window of the victim’s home. The woman had been shot and killed by her husband, who then mutilated her body.

Husband kills his wife and jammed his wedding ring onto her nose

| Homicide | No Comments
East Lake, Ohio. Police who had responded to an emergency call discovered a woman named Susan murdered in…
Fig.1 A contact shotgun wound of the lower chin.

A contact shotgun wound of the lower chin

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
A contact shotgun wound of the lower chin. Note the stretch-type lacerations of the right side of the…
Fig.1 Shotgun suicide.

Shotgun suicide

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
There was no info about this case, so here's just some general info: At close range, the shotgun…
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…
Fig.1 Advanced stages of decomposition.

Advanced stages of decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
This individual shown here had been dead approximately two weeks in an unheated, unventilated room. Note the extreme…
Fig.1 Suicide with a pistol.

Suicide with a pistol

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual has died after a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, no further info. The head is the…
Fig.1 The body at the scene. Decedent lying on his right side, covered with a blue plastic bag; below the bag also the upper part of 5-L propane/butane gas bottle. [Colorized]

Suicidal asphyxiation by propane-butane mixture inside a plastic bag

| Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
A 30-year-old male was found fully dressed lying on his right side on his sofa in his flat.…
Fig.7 The victim had been eviscerated and her hands were tied over her head with duct tape to the bed board.

Woman sexually assaulted and eviscerated

| Homicide | No Comments
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, US. On November 3 1998, a man and a woman encountered a gunman on the front…
Fig.1 Woman's throat slashed by her assailant during a sexual assault and murder.

Woman’s throat slashed by her assailant

| Homicide | No Comments
Grand Prairie, Texas - The victim’s throat was slashed by her assailant during a sexual assault and murder.…
Fig.1 Position of the deceased at the death scene.

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 Contact shotgun wound to the head.

Contact shotgun wound to the head

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
I don't have the backstory from this case but here's some general info. At close range, the shotgun…
Fig.2 Position in which the victim was found, a black katana sheath is located between the body and the couch.

Chess buddy killed with a samurai sword

| Homicide | No Comments
Case scenario April 2019 - Mönchengladbach, Germany. Two men had met on a bus and after a conversation…
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…

Subscribe To Get The Latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The December 2022 issue is out With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views of reality…
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.3 The head and the left side of the face of the deceased on the pressing plate with the piston impaling the head (closer aspect).

Suicidal head impalement with a hydraulic press machine

| Suicide | No Comments
Serbia. A 63-year-old mechanic, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was released from a psychiatric clinic to spend a weekend with…
Fig.1

Passenger dies from crushing head trauma

| Uncategorized | 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…

15% Off Everything & Free standard shipping

| Merch | No Comments
15% off everything in the merch shop and free standard shipping. Offer ends December 4th 2022.
Fig.1 The corpse of this individual was found in his apartment.

The corpse of this individual was found in his apartment

| Decomposition | No Comments
The corpse of this individual was found in his apartment, the deceased is partially clothed and partially covered.…
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 This individual died from natural causes while taking a bath.

This individual died from natural causes while taking a bath

| Decomposition | No Comments
This individual died from natural causes while taking a bath. Dark-yellow and brown discoloration can be seen due…
Fig.1 Suicidal contact wound under the chin from a 7.62 calibre rifle with destruction of the head.

Suicidal contact wound under the chin

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This victim shot himself under the chin with a 7.62 calibre rifle creating massive tissue destruction, no further…

A facial reconstruction and identification technique for seriously devastating head wounds

| Suicide | No Comments
A 77-year-old woman in the Czech Republic committed suicide by train. The face of the woman was reconstructed…
Fig.1 Decomposition with bloated facial features.

Decomposition with bloated facial features

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
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.1 Co-occurrence of skeletonization and mummification.

Co-occurrence of skeletonization and mummification

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Skeletonization is the total or partial loss of soft tissue (complete or incomplete skeletonization, respectively) with resultant exposure…
Fig.1 Putrefactive change and maggot feeding.

Putrefactive change and maggot feeding

| Decomposition | No Comments
Marked putrefactive change with dark brown discoloration and maggot feeding. Note the small circular perforations caused by maggots…
Fig.2 Position of the deceased on the bed.

Unusual suicide pact with a single shot

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. Translated by Hermantheshocker. The bodies of a 27-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man were found lying entwined…
Fig.1 Suicidal hanging resulting in complete decapitation. Colorized by Hermantheshocker.

Suicidal hanging resulting in complete decapitation

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
This woman was decapitated after committing suicide by hanging. The image was in black and white and I…
Fig.1 Postmortem animal predation by a pet dog.

Postmortem animal predation by a pet dog

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
Animal predation is less commonly seen than insect predation. Because most putrefied bodies are recovered from a home…
Fig.1 Defense wounds of the left hand that had been placed in front of the neck.

Defense wounds of the left hand that had been placed in front of the neck

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
This woman was shot it the neck, note the defense wounds on her left hand from trying to…
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 An extreme example of facial splitting from an intraoral discharge.

Facial splitting from an intraoral discharge

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
An extreme example of facial splitting from an intraoral discharge. Conspicuous splitting is noted along the paranasal and…
Fig.1 Body found in the Northern Adriatic Sea.

Body found in the Northern Adriatic Sea

| Decomposition, Drowning | No Comments
This individual was found in the Northern Adriatic Sea, near Italy. No further info. Many times it is…
Fig.1 Suicidal gunshot injury to the forehead in a 70-year-old man who was found kneeling before the bathtub.

Man committed suicide by gunshot to the forehead

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. This 70-year-old man committed suicide by gunshot to the forehead. He was found kneeling by his bathtub,…
Fig.1 Homicidal cut throat, showing single slash with no tentative cuts.

Homicidal cut throat

| Homicide | No Comments
Homicidal cut throat, showing single slash with no tentative cuts. Clean-cut edges with no sign of repetitive strokes,…
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.1 At the scene, note the severe cranial injuries and surrounding environmental blood and tissue staining.

Extreme cranial destruction in a suicide by a buckshot loaded into a bangstick

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Head injuries from shotguns and high-powered rifles are typically quite devastating, often with extensive soft tissue destruction, skull…
Fig.9 Evelyn Miroth had been eviscerated. The killer then engaged in anthropophagy, which is the consumption of human blood and flesh.

The Vampire of Sacramento

| Homicide | No Comments
Sacramento, California, USA. On December 29, 1977. A 51-year-old man, who had exited his house to retrieve groceries…
Fig.1 Intraoral shotgun wound with extreme facial splitting (suicidal discharge of a 12-gauge shotgun).

Intraoral suicide with a shotgun

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed intraoral suicide with a shotgun. The shotgun wound resulted in extreme facial splitting from the…
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

Maggot face

| Decomposition | No Comments
A man was found on the floor with a shirt over his head and his face below the…
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 This decomposing individual died of natural causes while sitting in a warm tub.

This individual died of natural causes while in a warm tub

| Decomposition | No Comments
This decomposing individual died of natural causes while sitting in a warm tub. Note the bloating from putrefactive…
Fig.1 Woman who committed suicide by hanging found 19 months later.

Woman who committed suicide by hanging found 19 months later

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. A decomposed body was found hanging from a tree in a forest. The body belonged to a…
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 Decomposition with bloated facial features.

Decomposition with bloated facial features

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging eyes and face on this decomposing individual, all related to the decomposition process. No further…
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 Multiple homicidal stab and incised wounds inflicted with various kitchen utensils.

Homicidal stab wounds inflicted with kitchen utensils

| Homicide | No Comments
This individual was murdered and stabbed with various kitchen utensils, no further info about this case. The general…
Fig.1 Mummification in a man dead in a locked room for 10 weeks. The corpse is dry and leathery, with very little moist putrefaction.

Mummification in a man dead in a locked room for 10 weeks

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
This individual was found mummified in a locked room 10 weeks after death. The corpse is dry and…
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 Tangential distant gunshot wound produced by mag-safe ammunition.

Tangential distant gunshot wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
The individual in the picture has a tangential distant gunshot wound produced by mag-safe ammunition (prefragmented). I don't…

20% off on everything in the merch shop

| Merch | No Comments
From November 15th to 19th everything in the merch shop will be on 20% discount. Check it out…
Fig.1 Suicidal stab wound.

Suicidal stab wound

| Suicide | No Comments
Nassau County, New York - Suicidal stab wound into a female victim’s chest with the knife left in…
Fig.1 Hanging position of deceased.

A young man committed suicide by hanging

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
India. A young man aged about 26-year got married a couple of years back, he used to maintain…
Fig.1 Body of an adult female showing the formation of subcutaneous adipocere.

Female body recovered from a floodplain in the North of Italy

| Decomposition, Drowning, Suicide | No Comments
In mid-November 2010 a hunter walking on the Po river bank near Parma (Emilia-Romagna Region, in the north-east…
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 Postmortem facial injuries inflicted by rodents.

Postmortem facial injuries inflicted by rodents

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
This individual received the injuries postmortem by rodents, cause of death unknown. No further info on the case.…
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 Scene photograph showing the victim in a collapsed lawn chair in the middle of the backyard of his rural residence, with notable absence of the head.

Suicide by Bomb, with Decapitation

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
Mishawaka, Indiana, US. In the fall of 2011, the badly injured body of a 65-year-old male was found…
Fig.1 Suicide victim detonated one kilogram of TNT on his chest.

Suicide victim detonated one kilogram of TNT on his chest

| Explosion, Suicide | No Comments
Blast injury. The suicide victim detonated one kilogram of TNT on his chest. No further info. Explosive-caused injuries…
Fig.1 Complex suicide of a 31-year-old man.

Complex suicide of a 31-year-old man

| Hanging, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. Complex suicide of a 31-year-old man following the attempted killing of his 29-year-old partner. Atypical hanging in…
Fig.1

Bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on these decomposing individuals

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on these decomposing individuals, all related…
Fig.1 Anterior view of the head showing the advanced stage of decomposition.

Male individual located at home in an advanced state of decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
Australia. This middle aged male individual was located at home in an advanced state of decomposition. Postmortem CT…
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 “Krönlein” shot. Complete evisceration of the brain 

Krönlein shot, complete evisceration of the brain

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Krönlein shot indicates a prolapse of an intact brain hemisphere or, more rarely, of both brain hemispheres in…
Fig.1 Self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead with a shotgun

Self-inflicted gunshot wound to the forehead with a shotgun

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. Self-inflicted gunshot to the forehead with a shotgun. The scalp is torn open in several long stretches;…
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 deceased had been found dead underneath a model cannon which had been fixed with jackscrews to his workbench.

Suicide by small model cannon

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Germany. A 39-year-old metalworker was found dead in his workroom. He had manipulated a model cannon with jackscrews…
Fig.1 A photo of Amanda in life as remembered by her family

The murder of a 19-year-old Indiana woman

| Homicide | No Comments
2011 - Portage, Indiana, USA. A 19-year-old woman named Amanda A.B. was reported missing by her father on…
Fig.1

Multiple lacerations to the back of the head in a homicide

| Homicide | No Comments
Multiple lacerations to the back of the head in a homicide with a primary attack from behind. The…
Fig.1

Suicidal ligature strangulation utilizing cable ties

| Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed suicide by fastening cable ties around his neck, leading to suffocation. Each cable tie was…
Fig.1

Flash suppressor burns from M-14 rifle

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Flash suppressors generally consist of a cylinder, having a number of longitudinal slits along its length that is…
Fig.1 View of victim in his bedroom with massive head trauma from self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Massive head trauma from self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
Wausau, Wisconsin, USA. This individual shot himself in the head with an upward trajectory. The man was determined…
Fig.1

Advanced skeletonization of the skull after 1 week of lying on the ground in the woods in summer

| Decomposition | No Comments
Figs.1-2 Advanced skeletonization of the skull after 1 week of lying on the ground in the woods in…
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 Intensive blue color of mouth and lips in a case of suicidal intoxication with solvents

Intensive blue color of mouth and lips in a case of suicidal intoxication with solvents

| Suicide | No Comments
Intensive blue color of mouth and lips in a case of suicidal intoxication with solvents. No further info…
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.1

Purge fluid expelled from the mouth and nose after death

| Decomposition | No Comments
The decomposition of the gastrointestinal tract results in a dark, foul-smelling liquid called "purge fluid" that is forced…
Fig.6 Numerous pieces of soft tissue.

Man killed and dismembered by his spouse

| Homicide | No Comments
In Germany, a 65-year-old woman told police that she killed her 71-year-old husband the previous evening and then…
Fig.1

Shotgun wound through the neck

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
Contact-range discharge to the left side of the neck (12 G shotgun, homicide). (left image) Exit site on…

Subscribe To Get The Latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The November 2022 issue is out With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views of reality…
Fig.1 The offender had fantasized about cutting off the breasts of his victims and placing objects into their sexual orifices.

A mother and her daughter viciously stabbed, disemboweled, and mutilated by the Werewolf Butcher

| Homicide | No Comments
April 1995 - East Wenatchee, WA, USA. A young woman discovered the bodies of her mother and sister.…
Fig.1

Shotgun exit wound

| Gunshot | No Comments
Initially, it may be difficult to distinguish the entrance and exit wounds, but by loosely reconstructing the skull…
Fig.1 Fungi colonization most prominent around nose and mouth in a body exhumed 4 months after death.

Fungi colonization around nose and mouth in a body exhumed 4 months after death

| Decomposition | No Comments
Although putrefaction is a mainly anaerobic bacterial reduction process, decomposition is dominated by aerobic microbiological processes that may…
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.2 The devastating effect of a high-powered weapon placed into the mouth of a suicide victim.

High velocity bloodstain spatter firearm rifle suicide

| Gunshot, Homicide, Suicide | No Comments
This photograph illustrates the devastating effect of a high-powered weapon placed into the mouth of a suicide victim.…
Fig.1

Shotgun wound to the face

| Gunshot, Medical | No Comments
I have no info on this case but it looks like he may have survived. Head injuries from…
Fig.1 Suicide with a box cutter.

Suicide with a box cutter

| Suicide | No Comments
The woman in this photograph committed suicide with a box cutter by severing the peroneal artery, which is…
Fig.1 The colorized image.

Chopping wounds of the head from a machete [Colorized]

| Homicide | No Comments
I colored and upscaled the original low quality black and white image, quality is rather poor. Chopping wounds…
Fig.1

Suicide by intraoral gunshot wound to the head

| Suicide | No Comments
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. This individual committed suicide by intraoral gunshot wound to the head, no further info.…
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

Breasts may swell up to remarkable size during decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
Moderately early changes of decomposition, showing gaseous distension of the breasts and abdomen. Skin slippage, marbling, and blistering…
Fig.1 The state the body was found in. Right arm of the deceased has been severed. Bottom right of the photo shows the implements used to commit the crime. Top left of the photo shows the weight that was hung around the deceased’s neck to sink him to the bottom of the well.

Victim of homicide with an axe

| Homicide | No Comments
Spain. The photos are of a victim of homicide with an axe. This is a case of homicide…
Fig.2

Postmortem animal predation on woman’s face by a domestic pet

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
King County, WA, USA. The face of this woman shows typical postmortem animal scavenging injuries, in this case…
Fig.1

Blood spatter on the walls after woman is stabbed multiple times in face and neck

| Homicide | No Comments
King County, WA, USA. This woman was found dead at her residence. She has been stabbed multiple times…
Fig.1 This victim shot himself under the chin creating a massive tissue destruction.

Facial disruption as seen when the muzzle is placed beneath the chin

| Suicide | No Comments
This individual killed himself with a gunshot under the chin creating a massive tissue destruction. Facial disruption can…

On Halloween Night, 1979, the Toolbox Killers Abducted Their Final Victim

| Homicide | No Comments
On Halloween night, 1979, at approximately 10:30 p.m. Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris abducted their final victim, 16-year-old…
Fig.1 The bodies of the alleged perpetrator and the victim.

Gender-Based Violence: Extended Suicide

| Homicide, Suicide | No Comments
Spain. This is a case of gender-based violence and murder, with the perpetrator subsequently killing themselves (i.e., murder-suicide)…
Fig.1

Sharp force injury death

| Homicide | No Comments
There was no information with this image, I assume it's a homicide rather than a suicide, but I…
Fig.1

This individual was found in a state of decomposition inside plastic bags buried in soil

| Decomposition, Homicide | No Comments
This individual was found in a state of decomposition inside plastic bags buried in soil. No further info…
Fig.1

Bulging of the eyes, lips and face, with protrusion of the tongue, all related to decomposition

| Decomposition | No Comments
Note the bulging eyes, lips and face with protrusion of the tongue on this decomposing individual, all related…
Fig.1 Access to the face in a homicide case; detaching of the soft tissues until the mastoid edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the zygomatic arches, and the nasal pyramid.

Facial soft tissue dissection

| Homicide, Medical | No Comments
In cases of trauma, it may be necessary to dissect the soft tissue of the face that lies…
Fig.1 Homicidal incised wounds of the neck inflicted from the front.

Homicidal incised wounds of the neck inflicted from the front

| Homicide | No Comments
Incised wounds of the neck can be accidental, homicidal or suicidal. Accidental wounds are extremely rare, usually seen…
Fig.1 View of victim with massive head trauma from gunshot. Rifle is positioned in wooden apparatus.

Man builds an elaborate apparatus to commit suicide

| Suicide | No Comments
Stuart, Florida, USA. Occasionally, self-inflicted gunshots involve elaborate apparatus. This individual took the time and patience to construct…
Fig.1

Mummification can result in very hard, leathery skin

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
Fig.1

Body of a woman who died while taking a bath

| Decomposition | No Comments
This is the body of a 74-year-old woman who died while taking a hot bath, she was found…
Fig.1

Massive explosive burstlike exit wound to the head from a .30-06 hunting rifle

| Suicide | No Comments
Massive explosive burstlike exit wound to the head from a .30-06 hunting rifle suicide. Note outward petal like…
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 Contact gunshot wound on the forehead.

A contact entrance wound of the head showing wide separation of the wound edges

| Suicide | No Comments
This individual has a contact gunshot wound on the forehead. Note the split by tears radiating from a…
Fig.1 The scene.

Suicide by decapitation using a tape saw

| Suicide | No Comments
Spain. The body of a 22-year-old man was found inside a metal workshop lying on the bench of…
Fig.1 Notice the blow-out injury to the left side of his face.

Self-inflicted intraoral shotgun wound with birdshot ammunition

| Suicide | No Comments
1998 - Miami-Dade County, Florida, US. This young man has a self-inflicted intraoral shotgun wound with birdshot ammunition.…
Fig.1

Skeletonization and postmortem marine feeding activity on a drowning victim

| Decomposition | No Comments
Drowning victim in Australia showing evidence of prolonged immersion, focal skeletonization, and evidence of postmortem marine feeding activity.…
Fig.1 Fracture of maxilla and extensive tears around the mouth in a suicide case with a high-velocity firearm.

The rapid expansion of departed hot gases from firearms can cause facial features to balloon far beyond their elastic capacity

| Suicide | No Comments
Notice the linear tears extending laterally from the corners of this individuals mouth after the tremendous force imparted…
Fig.1

Scleral hemorrhages in the eye of a strangled woman

| Homicide | No Comments
This woman was strangled and died, note the scleral hemorrhages and petechiae, larger scleral hemorrhages can be seen…
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.1

Hot, dry conditions cause mummification, or the drying out of tissues

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Mummification occurs in hot, dry environments. The body dehydrates and bacterial proliferation may be minimal. The skin becomes…
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

Postmortem animal interference on a female corpse

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
I unfortunately don't have the backstory here, other than this is from a case of postmortem animal interference,…
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 Wounds caused by a German shepherd postmortem [Colorized].

Face and neck eaten by German shepherd

| Animal Scavenging | No Comments
I colorized the original black and white image. Rounded, regular wound margins caused by a German shepherd postmortem.…
Fig.1 This woman committed suicide, note the raccoon eyes.

Raccoon eyes on a suicide victim

| Suicide | No Comments
This woman committed suicide with a gun under the chin, her finger was on the trigger when found,…
Fig.1

A blood-spattered scene where a chronic alcoholic died on the toilet

| Medical | No Comments
A 68-year-old male with a history of chronic ethanol abuse was found dead in his washroom with blood…
Fig.1

Skeletonization of the head

| Decomposition | No Comments
Skeletonization is the total or partial loss of soft tissue (complete or incomplete skeletonization, respectively) with resultant exposure…
Fig.1

This body was discovered in a suitcase

| Homicide | No Comments
This body was discovered in a suitcase in Los Angeles. No further info. If a body has been…
Fig.27 She loved monster trucks. She and her friends would go out and do quarter-mile racing, until the police chased them off

The murder of Aundria Crawford by Rex Krebs

| Homicide | No Comments
On March 13, 1999, in San Luis Obispo, California, Aundria Crawford was reported missing by her mother. Aundria’s…
Fig.1

Body found floating in the Hudson River

| Decomposition | No Comments
This body was found floating in the Hudson River just to the west of Manhattan. The missing hands…
Fig.1

Suicide with a homemade 12-gauge shotgun cartridge filled with screws, nuts, and other metal objects

| Suicide | No Comments
The image shows a wound caused by a flare gun that fired a homemade 12-gauge shotgun cartridge filled…
Fig.1

Bloody cough from gunshot suicide

| Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed suicide with a gun, there was no further info but it looks like he might…

Subscribe to get the latest Monthly Magazine

| Monthly Magazine AD | No Comments
The October 2022 issue is out With a monthly subscription the Shocker brings you unfiltered views of reality…
Fig.1 The entrance wound is on the forehead and has a stellate-shaped appearance.

Gunshot entrance wound on the forehead

| Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed suicide with a sawed-off IZH-18 shotgun. The entrance wound is on the forehead and has…
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

Body found in LA County’s high desert

| Homicide | No Comments
Identification of decomposed remains requires techniques such as forensic odontology, forensic anthropology, and/or DNA typing. This victim was…
Fig.1 Close up view of the anterior pelvis and thigh region showing amputation of the left leg.

Man jumped from the 28th floor of an apartment block

| Suicide | No Comments
This male individual jumped from the 28th floor of an apartment block and fell approximately 84 m (275…
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 Overall location of the victim in the master bedroom.

Bloodstain investigation in suspicious death of a woman

| Homicide | No Comments
Police responded to a single-family residence. Upon arrival, they were met at the front door by the victim’s…
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 Extensive scalp tears and calvarial fractures.

Devastating rifle wound to the head

| Suicide | No Comments
This 52-year-old man sustained an intermediate range rifle wound to the left side of his head from a…
Fig.1

Partial skeletonization

| Decomposition, Mummification | No Comments
Skeletonization is the state of a dead organism after undergoing decomposition. Skeletonization refers to the final stage of…
Fig.1 The body in the crime scene. Take note that the victim is secured four-point to the bed with ropes.

Man suffering from PTSD from the Iraq war wraps his head in plastic wrap

| Suicide | No Comments
City of Lacey, Washington, USA. Police were called to a hotel after employees discovered a deceased man locked…
Fig.1 This body was indoors with the windows closed and not subject to insect infestation.

This body was indoors with the windows closed and not subject to insect infestation

| Decomposition | No Comments
New York. Note the bloating and peeling of skin. This body was indoors with the windows closed and…
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 Hanging in jail using telephone cord.

Hanging in jail using telephone cord

| Suicide | No Comments
Hangings in jail using telephone cords have been described in the literature. Note the telephone cord looped around…
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.…