Suicidal asphyxiation by propane-butane mixture inside a plastic bag

A 30-year-old male was found fully dressed lying on his right side on his sofa in his flat. He had put a blue plastic bag over his head and upper part of the body. Close to his upper part of the body, a 5-L propane/butane gas bottle was found, the upper part of the bottle under the plastic bag.

In the past, there had been severe arguments with his wife, as he had started relationships and sexual contacts with other men. However, in the basement, a rope was found at the stairway, from which it was concluded that the decedent had intended to commit suicide by hanging primarily.

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]

Signs of progressive decomposition, especially head and arms, were present; there were no signs of external force in the skin of the neck region. There were no signs of external violence or underlying internal disease.

Propane-butane mixture, i.e. liquified petroleum gas leads to the depletion of oxygen in the air consequently causing hypoxia and anoxia, and therefore, unconsciousness and eventual death. The mechanisms of death in cases of volatile inhalation include cardiac arrhythmias, reflex cardiac vagal inhibition, and/or central nervous system depression. Similar mechanisms occur in cases of asphyxiation with a plastic bag.