Suicide by Bomb, with Decapitation

Mishawaka, Indiana, US. In the fall of 2011, the badly injured body of a 65-year-old male was found on its back in the backyard of his home (Figs.1-3). A suicide note was found in the home, which indicated that the decedent wanted to “take the quick way out” of life, saying that he was depressed and in pain. Investigative information confirmed that the man was a military veteran with training in explosives. The victim’s neighbors and brother, who contacted police as they had not heard from him in some time, explained that the decedent was constantly using explosives. The neighbors had mentioned that four days prior, they had heard and felt the biggest explosion they had ever heard from his property but had not contacted anyone since he was always blowing things up.

Upon arrival at the scene and discovery of the body, police were initially concerned about additional explosive devices, as the decedent had previously expressed anti-government sentiment. This fear was heightened by the presence of a hand-held remote detonator device and another electrical device at the scene. As a result, the bomb squad was called and a robot was used to closely examine the remains and the scene prior to moving the body (Fig.4). There were no more explosives found near the body, but unarmed explosives were found in the decedent’s residence and disposed of at the scene.

Autopsy examination revealed a well-developed, well-nourished, male whose appearance was altered by severe injury. Radiographs revealed extensive skeletal trauma to the upper torso, with absence of head and neck structures as well as fractures about the knees. There was no radio-opaque foreign material/shrapnel evident by radiographic exam. Explosive-type defects were noted on the upper aspects of the torso clothing, as well as on the knee portions of the pants. The head and neck were absent and there was extensive damage to the upper torso (Fig.5).

The anterior and posterior skin of the upper chest and shoulders demonstrated irregularly jagged borders with areas of soot and charring focally. The soft and bony tissues underlying the borders were markedly damaged by presumed explosive injuries. There were rare abrasions and contusions of the chest and upper extremities. The lower extremities demonstrated rare abrasions and contusions as well as severe lacerations of the anteromedial knees with underlying fractures of the distal aspects of the femora (Fig.6). Within the depths of the knee wounds, there was soot and charring noted.

On internal exam, portions of the heart and lungs were evident within the chest cavity but were severely pulverized due to extensive blast-type injuries; the diaphragm was lacerated bilaterally and extensive pulverization-type injuries affected the liver as well (Fig.7). The upper esophagus, aortic arch, trachea, and main-stem bronchi were absent. The descending thoracic aorta and lower esophagus demonstrated lacerations. The clavicles were not readily identified, while the sternum, both scapulae, and ribs 1 through 10 bilaterally showed numerous fractures; the vertebral column was absent above the level of thoracic vertebral body 6 (Fig.8).

There was a laceration of the left flank, from which a portion of the small intestine protruded. Rare contusions of the small intestines, transverse colon, and mesentery were evident. Although there was evidence of apparent charring focally on the clothing and skin, there was no visibly identifiable foreign material evident. Swabbings of the hands and injured tissue margins were collected and retained (Fig.9). The clothing was retained as well (Fig.10).

Because of the extent of injury, there was virtually no blood remaining in the body; therefore, blood toxicology testing could not be performed. A urine drug screen tested positive for opiates, acetaminophen, topiramate, norcyclobenzprine, and dihydrocodeine. The body was only tentatively identified at the time of autopsy, based on circumstance. Subsequent positive identification was made by fingerprint comparison. The cause of death was explosion/blast injuries from a bomb. The manner of death was suicide.

Reconstruction of the event suggested that the decedent sat in a lawn chair, placed the explosive device between his knees, and leaned forward, with his head close to the device. The decedent had apparently purposefully kept his hands/fingers away from the explosion, apparently knowing that visual identification would be impossible after the explosion, but fingerprint comparison would be possible. As the case was deemed an obvious suicide by the coroner and police investigators, no further testing was undertaken to determine the exact nature of the explosives used in this event. As such, despite the collection of trace evidence and clothing, no further examination was performed.

Suicidal explosions are rarely encountered in the United States, although in some places worldwide, suicidal terrorist bombings are encountered to some degree of regularity, and the nonterrorist variety may be more common in other nations. Many of the reported cases of suicide by explosives report destruction of the head; however, rarely do they result in complete decapitation. While suicidal deaths related to explosives are not common, it is important that forensic pathologists and death investigators be aware of the characteristics of explosives-related deaths.