Complex suicides (CSs) are committed by using more than one method. They account for 1.5-5% of all suicides. We present a case of CSs of a 44-year-old man, found dead in the vicinity of his car, in a deserted frozen field. Police investigation excluded homicide, and no medical data confirmed mental illnesses. Autopsy revealed wrist cuts, neck cuts, acid burns in the GI tract, multiple stab wounds to the head by a screwdriver, and several uncertain signs of hypothermia. Toxicology analysis (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) confirmed ingestion of insecticide. We concluded that stab wounds to the head were the cause of death, while external hemorrhage and hypothermia were contributing factors. This is the first case of CSs reviewed in the literature where six suicide methods were applied. This particular case is interesting because the victim used a screwdriver as a tool for inflicting stab wounds to the head, which is a rare suicidal method.
For identification of skeletal remains and solving missing persons cases, the forensic application of the latest DNA technology is of utmost importance. In our casework, most extraction attempts of skeletal remains from cases of criminal burning, with intention to destroy the body, were successful. This paper represents our approach and the results obtained during identification of burned skeletal remains. The body of the missing fifty-two-year-old taxi driver was found burned in the trunk of a car. The DNA was extracted from the powder bone using organic protocol and amplified by AmpF'STR 1 Identifiler 1 Plus (Applied Biosystems), AmpF'STR 1 NGM TM (Applied Biosystems) and AmpF'STR 1 Yfiler 1 (Applied Biosystems). Complete DNA profiles obtained using all three applied kits, were a match with the reference sample victim's son. In addition, we analyzed 5 DNA extracts, corresponding to 5 different burned body identification cases from 2009 using AmpF'STR 1 NGM TM kit. Concordant results were obtained for the STR loci between AmpF'STR 1 Identifiler 1 kit which was used back then and AmpF'STR 1 NGM TM which is on our disposal today, including 5 additional loci expanded ESS.
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