Suicide identification during on-site inspection. Proposal and application of an interpretative method for death scene investigation

Visentin, S.; Massaro, Luca; Viel, Guido; Cecchetto, Giovanni; Montisci, Massimo

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.01.029

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…In forensic practice, the differentiation between suicidal and homicidal sharp force violence is often achieved by the integrated evaluation of data derived from a crime scene investigation as well as from well-established necroscopic signs described in the literature (11). Nevertheless, some cases may present unusual findings (23)(24)(25) with a difficult interpretation of the dynamics.…”

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confidence: 99%

Criminological and Medico‐legal Aspects in Homicidal and Suicidal Sharp Force Fatalities

Terranova

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et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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The interpretation of sharp force fatality dynamics may be difficult in some cases, but a contribution to analysis of the phenomenon may be provided by case studies. Therefore, the purpose of our study is focused on identifying, in observed sharp force fatalities, reliable parameters that can differentiate a homicidal and suicidal manner of death, with particular reference to criminological parameters. Data derived from sharp force fatality cases in Padua and Venice from 1997 to 2019, anonymized and collected in Excel, included personal, circumstantial, clinical, and psychopathological–criminological data, as well as crime scene investigation, necroscopic, and toxicological data. Statistical analyses were performed using chi‐square and Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests. Possible predictors of homicide were analyzed by logistic regression. Six parameters (bloodstains distant from the body, clothing lacerations, hesitation/defense wounds, number of injuries, and potential motives) were significantly different in the two groups (p < 0.05). An independent statistical association between potential motives explaining the crime (p < 0.001; OR 27.533) and homicide on multiple logistic regression analysis was highlighted. The absence of clothing lacerations was inversely related to homicide (p = 0.002, OR 0.092). To the best of our knowledge, this is one of very few Italian studies concerning the differential diagnosis between homicidal and suicidal sharp force fatalities. The dynamics of the event is established in most cases by the integrated evaluation of data from crime scene investigation and the autopsy. Nevertheless, in an atypical scenario, a psychopathological–criminological analysis may provide essential elements, and particular attention should be given to the identification of potential explanatory motives.

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confidence: 99%

Criminological and Medico‐legal Aspects in Homicidal and Suicidal Sharp Force Fatalities

Terranova

Doro

Zancaner³

et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…While there is limited empirical research, Lacks et al (2008) notes that anecdotes are subsequently necessary to support the use of psychological autopsies. More recently, Visentin et al (2019) developed a five item scale for use in equivocal death analyses: (a) statistical frequency of manner used to cause the death, (b) victim’s history of mental illness, (c) circumstantial data, (d) if multiple modes of causing death were used (i.e., cutting wrists and consuming pills), and (e) compatibility of the injury pattern with suicide. Testing of the newly developed scale revealed that a score of four or lower out of 10 successfully categorized 87% of the suicides as such, while excluding all homicides and 97% of accidental deaths (Visentin et al, 2019).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, Visentin et al (2019) developed a five item scale for use in equivocal death analyses: (a) statistical frequency of manner used to cause the death, (b) victim's history of mental illness, (c) circumstantial data, (d) if multiple modes of causing death were used (i.e., cutting wrists and consuming pills), and (e) compatibility of the injury pattern with suicide. Testing of the newly developed scale revealed that a score of four or lower out of 10 successfully categorized 87% of the suicides as such, while excluding all homicides and 97% of accidental deaths (Visentin et al, 2019). Since psychological autopsies are somewhat criticized, and structured equivocal death analyses is in its infancy, systematic study of additional distinguishing factors of homicides and suicides, such as nudity at death, becomes even more important to consider.…”

Section: Conducting An Equivocal Death Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The assessment of an attending doctor or coroner will have a role in the law enforcement investigation, “a vision of the event can be strongly influenced by the initial orientation of the medical examiner” with ambiguous death scenes (Visentin et al, 2019, p. 148). For example, in equivocal death scenarios, Crepeau-Hobson (2010) found that 31.5% of medical examiners stated that a lack of suicidal history was a specific piece of information that would direct them toward an accident determination as compared to a suicide determination for a deceased child.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Homicide or Suicide: How Nudity Factors into This Determination

et al. 2021

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Anecdotal reports of deceased celebrities being found nude abound, yet research is lacking regarding the frequency of nudity at death. Moreover, it is unknown if nudity at the time of death is a useful investigative clue or a distracting non-factor in equivocal death cases. This study used data from 119,145 homicides and suicides reported to the Centers for Disease Control to explore victim nudity, prior life stressors, and demographics on the likelihood of a death being a homicide or a suicide. Logistic regression results indicate that a female victim being found nude is a strong indicator of homicide.

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“…Moreover, suicidality is often under-reported in national statistics through completed suicides being incorrectly classified as accidents ( 3 ). Early identification of suicide risk is thus additionally pertinent in order to aid in post-mortem investigations to more accurately distinguish suicide cases ( 4 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperament, parenting, mental disorders, life stressors and help-seeking behavior of Asian adolescent suicide attempters: A case control study

et al. 2022

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PurposeThe need to elucidate risk factors for adolescent suicide is urgent, as suicide consistently ranks among the top causes of death globally. Understanding suicide risk factors could inform more effective interventions. Previous studies have identified certain risk factors associated with suicide, but there is a paucity of research among adolescent and multi-ethnic Asian populations.Materials and methodsThis case-control study sampled 13-to-19-year-old Asian adolescents who had attempted suicide (N = 60) and controls (N = 58) matched by age, ethnicity and gender at group-level (73.7% female). Life stressors, temperament, parenting style, mental health conditions and help-seeking behavior were examined.ResultsAll domains of life stress apart from emerging adult responsibility were higher among cases than controls, especially home life, peer pressure and romantic relationships. Suicide attempters tended to avoid new situations, be less adaptable to changes, have a negative outlook and irregular sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, they perceived their parents to be significantly more aggressive, neglecting, rejecting and cold, while parents’ perceptions of their own parenting were only significantly different in the domain of parental neglect. Cases were more likely to exhibit disorders of disruptive behavior, eating, mood, anxiety, symptoms of schizophrenia and experience of disturbing events. Significant differences were also found for 10 out of 12 Axis II disorders, particularly borderline, depressive, and avoidant personality disorder traits. No significant case-control differences were found regarding overall rates of help-seeking.ConclusionFindings from this study may help in suicide prevention efforts through more tailored interventions.

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Suicide identification during on-site inspection. Proposal and application of an interpretative method for death scene investigation

Cited by 13 publications

References 73 publications

Criminological and Medico‐legal Aspects in Homicidal and Suicidal Sharp Force Fatalities

Criminological and Medico‐legal Aspects in Homicidal and Suicidal Sharp Force Fatalities

Homicide or Suicide: How Nudity Factors into This Determination

Temperament, parenting, mental disorders, life stressors and help-seeking behavior of Asian adolescent suicide attempters: A case control study

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