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Entomotoxicology in burnt bodies: a case of maternal filicide-suicide by fire.
Bugelli, V; Papi, L; Fornaro, S; Stefanelli, F; Chericoni, S; Giusiani, M; Vanin, S; Campobasso, C P.
Afiliación
  • Bugelli V; Department of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Molise, via De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy.
  • Papi L; Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Forensic Science Section, University of Florence, largo Brambilla 3, 50100, Florence, Italy.
  • Fornaro S; Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
  • Stefanelli F; Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
  • Chericoni S; Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
  • Giusiani M; Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
  • Vanin S; Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
  • Campobasso CP; Department of Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK.
Int J Legal Med ; 131(5): 1299-1306, 2017 Sep.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28691148
One of the most common methods of maternal filicide is by fire. In this case study, a 40-year-old female and her children were found completely burned in a burnt out car. All bodies showed a degree of destruction by fire consisting to a level 3 of the Crow-Glassman Scale (CGS) and early stage of insect activity. Toxicological analyses were performed on soft tissues and body fluids still available. The results were positive for diazepam and its metabolites only for children with blood concentrations consistent with therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines. Home video surveillance cameras confirmed sedation prior to death recording the mother while administering some drops of sedative drugs in a soft drink to the children just a couple of hours before setting fire to the car. Based on autopsy findings, all victims were still alive at the time of fire. The cause of death was determined as carbon monoxide poisoning and fatal thermal injuries by fire. This case study has a special focus on the entomotoxicology and the potential role of insects in death investigations of burnt bodies, supposed to be an inadequate substratum for insect colonization. It demonstrates that in burnt bodies, arthropod colonization can be quite immediate after fire is extinguished. Toxicological analyses performed on larvae actively feeding on the children's bodies were positive for diazepam and its metabolites in small amount compared with blood concentrations, whereas the larvae collected from the mother's body were totally negative. These data, according to the autopsy findings and the toxicological results from the victim's blood and tissues, supported the suspect of a non-lethal sedation prior to death, which is a common behaviour in maternal filicide.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Cambios Post Mortem / Suicidio / Quemaduras / Dípteros / Conducta Alimentaria / Incendios / Homicidio Tipo de estudio: Prognostic_studies Límite: Adult / Animals / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Male Idioma: En Revista: Int J Legal Med Asunto de la revista: JURISPRUDENCIA Año: 2017 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Italia Pais de publicación: Alemania
Texto completo
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Cambios Post Mortem / Suicidio / Quemaduras / Dípteros / Conducta Alimentaria / Incendios / Homicidio Tipo de estudio: Prognostic_studies Límite: Adult / Animals / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Male Idioma: En Revista: Int J Legal Med Asunto de la revista: JURISPRUDENCIA Año: 2017 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Italia Pais de publicación: Alemania