Suicide by Fire in a Car Trunk: A Case with Potential Pitfalls

We present an unusual case in which an adult female committed suicide by fire while enclosed in the trunk of her vehicle. A finding of suicide was reached only because several key investigative facts were uncovered. Without these discoveries the case may still remain open as a suspicious death. Fire...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic sciences 2003-09, Vol.48 (5), p.1-4
Main Authors: Adair, TW, DeLong, L, Dobersen, MJ, Sanamo, S, Young, R, Oliver, B, Rotter, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Arson
Asphyxia - etiology
Automobiles
Burns - pathology
Female
Fires
Forensic sciences
Humans
Investigations
Suicide
Suicides & suicide attempts
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Summary:We present an unusual case in which an adult female committed suicide by fire while enclosed in the trunk of her vehicle. A finding of suicide was reached only because several key investigative facts were uncovered. Without these discoveries the case may still remain open as a suspicious death. Fire is rarely used as a mechanism of suicide in Western culture, and, as such, similar cases should be reported to advance our recognition of this phenomenon.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1520/JFS2002367