Introduction
Most of the fatal head injuries are due to blunt forces and they may be homicidal or accidental in nature. When such cases are associated with burns, especially deep burns involving the head and face, identification becomes very difficult.1 Such burns also may mutilate or destroy the evidence of bodily injuries. In such cases establishment of identity and fixation of cause of death may become very challenging for the medico-legal experts as the shreds of evidence are distorted or destroyed.2
Whenever a burnt unknown corpse is brought for a medico-legal examination the autopsy doctor must try his best level to establish the identity of the person, whether the burns are ante-mortem or post-mortem or the presence of any external or internal injury in the body. Determination of post-mortem or ante-mortem may be even difficult when the body is charred or decomposed.3, 4 In the present case report we examined a case where the victim was murdered by blunt head injury & latter on the body was burned to hide the identity and the cause of death.
Case History & Autopsy Finding
About 23-year-old unknown female body was brought for post-mortem examination. A white and red design cloth covered the dead body. On opening the cloth, we found a partially burnt green colour kurta by the side of the body. A greyish-blue color bra was also seen on the backside of the body. All clothes were partially burned and soiled with mud. A black colour thread was seen tied around the right ankle. The body was lean and thin & cold in temperature and soiled with mud at places. (Figure 1, Figure 2).
Both upper and lower limbs were in slightly flexed condition at their respective joints however presence of rigor mortis and post-mortem staining could not be ruled out due to the presence of burn effects.
The external appearance of the face is distorted & unidentifiable due to the effects of burns. Both eyes were closed, the mouth was slightly open and the tongue was inside. Superficial and deep burns were seen almost all over the body except in a few places on the right shoulder and right leg. Peeling of epidermis along with blackish discoloration seen all over the body due to burns. The scalp and other body hairs showed singeing effects due to burns. Muscles and bone-deep burns were seen on the head & face, chest, abdomen, and pelvic region up to the lower portion of both knees. There was no soot particle deposition in the trachea. Ribs and sternum also charred deep to underlying lungs and heart. The abdominal cavity showed deep burns involving portions of the stomach and intestine. Pelvic organs too showed burn effects. The uterus is empty, normal in shape and size but congested.
There was a depressed comminuted fracture over the parieto-temporal region on both sides. It was about 4 X 3 cm in size. The fractured margins were irregular and stained with blood (Figure 3). On removing the scalp tissues the underlying occipital region showed the presence of scalp hematoma and the fracture lines extended into the occipital bone. The presence of other scalp injuries couldn’t be ruled out due to burn effects. The dura mater was found to be torn with extradural hemorrhages seen over the right parieto-temporal regions. The underlying brain matter showed contusions and lacerations (Figure 4).
Available viscera preserved for chemical analysis. The recovered burnt clothes were also preserved for further investigation. Teeth preserved for DNA analysis. Cotton swabs from the vagina, cervix & uterine cavity were preserved to rule out the possibility of sexual intercourse. The cause of death was given as – “Died due to shock on account of blunt head injury”.
Discussion
Homicide by blunt head injury is common as the head is the target in the majority of the cases.1 This is especially true when blunt weapons are used. Sometimes such a case may be seen along with a post-mortem burn with a motive of destroying the identity of the individual or to mislead the actual cause of death. It is a real challenge for a medico-legal expert in such cases. Sometimes, it would be very difficult to differentiate ante-mortem burns from post-mortem burns.5, 6 In the present case, there were no lines of redness at the demarcated junctions between burnt and unburnt areas. Blood was not cherry red in colour and there were no soot particles in the trachea. All these findings go in favour of post-mortem nature of the burns in the present case.
As the head and face portion were burnt almost deep it was not possible to establish the identity of the victim.7, 8 Even fingerprints were not possible as both hands were also charred. Almost all worn clothes were involved in the burns except a few remains as stated above and so they were not helpful in the establishment of the identity of the victim. In such cases examination of teeth including DNA analysis is useful.7, 8, 9
Conclusion
Though burns may destroy or mislead the actual cause of death a careful post-mortem examination will definitely unveil the fact. One must be careful suspicion of foul play especially in unknown dead body with widespread deep burns. An attempt must be done to establish ante-mortem nature of the burns. If features of ante-mortem burns are missing then care must be taken to look for some other cause of death.
