Asphyxial Death Using Plastic Bag

Korean J Leg Med. 2010 May;34(1):72-74. Korean.

Institute of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea. gyhuh@pusan.ac.kr

Scientific Investigation Section, Department of Criminal Investigation, Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Busan, Korea

Asphyxia due to plastic bag is not common. The manner of death may be accidental, suicidal or homicidal. We report an asphyxial death using plastic bag, giving us difficulty in determining the manner of death, suicidal or homicidal. A 32-year-old female was found dead in bathroom and her head was wrapped in a supermarket shopping bag sealed with adhesive tape around the neck. Strangely she was handcuffed behind the back of the victim. Because of no evidence of violence on the body and the presence of a suicide note at the scene, the manner of death was concluded as suicide. This case emphasizes that the interpretation of postmortem examination should be incorporated with the proper investigation of circumstances at the scene of death to determine the manner of death.

Key words : asphyxia, plastic bag, manner of death

Case report