Strangulate, burnt & disposed off- a case report

Abstract

A dead body of 40 years female was referred from GH Karnal to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak for postmortem examination. As per police inquest report, the body was recovered from a canal.

The body was naked except a underwear which showed burnt effects. Feet were tied with orange coloured nylon rope in six turn and secured with a fixed knot. Scalp hairs were singed off. The body was emitting foul smell. Maggots of size 0.5 to 1 cm were crawling all over the body. Scalp hairs were singed off. Epidermis was peeled off at places with degloving of hands and feet. Uterus and rectum were protruding out.  Superficial to deep burns, chiefly epidermal and dermo-epidermal, were present over the body at places. Irregular heat ruptures were present over the burn area at places. There was no evidence of line of demarcation, infiltration of blood and cherry red discolouration of tissues.

A grooved reddish ligature mark was present over the neck. On examination, ligature mark was found antemortem in nature; however burns were postmortem in nature. So, we opined cause the cause of death by ligature strangulation. Burns were inflicted on the body only to destroy the identity of deceased, so that crime can be concealed.