J Indian Acad Forensic Med. October-December 2013, Vol. 35, No.

4 ISSN 0971-0973

Case Report

Doctor’s Perspective in a Post-Mortem Burn

Solving of a Crime: A Case Report
*Sumit Tellewar, **GA Sunil Kumar, *Abhishek Yadav

Abstract
Medico-legal autopsies are conducted routinely in every case of death due to ante-mortem burns.
In a common autopsy, the absence of the ante-mortem signs of burns on the body of the deceased
provides enough evidence for it being a post-mortem burn. Still such evidences are missed due to large
number of autopsies or lack of diagnosing by the inexperienced doctor. The police on the other hand will
present such cases as simple burns cases which can further lead to misdiagnosis of the case. The
charring associated with the post-mortem burns makes the diagnosis more doubtful. Many of the post-
mortem burns are result of afterthought, to conceal the evidence of a crime. Such burns are done in the
perimortem period or when the victim have just died, making their diagnosis more difficult. This case
highlights one such situation where the findings of strangulation were concealed behind post-mortem
burning of the body.

Key Words: Postmortem burns, Concealed Homicide, Carboxyhaemoglobin

Introduction: We report a case of a female with

The Forensic Pathologist plays a
paramount role in the investigation of a crime.
His part significantly increases in the bodies
which are found dead on the spot, with no
witnesses and no proper history. Their post-
mortem findings in these cases give vital clues
to the police investigators. The ignorance, lack
of experience or misinterpretation by the doctor
conducting the post-mortem can lead to
misguiding of the investigation agencies.
Some examples of cases where the
police investigation is based on the findings of
the autopsy are; bodies found in decomposed
stage, on the railway tracks with multiple
injuries, hanging at unusual places, decapitated
bodies, and found in the burnt condition with no
witnesses etc. Every time a body comes to
autopsy with a history of on-the-spot death due
to burns, it poses a challenge to the Forensic
Pathologist whether it’s an ante-mortem or post-
mortem burn. Its distinction is always paramount
to the investigator.
Corresponding Author:
*Assistant Professor
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,
Army College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
E-mail: drsinister76@yahoo.co.in
**Assoc. Prof, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital,
New Delhi-110029
*Assist. Prof, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital,
New Delhi-110029
DOR: 14.05.13 DOA: 08.11.13
history of burns where the correct interpretation
of the post-mortem findings by the doctor led to
the discovery of her homicide.
Case History:
The dead body of the deceased was
brought to the mortuary of Safdarjung hospital
for autopsy suspecting death due to ante-
mortem burns. The cause of death as per the
inquest report of the Police Investigating Officer
was burn injuries. The deceased was a resident
of North- eastern state of India who was visiting
her elder sister on vacation and was about to
return back in few days. She also had a brother
in the city, living separately.
Their living premises consisted of a
building on rental basis with many people living
in different rooms around a corridor, with shared
toilets and separate kitchen. On that particular
day her elder sister had gone on her job and the
deceased was alone at home.
Her brother had come to visit her and
found that she was not in the room. Then he
went towards the kitchen where he found her
lying on the ground in a partially burnt state.
After the discovery of the body, he called her
elder sister and told her about the incident.
The police had brought the body to the
emergency department of the hospital
suspecting ante-mortem burns, where she was
declared as brought dead. The burnt clothes
sticking to her body were preserved neither by
the I/O nor by the doctors of casualty.

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J Indian Acad Forensic Med. October-December 2013, Vol. 35, No. 4
Subsequently the dead body was subjected to
the autopsy.
Autopsy Findings:
The dead body was of an adolescent
female, normal built, moderate nourishment, and
fair complexion. The eyes were closed, pupils
were dilated and fixed. The post-mortem
staining was present at the back and rigor-mortis
was well appreciated all over the body.
External injuries:
1. Deep burns were present on the posterior
aspect of the neck extending on to the
lateral aspects of the neck. Similarly deeply
burnt areas were present between the two
shoulders and the occipital scalp. Superficial
to deep burns were present on the posterior
aspect of both the arms and on the lateral
aspect of the chest. Muscular planes of the
upper back region, posterior neck and of
shoulder regions were exposed and charred.
Blackening was present on the burnt areas.
No erythema, line of redness or vital
reaction was present at the burnt areas.
2. A Cresentric shaped reddish abrasion of
size 0.5 cm X 0.1 cm, was vertically placed
just above the middle of the left eye brow.
3. A Cresentric shaped reddish abrasion of
size 0.3 cm X 0.1 cm, was vertically placed
parallel and medial to injury no 2.
4. A reddish abrasion 2 cm X 1.2 cm, was
present on the left temple.
5. A reddish abrasion 2.2 cm X 1 cm, was
present on the upper neck region just
beneath the ramus of mandible, 1.8 cm
medial to the right angle of mandible.
Internal Examination:
The occipital aspect of the scalp was
completely burnt with charring of the bone
underneath. Brain matter in the region was
partly cooked with a heat hematoma present in
the region.
There was bruising present in the left
side of the neck along the carotid sheath.
Tracheal walls were congested with no soot
particles present in it. The muscles of the
posterior segment of the neck were charred. The
Lungs were edematous and congested. The
heart had petechial haemorrhages at the apical
region. The stomach contained about 30 cc
mucoid material. The hymen was intact and
admitting fingertip. No injuries were present
around vulva or perineum.
The cause of death was “Asphyxia as a
result of manual strangulation (Throttling).”
Discussion:
In this case, the autopsy findings
confirmed that the primary cause of death was
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ISSN 0971-0973
asphyxia due to manual strangulation and not
ante-mortem burns, as was suspected by the
police investigators. During the post-mortem the
kin’s of the deceased were interviewed.
The deceased’s sister stated that her
sister had complained of being stalked by a
stranger male who lived in the same corridor as
occupied by these females and was subjected to
some physical advancement by the same
person. This lead was given to the investigating
officer. On suspicion, that male was arrested
and he later on confessed that he was
fascinated by the girl and was trying to establish
relationship with her for some time.
On the day of incidence he found her
alone in the kitchen and all the other rooms in
the corridor were locked. Gaining from this
opportunity he advanced towards her, but the
girl resisted. To keep her voice down and to
restrain her he held her by the neck and ended
up throttling her to death.
To conceal the signs of struggle on the
neck of the female, he placed the dead body of
the female on the burner stove with posterior
neck area directly in contact with the flame. In
cases of burns where history or chain of events
is not clear and the doctor should look for the
signs of post-mortem burns.
Postmortem burns are characterized by
absence of vital reaction, absence of line of
redness, no soot particles in the trachea and
bronchus, no cherry red colour of blood, and
absence of reparative process. [1] The internal
organs are usually roasted with emission of
peculiar odour. [1] Vesicles may be present both
in the ante-mortem and post-mortem burns but
in the Postmortem burns they contain mostly air
and the little fluid comprises of very little
albumen with no chlorides and have dull, yellow,
dry hard base. [2] While increased enzyme
reaction is present in the periphery of ante-
mortem burns, no enzyme activity is present in
cases of post-mortem burns. [2]
The carboxyhaemoglobin level can be
used as a useful indicator for distinguishing
post-mortem burns from ante-mortem burns.
The level greater than 10 % indicates that the
victim inhaled smoke and was alive at the time
of fire. [2] Tumer [3] studied a series of thirteen
cases of homicides involving post-mortem
burning of the body and observed that the level
of carboxyhaemoglobin was less than 10 % in all
of the cases. In 12 cases, there were no soot
particles in the respiratory or gastrointestinal
tract and only one case contained soot particles
that too in the oropharyngeal area only. They
further noted that there was no line of hyperemia
or redness in any of the case.
J Indian Acad Forensic Med. October-December 2013, Vol. 35, No. 4 ISSN 0971-0973

Taghaddosinejad [4] studied 47 cases of 4. Taghaddosinejad F, Behnoush B, Akhgari M, Ebrahimi F.

Evaluation of Carboxyhaemoglobin in Ante Mortem and
burns and found that carboxyhaemoglobin was Postmortem Burns [Internet]. [Cited
carboxyhaemoglobin was positive in some of the 2013May02].AvailableFrom:http://www.asiatox.org/7th%20apamt%
ante mortem burns and was negative in all of the 20pdf/Evaluation%20of%20Carboxyhemoglobin%20in%20Ante%20
postmortem burns. Mortem%20and%20Postmortem%20Burns.pdf.
5. Naina Sahni [Internet]. [Cited 2013 Apr 14]. Available From:
The post-mortem burning of the body is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naina_Sahni.
a phenomenon repeated again and again by the 6. Doctor deposes in Naina Sahni murder case [Internet]. 2002 Nov 18
assailants to hide the findings of the ante- [cited 2013 Apr 14]. Available From:
mortem homicidal attack, thus misleading the http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-11-
18/delhi/27312321_1_deposes-naina-sahni-murder-case.
investigators of law. 7. Paliwal PK, Sirohiwal BL, Khanagwal VP, Sharma L, Yadav DR.
In the famous ‘Naina Sahni Tandoor’ Burns could not hide the bullet - A case of gunshot wound followed
case, the initial autopsy mentioned the cause of by burns. Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and
death due to burns, but in the repeat autopsy it Toxicology [Internet] Jan - Jun 2003; 4(1). [Cited 2013 Apr 14].
Available From:
was revealed that the victim was shot prior to http://www.anilaggrawal.com/ij/vol_004_no_001/papers/paper002.ht
her death and the same findings helped in ml.
linking the accused to the crime and their 8. Meshram AH, Nanandkar SD. Concealed Homicide. Journal of
prosecution. [5, 6] Forensic Medicine, Science and Law [Internet] Jul- Dec 2012; 21
(2). [Cited 2013 May02]Available From:
Paliwal [7] and Meshram [8] also http://www.mlam.in/pdf/currentissue/contradictory-history-role-of-
reported similar cases where post-mortem forensic-expert.pdf
burning of the body has been done to conceal
murder. The most common error which can Fig. 1: Dead Body as Found on the Crime
happen in such cases by the autopsy doctor is Scene
to believe in the inquest of the police and this
can lead to falsity in the post-mortem report.
The investigation technique of the police
in our country is more based on circumstantial
evidence and the statements of the witnesses
rather than relying upon the scientific evidences.
Timely and correct interventions by the
doctor in this case lead to detection of a crime
and apprehension of the criminal. This case also
exemplifies the importance of interviewing the
near relatives in uncertain and doubtful cases
Conclusion:
The cases of burns where the death is
on the spot of the incident should be carefully Fig 1A
looked for the signs of assault like gunshot,
strangulation, stab injuries, head injuries,
poisonings etc. The doctor should hold his
reasonable doubt or suspicion while conducting
the post-mortem examination in such cases. He
should apply his expertise, knowledge
thoroughly instead of relying upon the history
given by the police or relatives.
References:
1. Rao NG. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. 2nd Ed.
New Delhi: Jaypee brother’s Medical Publisher’s (P) Ltd; 2010:
p318.
2. Vij K. Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Principles
and Practice. 5th Ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 2011:p166-68.
3. Tümer AR, Akçan R, Karacaoğlu E, Balseven-Odabaşı A, et al.
Postmortem burning of the corpses following homicide. Jr For. Leg
Med 2012; 19(4) 223–28.

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