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Suicide by blunt force trauma.

Donna M Hunsaker·Leigh B Thorne
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Abstract

Suicide by self-inflicted blunt force injury is rare. The authors report a case of a 48-year-old man who initially appeared to have died of a homicidal beating. The pertinent autopsy findings consisted of blunt force closed head injury combined with numerous cutaneous abrasions and contusions of the entire body. Further inquiries confirmed a medical history of paranoid schizophrenia and a previous attempt at suicide. This case represents an extreme example of severe blunt trauma sustained during fatal self-mutilation and masquerading as a homicide. It also underscores the importance of correlating a thorough background investigation with autopsy findings in determining the appropriate manner of death.

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Head Injuries, ClosedHumansMaleMiddle AgedSchizophrenia, ParanoidSchizophrenic PsychologySuicideWounds, NonpenetratingCase ReportsJournal Article

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Donna M Hunsaker, Leigh B Thorne. 2002. Suicide by blunt force trauma.. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000433-200212000-00011

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