NCJ Number
140931
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1993) Pages: 203-209
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement officers sitting in the front seat of an automobile witnessed a young man commit suicide in the back seat of the car after they attempted to stop him from killing himself over an 8-hour period; death was caused by a contact gunshot wound of the anterior chest.
Abstract
The bullet entered the midsternum and disrupted the anterior right atrium and ventricle of the heart, without involvement of either left ventricle or atrium. At autopsy, bilateral fresh, confluent scleral, and conjunctival sulcus hemorrhages were discovered, with no other evidence of facial or intracranial trauma. It was postulated that these hemorrages resulted from a sudden pressure wave ascending through the superior vena cava, in a manner similar to ocular findings associated with retrograde venous blood flow that occurs during severe thoracic compression. The author notes that the hemorrhages should not be mistaken for evidence that a decedent was beaten or otherwise involved in an assault episode. 11 references and 4 figures