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Suicide by drowning: a 20-year review
Darren P Wirthwein1, Jeffrey J Barnard, Joseph A Prahlow
1Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX, USA.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|June 18, 2002
Summary
Suicidal drownings are rare in noncoastal areas like Dallas, Texas, representing a small fraction of overall suicides. This study analyzes 52 cases, noting victims were typically sober white males over 40.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Drowning is a known suicide method, often documented in coastal regions.
- Limited data exists on suicidal drownings in noncoastal inland areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze suicidal drowning cases in a noncoastal region of Texas.
- To characterize victims and methods used in these specific cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 52 suicidal drowning investigations.
- Data collected from the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, Texas (1977-1996).
Main Results:
- Suicidal drownings constituted 0.85% of all suicides and 4% of drowning deaths in the study area.
- Victims were predominantly sober white males over 40 years old.
- Use of weights to facilitate drowning was observed in some cases.
Conclusions:
- Suicidal drowning occurs even in noncoastal areas, though less frequently than in coastal regions.
- Demographic profiles and methods observed align with some existing literature on suicidal drowning.
- Provides insights for determining manner of death in complex drowning cases.