Suicide Decapitation by a Detonating Cord: A Case Report

In the field of forensic pathology, suicides consist of a considerable portion of the workload. Among the many methods used to commit suicide, using a detonation cord explosive is quite unique. We report the case of a man who committed suicide by detonation cord resulting in decapitation. This case report highlights the fact that the injury patterns observed in explosion-related deaths can be highly variable and that in cases with isolated injuries postmortem imaging and histology are an important adjunct to the standard death investigation. The ultimate goal of explosion-related investigations should be geared toward a well-documented and complete postmortem examination with the appropriate use of ancillary studies that provide a clear interpretation of the mechanism, cause, and manner of death.