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Death by Wheat-Loaded Cartridge: A Case Report
Erdem Okdemir1, Alper Keten2, Abdullah Avşar3
1From the Gokyuzu OSGB Lmt, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|October 22, 2019
Summary
Wheat-loaded cartridges, used as sound ammunition in Turkey, are deceptively dangerous. A case study reveals fatal chest wounds from these cartridges, highlighting their hidden risks.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Ballistics
- Toxicology
Background:
- Shotgun ammunition varies in material and purpose.
- Manual loading and fabrication are common.
- Wheat-loaded cartridges are produced in Turkey for sound generation.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old boy sustained a fatal chest wound from a contact shot.
- The entrance wound measured 7 cm by 5 cm.
- Wheat grains and a plastic wad were found near the chest muscles, not in internal organs.
Findings:
- The cause of death was internal bleeding from organ injury.
- Wheat-loaded cartridges are radiolucent (invisible on X-ray).
- Visual detection of these projectiles in wounds is challenging.
Implications:
- Public perception of sound cartridges as harmless is inaccurate.
- These cartridges pose a significant injury risk, particularly in close-range incidents.
- Forensic investigations require awareness of these specific ammunition types for accurate diagnosis.
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