A Unique Case Report of Filicide-Suicide Involving a 'Perissos' Suicidal Act

Carbon monoxide is a potent killer and has a high affinity towards hemoglobin. It forms carboxyhemoglobin, which decreases the oxygen supply to all the vital organs. Thus, it causes multi-organ dysfunction on acute exposure, and its most alluring side effect is a gradual, painless, unaware death. So, it is used as one of the preferred agents of suicide nowadays, especially by the learned population. In India, the number of death cases related to inhalation of carbon monoxide is very high, and it is vastly under-reported. This is a case report of a 35-year-old female who was found dead in the bedroom of her house along with her husband and two daughters. Post-mortem examination of all the deceased revealed signs consistent with poisoning due to inhalation of carbon monoxide gas. An Ultraviolet Spectrometric study performed at the laboratory confirmed the presence of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Examination of the scene of the crime concerning this case revealed some findings as to how meticulously this suicide cum homicide was planned by the parents. This case turns out to be a case of filicide suicide, where the parents have committed suicide along with the homicide of their children. The peculiar aspect of this case was that more than one method was used to produce the required asphyxiant, which was newly termed the 'Perissos' suicidal act.