Juvenile patricide by a female: Autopsy case report and literature review

Parricide refers to the act of murdering one's father, mother, or a close relative without involving harm to children. Juvenile parricide represents a rare form of criminal behavior that, despite its infrequency, receives considerable media attention and provokes substantial public concern. Due to its exceptionally low base rate, forecasting its occurrence remains challenging, if not unattainable. We report a case of a 45-year-old man who was murdered by his juvenile daughter after he disapproved of her relationship with her boyfriend, as she held a grudge and acted in revenge, using a sharp weapon and burning the body to hinder identification and conceal the crime. The scene of the incident showed accelerant residues and blood stains, and the body was recovered in a pugilistic attitude from the restroom. The postmortem examination revealed multiple chop and stab wounds on the head, face, and extremities. No soot particles were present in the airways, and histopathology also confirmed the absence of antemortem burns. Carboxyhemoglobin was negative, ruling out death from burns. Toxicological analysis detected alcohol and zolpidem in the blood and visceral organs. DNA profiling confirmed identity, and the cause of death was attributed to hemorrhagic shock due to sharp force injuries, and the manner of death was homicide. This case illustrates the combination of sedation, sharp-force assault, and postmortem burning, highlighting the complexities of juvenile female patricide and familial homicides. It emphasizes the crucial role of integrated forensic pathology and toxicology in reconstructing events, uncovering causes and dynamics, and guiding investigative approaches through autopsy findings and forensic evidence, while outlining medicolegal practices to aid experts in the pursuit of justice.