Case Report: Suspected Equine Perimortem and Postmortem Scavenging of Human Remains

Postmortem taphonomic scavenging is the consumption or modification of remains by fauna and can impede forensic investigations. While scavenging by carnivores and some herbivores has been documented, characterization of equine scavenging of human remains in forensic literature is limited. We present a case of suspected perimortem and postmortem scavenging by domesticated horses while acknowledging important limitations in definitively attributing the observed injuries to horses. A 69-year-old male was found deceased in a barn stall with 2 horses. External examination revealed distinct injuries, including partial loss of distal phalanges, alongside arch-shaped abrasions on the extremities. The decedent has a history of hand-feeding his horse, and the injury patterns were consistent with equine nibbling and nipping behavior. The death was determined to be natural. Although no direct observation of feeding activity was documented, scene context and forensic evaluation did not support alternative causes for the injuries. This case aims to contribute to the limited literature on equine-related scavenging and to improve recognition of potentially misleading postmortem artifacts in medico-legal investigations.