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Homicide by barbiturates and alcohol

Journal of Forensic Sciences

|October 1, 1982

Summary

Determining the manner of death from alcohol and barbiturate misuse can be challenging. This case highlights a rare instance where a lethal combination was intentionally administered by another party.

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Area of Science:

Forensic Toxicology
Medicolegal Death Investigation

Background:

Alcohol and barbiturate co-ingestion is a common cause of death encountered in medicolegal investigations.
Distinguishing between accidental, suicidal, or undetermined manner of death in these cases presents diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

A case is presented involving death due to combined alcohol and barbiturate intoxication.
The pathological and toxicological findings clearly indicated the cause of death.

Findings:

The manner of death was unusual, determined to be a homicide.
The lethal combination was administered by a second party with premeditation and intent to kill.

Implications:

This case underscores the importance of thorough investigation to ascertain the true manner of death, even in seemingly straightforward intoxication cases.
Forensic investigators must consider homicide when evaluating deaths involving lethal substance combinations.

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