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Homicide by strychnine poisoning

F A Benomran1, J D Henry

  • 1Department of Forensic Medicine, Alarab Medical University, Benghazi, Libya.

Medicine, Science, and the Law
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Strychnine homicides are rare due to its distinct taste and detection. A delayed investigation, however, uncovered a case of elderly woman

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Clinical Toxicology
  • Criminalistics

Background:

  • Homicide by strychnine poisoning has significantly declined due to its characteristic bitter taste, violent symptoms, and ease of detection.
  • These factors historically deterred its use as a poison by criminals.

Observation:

  • An elderly woman presented to the hospital with severe convulsions and was in extremis.
  • Her death was initially attributed to natural causes, and she was buried without official notification.

Findings:

  • A subsequent exhumation and toxicological analysis of biological samples revealed the presence of strychnine sulfate.
  • This forensic evidence confirmed strychnine poisoning as the cause of death.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations, even when deaths are initially presumed natural.
  • It underscores that even rare poisons can still be employed, necessitating continued vigilance in forensic toxicology.
  • The successful identification and prosecution demonstrate the efficacy of chemical detection methods in modern forensic science.

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