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Suicide using a compound bow and arrow
S J Cina1, S S Radentz, J E Smialek
1Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland, Baltimore 21201, USA.
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|April 16, 1998
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of suicide using a compound bow. Forensic analysis suggests the 17-year-old used his foot to draw the bowstring for the fatal self-inflicted arrow wound.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Ballistics
- Trauma Analysis
Background:
- While crossbow injuries are documented, self-inflicted fatalities with compound bows are exceptionally rare.
- Previous literature lacks reports of suicide using a compound bow to fire a projectile.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old male died from a self-inflicted chest wound caused by a broadhead hunting arrow.
- Evidence from footwear indicated the bowstring was drawn using the left foot while the bow was held in hand.
Findings:
- The mechanism of injury involved a compound bow and hunting arrow, leading to a fatal chest wound.
- Forensic examination and reenactment of the bow-drawing method were crucial in determining the self-inflicted nature of the injury.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for compound bows to be used in suicides.
- Understanding the specific mechanics of injury is critical for forensic investigations of bow-related fatalities.
- Forensic methodologies, including reenactment, are vital for distinguishing between accidental, homicidal, and suicidal bow-related deaths.