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Post-mortem decapitation by domestic dogs: three case reports and review of the literature

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Abstract

Post-mortem animal depredation is not an uncommon phenomenon in routine forensic autopsies. We present three cases of complete post-mortem decapitation by domestic German shepherd dogs. In two cases, the head had been bitten off, defleshed and left lying near the body, while in one case it had been completely devoured by two dogs; only small skull fragments and crowned teeth could be found. Two of the three bodies were putrefied; all dog bite injuries had been inflicted after death. The cause of death was drug toxicity in two cases and fatal hemorrhage from ruptured esophageal varices in one case. These rare injuries due to post-mortem animal depredation are discussed in the light of earlier studies and case reports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Medical Centre Charité—University of Berlin, Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559, Berlin, Germany

    C. Buschmann, S. Heinze & M. Tsokos

  2. Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, Piazza G Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy

    B. Solarino

  3. Department of Forensic Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529, Hamburg, Germany

    K. Püschel

  4. Criminal Investigation Department, Homicide Division, In der Vahr 76, 28329, Bremen, Germany

    F. Czubaiko

Authors
  1. C. Buschmann
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  2. B. Solarino
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  3. K. Püschel
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  4. F. Czubaiko
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  5. S. Heinze
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  6. M. Tsokos
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Correspondence to C. Buschmann.

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Buschmann, C., Solarino, B., Püschel, K. et al. Post-mortem decapitation by domestic dogs: three case reports and review of the literature. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 7, 344–349 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-011-9233-x

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