An autopsy case report of suicide by multiple self-cutting and self-stabbing over the chest and neck

Abstract

A 27-year-old male with a clinical history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome committed suicide by cutting and stabbing himself in his bedroom. During the scene investigation, the knife was recovered below his body and the room was not ransacked. The external examination revealed one deep incised wound with one superficial incised wound over the anterior aspect of the neck, three horizontal stab wounds with five superficial small incised wounds over the chest and two superficial incised wounds over the ventral aspect of the left wrist. They showed multiple hesitation wounds. Subsequent autopsy showed a cut wound of the thyroid cartilage penetrating trachea and a penetrating wound of the left lower lung with 500 ml fresh blood hemothorax. All findings lead to suspicion of suicide by multiple sharp forces.